Three Questions

I will tell you everything I know about golf on the following line:

________________________________________

Yep. Nothing. I don’t know how to hold a club, I don't know the difference between the bunker and the rough, I don't even know what goes into an Arnold Palmer. And I recognize that, as a man whose diverse practice has a slight majority of female leaders less interested in sport than I am, I am guilty of using too many sports metaphors. Given these two truths, it seems unlikely that I would post a blog about golf. But something amazing happened last week that was so insightful and authentic I had to write about it. (After reading this blog, you can see the interview here.)

At this year’s Open Championship, the No. 1 golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, gave a five-minute answer that had nothing to do with swing mechanics, course strategy, or the leaderboard—and everything to do with life, leadership, and meaning.

When asked what it feels like to be the best golfer on the planet, Scheffler’s response surprised many:

“Winning is one of the greatest joys of my life… but does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not.”

Here are his (edited) comments:

I'm not here to inspire somebody else to be the best player in the world because

what's the point, you know? This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from the sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart. There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life … and they're like, "What's the point?" … Why do I want to win so badly? Because if I win, it's going to be awesome for about 2 minutes and we're back here again, you know? We work so hard for such little moments. I love being able to play this game for a living. It's one of the greatest joys of my life. But does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? Absolutely not. I'm blessed to be able to come out here and play golf, but if my golf ever started affecting my home life or it ever affected the relationship I have with my wife or with my son… that's going to be the last day that I play out here for a living. This is not the be-all-end-all. This is not the most important thing in my life. I would much rather be a great father than I would be a great golfer.  I'm only going to be doing this for a finite amount of time.

Talk about a core-centered life.

Lucky is the leader that has not suffered the “Arrival Fallacy”—the belief that once we reach a certain goal or position, we’ll finally feel satisfied. We rarely do. The promotion, the raise, the merger, the championship—it gives a dopamine hit, maybe a few days of celebration, and then... it’s back to the grind. The bar just moves. Again.

And the question creeps in: “What’s the point?”

And the question creeps in: “What’s the point?”

Too many leaders spend their days on the to-do list, chasing wins, solving problems, winning championships—and then wonder why it all still feels hollow.

Here are a few lessons that seem to come from Scheffler’s core.

1. Fulfillment Is Not the Same as Achievement

You can be incredibly successful and still feel empty. Don’t confuse external validation with internal peace. True fulfillment comes from purpose, meaning, and relationships—not status, titles, or accomplishments.

2. Your Job Is Not Your Identity

Scheffler knows who he is apart from his career. Leaders need to do the same. When your worth is tied too tightly to your role, you risk collapse the moment circumstances shift.

3. Values and Family First—Always

Scheffler’s willingness to walk away from golf if it harms his family is a powerful boundary. Do you have clear boundaries? Are you protecting the most important parts of your life from the demands of leadership?

4. Know your Core Truths

Scheffler plays because he loves the game, not because he needs to prove something. When leaders operate from their core truths—not fear, or ego, or insecurity—they inspire others to do the same.

So three questions to ask yourself:

1. Will what I am chasing truly fulfill me?

2. Am I leading in a way that aligns with what matters most?

3. If I won everything I wanted, would I feel whole?

Your answers might just change the way you lead.

And the way you live.