Golfing the Ozarks

by Sean Saunders

It is exciting times for SWS GOLF and Southwest Missouri because of www.golfingtheozarks.com. Recently, I was given the opportunity to be the Teaching Professional for Golfing the Ozarks, which is a web based business started by Kevin Grinder. The website allows golfers to become members for free and enjoy all of the local benefits from instruction, keeping stats, buying and selling clubs, and learning about all of the golf courses in the Ozarks. Most of the golf courses in the area participate and get advertising through the website. It is similar to the Golf Digest website but stays local and has more options.

I did a video shoot at Deer Lake Golf Course on short game tips that are posted on www.golfingtheozarks.com. The tips covered everything from putting technique to how to play a pitch shot where the ball is sitting down in the rough. It was a ton of fun after I got used to the camera being in front of me. In the future, we're going to go out on the course and film how to play different types of full swing shots and also cover golf course management tips. The tips and website are updated every week. There are many ideas from blogging to forums that will be happening throughout the site in the near future!

Remember to visit www.golfingtheozarks next time you're "on the move" browsing the internet and be sure to sign up to become a member. If you sign up now, you get entered in a drawing to win a free ping putter. Golf is very popular in Southwest Missouri and has some of the best golf courses in the country, so take advantage of Golfing the Ozarks.

Springfield - Family Fun City

by Sean Saunders

This past week, I was given the opportunity to help out with a promotional event held at Chick-Fil-A restaurant on south Glenstone in Springfield. It was a hot day but a lot of fun working with the kids on their putting. Petra Rock Climbing, Blockbuster, Swing Right Golf, Jump Mania, and Discovery Center were there representing their businesses for the kids. It was a good time getting to know other businesses in town that help make Springfield a great place for families to go. I was impressed with Chick-Fil-A and the events that they are able to put on for local children. The marketing director for the Chick-Fil-A store informed me that they put on events for families at least once every couple of months. The last event they organized was a princess event for girls. Make-up booths, tee parties, and fun tattoos were a few of activities that took place.

My niece’s and nephew are coming to town for the 4th and it is nice having options to keep them entertained. There is more than enough fun things to do in the Ozarks area such as other destinations that I didn’t’ mention like the Zoo, Fantastic Caverns, Wacky World Kidz, Springfield Cardinals games, and the beautiful parks and trails. If you are bored this summer and looking for something to do and need ideas, be sure to stop by one of the tourist information offices in Springfield. I’ve dropped off promotional items at the Battlefield and Hwy 65 location and they have enough ideas to keep you busy for a month in the Springfield and Branson area. I’ve been in Springfield for just over a year and I haven’t even come close to experiencing all that Springfield has to offer because of the many options. Take advantage of living in a fun town that I am proud to call my home. Next time your on the move in Springfield, come down and visit us at Swing Right Golf and enjoy our 18 hole miniature golf course, driving range, or simulators and I’ll give you a golf tip to help you swing!

Market Now, Thrive Later

by Timothy vonBecker

Who Spends Marketing $$ in a Downturn? Successful Companies!

Strong marketers know that the only advertising worthy of expense is that which has a future value. Likewise, sound marketers know that sales increases are not attributable solely to clever advertising, but are derived from overall economic conditions, demand, company position, and product innovation. In each of the downturns of the 20th century, there were industry competitors who were diminished – or who ceased to operate. And, during those same times, there were competitors who understood that marketing and advertising activity were an investment for the future. These companies knew that advertising expense could no sooner be cut entirely than could the entire relationship with all financial institutions or other critical suppliers. If there are wholesale cuts to be made in marketing and advertising, let it be that of your competitors' budgets.

"Marketing expenditures in areas from communications to research are often slashed across the board—but such indiscriminate cost cutting is a mistake. Although it's wise to contain costs, failing to support the brand or examine core customers' changing needs can jeopardize performance over the long term. Companies that put customer needs under the microscope, take a scalpel rather than a cleaver to the marketing budget, and nimbly adjust strategies, tactics, and product offerings in response to shifting demand are more likely than others to flourish both during and after a recession." – (John A. Quelch and Katherine E. Jocz, Harvard Business Review, April 2009).

It is common knowledge that many popular consumer brands – the ones we still know today – experienced share gain during a recession and top-line growth within the first year after a recession by following the practices of maintaining measured amounts of marketing expense (some were bold enough to increase expenses during a recession). MarketSense studies reveal that Jif Peanut Butter, Kraft Salad Dressing, Coors Light and Bud Light (to name only a few) increased their advertising expenses during the recessionary period of '90-'91 and experienced sales growth of 57%, 70%, 15% and 16% respectively in the periods just after the recession. Most recently, Audi reported in the February issue of Advertising Age that it will increase its 2009 advertising budget by 15%, specifically to take advantage of a soft advertising spending market.

Fresh product for fresh challenges

Just as the origins of a downturn are unique, so are the outcomes and the resulting business models. Sweeping generalizations are ill advised when comparing one economic downturn to another. However, by observing former periods, we can be certain in the general notion that our resulting economy, markets and business models will be changed greatly by this recession. Each former recession has made some business models obsolete, while introducing opportunities for new ways to go to market. We know that a market will continue in some form. We know that the competitors with the best product, supported by the most efficient operations, and the most efficient and accountable marketing will succeed to the greatest degree. We also know that a recession chases the fat out of a market. And, in the most serious downturns, only the most shrewd and agile competitors (those who make their own luck) survive... or originate. Recall that in the midst of the despair of the 1970s, Apple and Microsoft were created – two companies that most will agree have changed the world and offered an entirely new set of economic opportunities. The ingenuity of strong entrepreneurs will shape our new realities – in each company, in each department. Each new effort need not be as classically monumental as Microsoft. Rather, every small innovation in a business approach that creates new opportunity is revolutionary in its own right. And when aligned properly by management, a number of small innovations are indeed the source of revolution. As Mark Twain suggested, history rhymes. That is, those products and marketing plans that are designed with the new economic realities in view are those that will succeed. Applying resources now with creative and measurable programs is the way to test and discover how new market models will function in the new, uncertain reality.

BRICK strives to be a marketing “partner” in the new economic reality. Our creative efforts – as part of your marketing efforts – can enhance your revenue opportunities. We can't wait to meet the fresh advertising challenges of the new economy.

Tips for Living in the Summer Sun

by Dr. Tiffany Schafer

It's summer time and that means that if you are "on the move", you are probably in the sun. Here are some summer sun tips to help keep your healthy and happy!

Schools Back - Sun 101
The sun radiates different frequencies or kinds of light. Not all are visible. The invisible sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) is what we are concerned with because it burns the skin. UV light is further classified.
· UVA penetrates deep into the skin producing premature aging and cancer. Tanning beds radiate 2 to 5 times more UVA than the sun. Think of UVA as the Aging rays.
· UVB is stronger than A and causes sunburns, aging and skin cancer. B rays are strongest from 11 am to 4pm during the summer. Think of UVB as Burning rays.
· UVC is stronger yet. These rays are stopped by the Earths’ ozone layer.
We just touched on the types of rays so you can now grab your current sunscreen, read it, and decide if it covers both A and B or if you need an up-grade. As far as the number, stick around 30-45ish.

Skin types
Now, if you haven’t noticed we’re all different colors and shades. Our heritage and genetics does play a huge role in our skin color and the concentration of melanin in our skin. Melanin browns or darkens the skin to protect. Red hair, freckled, fair skin English individuals have less melanin than dark hair and olive skinned Mediterranean persons who have even less melanin than say a native Jamaican. Naturally the first will burn quicker. But, the latter person will also be subject to burning. No matter how well you may tan or how dark your skin is, sun protection is necessary. Any time a tissue is chronically irritated, we have to be worried about cancer. Lots of sun, not just burning, is another chronic irritant. Fair skinned kids need to be cautious of the sun because they have less melanin but dark skinned kids need to be cautious because signs of cancer are harder to see. The moral is- Protect Your Skin Period.

Let’s make this an easy transition.
How can I protect? Glad you asked. Apply each hour. Yes- I said each hour. Application whether it be a powder or cream, needs to take place at least each hour and possibly more if you’re out on the lake or out by the pool all day. Your pores open and are continually releasing sweat and the sunscreen gets weaker. Thus, you need to re-apply! I know the back of the bottles say crazy stuff like ‘All Day Protection’ or ‘Reapply every 6-8 hours’, but that’s crazy talk. If you’er going to do it, do it right- apply at least each hour.

How do I make skin protection easy? Usually ‘easy’ means quick. So, lets save you some time. There are a number of sites with different application products for sunscreen. Prodermaproducts.com has a number of towelette or small one time size products to purchase. These are great to keep in the car, on the boat, in your swim bag, or your sports bag. My personal favorite is a powder made by bareMinerals. It twists open to reveal a brush to quickly apply the powder on your ears, back of the neck, and don’t forget those calick or hair parts. Check out spfstore.com for sunglasses, shirts, and other great products that will protect the skin and allow you the fun of the water. Personally, I wear a hot weather underarmor shirt under my life vest when I’m out on the boat and water skiing. My shoulders and arms are protected, it looks sporty, and I’m not a lobster when we go out at night. It’s just a win- win.


7 Sunny Tips
1. Find a sunscreen you like and will use. Keep it accessible
2. Load up on your antioxidants with your diet and supplements.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Purchase polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes and don’t go out in the sun without them.
5. Apply sunscreen each hour you are outside, cloudy or sunny.
6. Always remember to screen the ears and calicks or hair lines.
7. Don’t ever underestimate the sun or the length of time you will be outside, make a habit of the sunscreen.

3 Ways to Improve Your Outdoor Space for Summer

by Stacy Duncan-Plush

Its that time of year when we start thinking about entertaining outdoors. Its BBQ season! Here are some Re-Freshing ideas on how to make your outdoor space as Fabuless as your indoor space. Use accessories in your outdoor spaces just as you would on the inside of your home. Try these ideas:

1. Lighting- have you seen the new Outdoor Lamps? They are attractive & weather resistant. Or use lanterns & candles for a more romantic appeal.

2. Add a rug- Outdoor rugs are very popular right now. They are inexpensive & come in many designs. They are water resistant & can be cleaned with the garden hose. Check out "Home Haze Porch Rug" ($54.99) at target.com.

3. Window Treatments- What? Don't have windows on your porch? Attach window panels at your porch ceiling with rope or light weight wire & eye hooks. Use light & breezy fabric panels to create a cozy "room" feel.

Learn more ways to Re-Fresh your outdoor space with Curb Appeal services. Request your FREE Initial Consultation at fabulessinteriors.com

Study Shows Massage Before Golf Improves Performance

by Sean Saunders

There were some exciting things happening at Swing Right Golf Learning facility this past month. Michael Detwiler and Stephanie Lansdown from Neuromuscular Clinic who are licensed massage therapists were conducting a golf study on treating the rotation range of motion of the spine and its effect on the golf swing. Their results from the study were impressive. After a 10-15 minute precision neuromuscular treatment, golf swing speeds increased an average of 4.34 miles per hour. The average pre-treatment initial swing speed of participants was 85.34 MPH and the average post-treatment swing speed was 89.68 MPH. Some people increased their swing speed up to 15-20 mph. This was due to treating the parts of the body that restrict the turn in the golf swing.

I participated in the study and was surprised my results. On average, I increased my swing speed by 5 MPH and my range of motion by 4 degrees, which meant I consistently drove the golf ball 10 yards farther after I was treated. This study showed me how beneficial it is to stretch and get your muscles warmed up before playing golf and the benefits of massage to help your range of motion. I try to educate my students on the importance of warming up and doing some stretching before playing in order to start their round of golf out better. It is good for a golfer’s psychology to play better early on rather than start out with a bad hole because they didn’t take the time to warm up. In golf, every stroke adds up and one bad shot can determine the outcome of a round of golf. For a tournament player, it is the difference between placing and missing the cut.

If you are interested in participating or would like to know more about the golf study or NMT services, please contact Michael or Stephanie at nmtclinic@pmtc.edu. You can also visit the neuromuscular clinic at 902 W. Battlefield in Springfield, MO.

Summer at Sinatra's

by Dennis Mays

Hello again, it is I, Dennis from Sinatra's Coffee Gallery. It is well accepted that Memorial Day, and the weekend preceding it, marks the begining of Summer. As summer has arrived many of us will be making personal changes. Granted some personal changes might simply be the clothing we wear or how we spend our days off. But for some, it brings drastic changes. Like the students who will be going home for three months.

Now, most people wouldn't consider a coffee shop to have personal traits, but I believe they do. I can always tell when the coffee shop I work in is happy to see me and feel my presence. And I've learned that if you treat your favorite coffee shop as if it's a person with feelings, you begin to form a bond with it and respect it much more. Some critics might think I'm crazy, but I'll admit that early in the morning when I'm alone getting myself and Sinatra's ready for a new day of experiences, we have a conversation together. Our conversations never go any deeper that each of us reminding the other of why we are there, and what we can do to make eachother's day a little easier.

Having said this, Sinatra's will be going through a few personal changes with the arrival of summer. Our barista's will be wearing t-shirts (still keeping with our black and red tradition), our food menu will be madeover to represent more summer like meals, and we will now offer an array of our signature t-shirts in different colors and sizes for sale to you our beloved customers. Our changes will run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So as you embrace the change of season, we hope you will embrace our changes as well.

I wrote this to inform all of you of Sinatra's summer changes, but I really hope everyone who reads this will think about what I mentioned earlier and take it into consideration next time you go get a "cup o' joe" at your favorite local coffee house. Till next time, keeping moving Springfield!

Pearls and Heels? Not Here!

by Stacy Duncan-Plush

Pearls & heels... not here! There is a certain "image" that the public conjures up in their mind when you say "interior decorator"... they picture someone waltzing in to their home in a suit, pearls & heels & saying; "oh, this will not do, this all must go!". They think, "Yes, I would love to hire a decorator, but I can't afford THAT." Well, not the case. A new breed of Interior Decorator has come to town.
Fabuless Interiors is the expert at creating style on any budget & here to serve the design-conscious, budget-savvy homeowner with interior decorating services that will make their home look fabulous for Less.

Re-Freshed Interiors (interior re-design) is an affordable approach to interior decorating. It is a client-centered approach to interior decorating, focusing on the homeowner's needs, style & budget. The homeowner can be involved with the decorating process as much or as little as they choose. Re-Freshed Interiors involves using what the client already has in their home. The process begins with an evaluation of the homeowner's space- what they want to keep, what they want to replace, why the space is no longer working, what look they are trying to achieve. Then the creative process of re-arranging furniture, accessorizing & organizing begins. Fabuless Interiors will "shop" from other rooms, closets, basements & attics of the homeowner's home, pulling together a new look with what they already own. The process continues with Consultation Services to "fill in the gaps" in the homeowner's decor. Fabuless Interiors will help determine what the homeowner needs to give their home that "finished", "pulled together" look. Remaining mindful of the homeowner's budget, a detailed decorating "checklist" is devised with what to purchase & where to purchase. Then depending on how much legwork the homeowner chooses to do, they may work with this checklist as their time & budget permits, purchasing & adding to their decor over time. Or, if the homeowner is not comfortable with this process, Fabuless Interiors can provide Shopping Services & make the purchases for them.

Everyone deserves to have a home where they truly love to live! Now is the time... you too can have a home that looks fabulous for Less!

40 Under 40 Event in Springfield

by Don Harkey

The red carpet was out last night in front of the historic Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield last night for the Springfield Business Journal's 10th Annual "40 Under 40" Event. The theme this year was Oscar night and they did not disappoint!

As my wife and I entered the theatre, we were stopped and interviewed by Kevin Howard from the Alice 95.5 "Kevin and Liz" show as though we were celebrities. Of course, I won't let it go to my head and I will remember all of the little people who helped me get to where I am in my life... (dramatic sigh...)

We then entered the Tonic Ultralounge for drinks and food. The stuffed mushrooms were awesome! The place was packed, and somewhat surreal for us since we have been more used to walking around inflatables and kiddie tables and haven't exactly been fixture in the Springfield night life. We ate and chatted it up with some friends including my good friend Randy Mayes and his lovely wife.

Then we all filed into the theatre for the presentation, which was hosted by Kevin and Liz. It was very cool to hear about all of the work being done in the community. The winners got a bag of "SWAG" which included an iPod, candy, mugs, pens, and a subscription to SBJ. Pretty cool!

After the presentation, my wife and I bailed out early to take advantage of our rare time alone. We went out to Sinatra's coffee for a quiet drink and some great conversation. I must say that I enjoyed the time with her more than anything else during the night!

All in all, a great event! Thanks to the staff at SBJ for pulling out all the stops (except for Patrick, who threw some tape at me... my wife found that tape later as we got home wadded up in her purse).

Daddy the Caddie

by Sean Saunders

I was on the move to the hospital with my wife at 10:00 on a Thursday evening. My wife delivered a beautiful baby girl at 4:18 the next Friday morning. I understand now what it means when you become a dad and the feeling of joy you have when you see your baby for the very first time. There is no greater gift than the gift of life. Winning golf tournaments is exciting, but it doesn’t compare to the experience of child birth and meeting Brooklyn.

As in preparing for a golf tournament and studying the course before I play it, my wife and I also had a birth plan. The birth plan helped us understand what we needed to do to make the pregnancy and labor process more manageable. When I prepared for college tournaments, I studied the golf course by strategizing what club to use for different golf shots and where I should aim to hit the golf ball on the best part of the green or fairway. When I had a plan to help me manage the golf course, I had more confidence which helped me play better and record lower scores. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I have been more successful in life and my golf career since I’ve taken the time to plan ahead.

I was a caddy for my wife throughout the pregnancy and labor process. A good caddie is a person that helps a golfer perform at their highest level because they do all of the little things that take place behind the scenes. A caddie carries the clubs and bag, keeps score, walks off yardage, gives advice, cleans equipment, and the most important task of giving encouragement and support when the golfer needs it. After my wife delivered Brooklyn, she thanked me for being there to give her support throughout the entire process. It was important for my wife to know she wasn’t alone. Helping my wife focus on her breathing during labor pains, holding her hand, and giving her encouragement were my major responsibilities as daddy the caddie. We won the best prize of all in the tournament of life!

Swine Flu - Seriously?

by Dr. Tiffany Schafer

Swine Flu, Seriously? What’s next?

A few years ago we had the Avian or Bird Flu scare, now it’s the pigs? Seriously, what’s going on here? Well, what the larger health organizations and biased news media are not telling you is that these flu’s are around and infecting many people every year. So the next logical question is why is Swine flu a big deal this year? Well, aside from the political and economic conspiracy theories circulating, we need to touch on Swine flu history in the US, what the current scare is, and why vaccines don’t fit into the equation for the majority of the population.

Here goes. Swine flu, aka Spanish Flu was a large problem in the early 1900’s. The current flu is similar to the 1900’s outbreak strain, but it is not the same. In approximately 1918-1920, a very large percentage of the world was infected and millions died from the virus. In this pandemic, normal healthy individuals were becoming infected and dying. Currently, with today’s strain, only the immune suppressed, babies, and elderly are dying. An example of immune suppressed would be people south of the border where sanitation and food preparation are not what they are north of the border. Improper sanitation makes the immune system work harder giving viruses a better chance to infect and do their damage. Babies don’t have fully functioning immune systems and elderly immune systems start to decline as a part of aging. What everyone is not making clear is the current scare. It’s not that swine flu is infecting again; it does every year. The difference is that the healthcare community is expecting a mutation that will be harmful for normal healthy individuals, or the majority of the population.

The common cold mutates so often and so fast that we aren’t able to create a vaccine for it because a vaccine is specific to one strain, not every strain or variation in one season. Think of writing a story. You’re going to read back over it and proof-read it making punctuation and grammatical changes. The story is the same, just a newer, better draft. This is like the minor mutations viruses make. Same theme but different enough our bodies have to go through the immune reaction again. Imagine one day you wake up and the story you once wrote doesn’t appeal to you anymore. Just like in the movies, you wad it up and shoot for two in your office waste basket then write the story completely over. It’s the same story but told completely different. This is a larger, more dangerous mutation of a virus, more dangerous because the gap between the mutations is more than our immune systems can adapt to.

Let’s touch on the vaccine topic. What they aren’t telling you with the vaccines is that for the general population (the normal and healthy group), any mutation renders the vaccine useless. The healthcare community is expecting a mutation by the end of the summer. The hope is the new mutation will be similar enough to the current strain and a new vaccine will be easily modified, but if that is the case, the normal and healthy population will survive the mutation without the vaccine anyways.
The best thing to do is to take care of yourself. Hydrate properly, eat a healthier diet, and take a good quality, well rounded vitamin. Exercise and chiropractic adjustments increase the number of immune cells in the body. It’s like creating more soldiers verses sending the exhausted ones to the line. You can also get good information on diet, supplements, vitamins, and mineral recommendations to increase your immunity and all around health from your family chiropractor or naturaphathic doctors.

Introduction: Dennis Mayes "On the Move"!

by Dennis Mayes

My name is Dennis Mays and I'd like to start out by telling you a little bit about myself and why I'm on the move in Springfield. Having lived in this wonderful little slice of heaven all my life, I have had the chance to see some awesome things happen here. Granted "all my life" only covers twenty-one years, but in that time Springfield has grown considerably. From things like a new ice rink and minor league baseball stadium, to big city fly-over interchanges and airport terminal.. There is no doubt in my mind that just like all of us, Springfield is on the move and growing. It seems to me that year after year new sub-divisions and apartment complexes are popping up all over the place around town. This leads me to believe that I'm not the only one who enjoys the little things like Fair Week, Mexican Villa, and cashew chicken that make Springfield what it is today.

Now why I'm on the move. Just recently my mother (Kim Batson) has opened the newest coffee shop in Springfield, Sinatra's Coffee Gallery. Being the amazing mother she is, she has bestowed upon me the honor of taking care of her "baby" during the week while she attends to other matters. Some of you may have been in, others of you might not have had the opportunity to visit us yet. Either way we are here to provide "you" Springfield with: excellent drinks at an exceptional price. At Sinatra's we also offer meals and snacks to accomodate any size appetite. Whatever you may come in for, you can always count on being treated with respect and getting exactly what you ask of us, because after all we wouldn't be in business if it weren't for the great patrons of this city. Honestly a coffee shop can "survive" anywhere, but it wouldn't make getting up with the crack of dawn as rewarding as it is in Springfield. Thanks!

Staying "On Course"

by Sean Saunders

This week, I had the opportunity do a playing lesson. I was on the move to Deer Lake Golf course. Playing lessons are my favorite because I get to spend more time with the student and it really lets me know what is going on in their golf game. Playing a round of golf and hitting range balls are two different things. I’ve worked with a lot of golfers who hit the ball great on the driving range and then they get bad thoughts going on the golf course and play poorly. I try to get my students to play like they practice and practice like they play. It is important to have a pre-shot routine and to focus on the process of hitting a good golf shot rather than focusing on the result. As soon as my students start thinking about not hitting the ball in the water hazard or out of bounds, that is when they tighten up and make bad golf swings resulting in exactly what they didn’t want to do in the first place.

Playing lessons also allow me to teach a lesson that goes beyond the golf course. Golf teaches you about life lessons. I can learn a lot about someone by just playing a round of golf with them. For example, a student’s true colors come out when playing a round of golf with them such as cheating, losing their temper over a bad shot, their personality type by watching the tempo of their golf swing, and how they manage the golf course and the decisions they make. I can tell if my student is a risk taker depending on what club they use in certain situations. I can also tell if the student has integrity because they follow the rules. Golf is the only game where the player makes the decision on what the ruling is and whether they play by the rules. I’ve had to teach many of my students about etiquette and what you are supposed to do if you hit the ball out of bounds or in a water hazard. I don’t expect my student to know all of the rules, but my students that are planning on playing in tournaments and they need to know the rules, I try to keep them informed on how to look up rules in the USGA rules book.

A goal I set for each one of my students is to help them improve their game and have fun playing golf, but I also want them to explore for themselves the greater lessons learned from this great game. “The Mulligan” written by Wally Armstrong and Ken Blanchard is a book I recommend reading that hits on the life lessons learned from the game and the Old Pro. This book reminds me to try and keep balance and not let work and results control my life. It is a constant struggle as a Golf Professional during the golf season to maintain balance. I want to continually push forward and see my business grow into something great, but I also can’t lose focus of my personal and family life. I am a Type “A” personality who sets goals and tries to achieve those goals as soon as possible and making sacrifices if needed. I am also expecting my first child any day now and I know she is going to change my outlook on life forever. I know that if I am going to be successful in my career, I need to prioritize my goals and make sure spiritual and family goals came first. If I can’t reach my spiritual and family goals, I’m not going to be happy and that will keep me from being successful.

Quality Relationships = Success

by Don Harkey

Have you ever noticed that successful people often seem to "know everybody"? At a first glance, you might think that its just because people know who they are. However, if you spend some time with successful business people, you will find out that they not only have lots of contacts, the contacts they have are high quality and interactive. In other words, its not just the quantity of relationships that is key, it is the quality.

A key to business is developing relationships and a key to relationships is that they are a 2 way street. Randy Mayes' talks about a "Relational Progressive Model" (RPM)in terms of developing any relationship (applied here to businesses). These steps include:

1) Connection - Both parties meet and recognize the potential for value in knowing each other.

2) Communication - People begin to converse, share ideas, and get to know each other.

3) Cooperative Action - Both parties now see real value in each other and begin to partner, often in a very simple way (ex: give each other a referral).

4) Commendation - "Potential" value becomes "real" value through the experiences of the cooperative action. In other words, both sides are seeing the other person live their value.

5) Commitment - A relationship based on trust has been developed.

Very successful people know that valuable business (and personal) relationships occur only when all 5 steps are taken. It is easy to collect business cards from different network events, and MOST people who network live in steps 1 and 2. The REAL relationships occur in steps 3-5. Believe me... one REAL relationship is worth a thousand business cards!

Just some advice for people "on the move"!

Giving Back

by Sean Saunders

I was on the move this week working with Phys. Ed. programs at two private schools in Springfield. It reminded me of why I love my profession and enjoy helping the youth. The best reward of being a PGA Professional is teaching a game to juniors that soak up the information you give them and gain an interest in golf. The classes I helped teach were only 30 to 45 minutes long so I was only able to teach the students the basics, such as grip, aim, set-up, and the difference between the baseball/softball swing and the golf swing. Going to the schools and getting to know the students is an effective way to promote Swing Right. Many of the students don’t want to play on a golf course yet, but they enjoy playing a round of miniature golf or hitting balls on our driving range. Swing Right offers the youth a fun place to learn and enjoy different areas of golf with their family.

I also want to get the youth involved in a game they can enjoy playing for the rest of their lives and possibly receive a college scholarship. I was fortunate to work with the state champion in Iowa and see him go to college on a golf scholarship. He was a sponge and worked diligently on the techniques and mental approaches to the game. It gave me confidence to know my teaching philosophy and style helped him excel.

Many kids aren’t introduced to golf because it is expensive to play or they just don’t get the opportunity to play so they pick up another sport that is more convenient. I haven’t touched a basketball, baseball, or football since college when I played intramurals because they are team sports and you have to get everyone together to play. With golf, all I have to do is fire up the simulators at Swing Right and play a quick nine at Pebble Beach or Torrey Pines. I don’t have to worry about not being able to walk because I blew out my knee from trying to fake out my buddy on the basketball court. I love sports as much as the next guy, but I like getting out of bed without feeling like I got in a fight. I also see the majority of our youth spending the majority of their time on the computer or playing video games. Educating parents to invest in golf for their kids is a great way to help their children be more active and not get hurt like in other physical sports. Carrying your clubs for a round of golf is a workout. It is also a lot of fun being outside and enjoying the outdoors. An organization called the First Tee helps inner city youth get the opportunity to learn how to play golf and also teaches them about life lessons. A website that would be of interest to youth in southwest Missouri that would benefit from the First tee is http://www.thefirsttee.org/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=FL.

Great People in 417!

by Don Harkey

I really love this town!

One of the great things about living in Springfield is getting out and meeting some of the people. If you listen to the radio or watch the TV these days, all you hear about is bad news. If you get out and meet people, you will find innovation, creativity, strong ethics, and people who are simply working hard.

Last week I met Matt and Shelley Wehner at Cabinet Concepts by Design. They purchased the business over a year ago and have had a challenging, but very successful first year. You should see the cabinets they are putting out!

I also met with Rebecca Austin with Strive 4 Savvy who is putting together a Seminar at the Executive Conference Center in Springfield on June 5th called "Success Seminar - Its All in Your Head". This all day event features several area speakers and lunch... all for only $30! She is innovating and finding ways to help people manage their time better. (Contact me if you are interested in getting tickets)

I met Nicole Piper at Child Care Resource and Referral, an agency of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. Her agency provides child care referrals to anyone in the community who is trying to find good child care. She can help with training for child care providers and can connect parents with resources.

These are just a few of the people I met with in the past couple of weeks who are working hard and are really energizing. What a great job I have where I get to spend time with such exciting and interesting people who are creating real value for the community and for themselves!

Introduction: Sean Saunders - Golf Instructor "On the Move"

by Sean Saunders

My name is Sean Saunders and I’m the Manager / Golf Instructor at Swing Right Golf Learning Facility. I also own a teaching business called SWS GOLF, LLC. I have had the opportunity to work at many different golf facilities such as private country clubs, resorts, golf stores, and driving ranges. I have also been fortunate to learn from some of the top Golf / Teaching Professionals in the country. I have seen the best and worst parts of being a PGA Professional. My goal for writing these articles is to educate the general public about golf and the life of a PGA Professional. I want to give insight on my life in balancing my teaching business, managing Swing Right, and starting a new family all while having fun in the process.

I started my golf career at Sioux City Country Club. I worked for a Master PGA Professional, Mitch Merrill. Mitch taught me many valuable lessons. I started as a bag room attendant and worked my way through the ranks to become an Assistant Golf Professional. The most valuable lesson I learned from Mitch is to write everything down. I learned quickly that when multi tasking it is important to make a to-do list and notes throughout the day. When answering the phones, taking tee times, receiving inventory, club repair, teaching lessons, delegating tasks to bag attendants, developing junior golf programs, organizing merchandise, and getting ready for the next big tournament or outing, it is easy to get overwhelmed and miss an important task that needs to be done. Not a lot of people realize how much work and responsibilities there are for a PGA Professional.

The Professional Golfer’s Association of America (PGA) is the largest golf organization in the world and has set the standard for being mentors of the game. The mission of the PGA is to grow the game through professional instruction and management. A PGA Professional is not a Tour Professional like Tiger Woods. A PGA Professional manages a PGA golf facility such as a driving range, learning facility, golf store, golf course, or country club. A golf facility becomes PGA Recognized based on a number of factors such as size, location and business plan. In order to become a PGA Professional, you have to pass a 36 hole playing ability test, three checkpoints (tests), give a presentation to the education staff, interview with a professional portfolio, and have 36 credits (months) of work experience at a PGA Recognized Facility. I am planning on taking my 3rd checkpoint and finish my work experience credits in November. It takes dedication, determination, and good study habits to pass the PGA Professional Golf Management program.

Becoming a PGA Professional has been a goal of mine since I started working in the golf industry nine years ago. It is similar to receiving your master’s degree in the golf business. I have a new found respect for PGA Professionals because they are a select few. The majority of PGA Professionals work 50-60 hour weeks during the season and rarely get the chance to play unless it is a playing lesson or Section tournament. They are dedicated to their profession. The PGA Professionals that stay in the industry do it because they are passionate about golf and enjoy helping others learn and improve their game. There are many sacrifices that are made, but their also many opportunities and benefits of being a PGA member. They are similar to the sacrifices, opportunities and benefits of anyone who is “on the move”!

You're On the Move

by Don Harkey
Galt Consulting

You're active. You're driven. You are always on the move. This is your blog.

This is a blog written by active people for active people. On the "Move Blog", you will meet people from the Springfield, Missouri area who are working hard and playing hard. You'll hear about balancing family, work, and play. You'll hear about how what drives really active people. You'll hear about challenges, but most of all, you'll hear about energy.

Once our contributors are lined up and ready to go (and they are always ready to go), come back and see us "on The Move"!