F
rom the course to the shop, PGA of America Golf Professionals are always looking for new perspectives or ideas that can improve their businesses and their lives. That search for innovative content includes books, podcasts, YouTube videos and a number of other avenues where experts share their thoughts.
PGA Magazine asked a number of PGA of America Professionals and golf industry experts what books and podcasts they’ve enjoyed, and why they’d recommend them to their peers.
by David Epstein
Subtitled “Why generalists triumph in a specialized world,” this book is a good read for PGA of America Coaches who work with juniors. It presents the evidence that specializing in one sport or activity too young – or work too hard on mastering a single pursuit from an early age – are less likely to excel than their peers who learn and enjoy multiple sports or interests. The message of being able to have a broad skillset and experiences can resonate with parents of juniors who may not know that focusing on a single sport can lead to injuries, burnout and disinterest over time.
with Kelly Smith
Meditation and mindfulness are terms that are often mentioned as ways to cope with stress or focus your thoughts. But how do you do it? Smith, a yoga instructor and longtime meditator, creates short weekly guided meditations that are an outstanding entry to the world of mindfulness. The topics are varied, and some of the mediations are meant for movement, like taking a walk, and many of the episodes are under 10 minutes long when you need a quick mental break.
by Angela Duckworth
The author, like many of us, grew up thinking that it took genius-level smarts to succeed at a high level in business. However, she learned through experience and research that perseverance and drive are better indicators of future success than sheer brainpower. The book showcases how to build grit and achieve high performance through interviews with business and sports leaders, as well as historical examples of how effort and curiosity can lead to peak performance.
by Bill McGowan and Juliana Silva
Public speaking has long been one of the scariest tasks for many people, and numerous members of Gen Z have a similar aversion to face-to-face conversations, as well. This book offers advice and strategies for finding your voice in public conversations and presentations, whether that’s talking to a large group of people or having an important conversation with a co-worker. The tools described in the book also help you go beyond jargon and cliches to make your communications clearer and more impactful.