Here's Why My Dogs Watch More Professional Golf Than I Do

 Do you remember the old Nielsen TV ratings? The surveys that tracked what Americans were watching? 

I know they've become automated now, but if someone were analyzing my household's viewing habits today, they'd probably have one question: 

Why is there so much golf on in this house?  Are they OK? 

Ten years ago, I would've wondered the same thing. 

Ironically, the first fans of PGA Tour broadcasts in our home weren't the humans - they were the Labradors. Peaceful scenery, calming voices, beautiful landscapes, and just enough background sound to rest by and keep the outdoor noises at bay. 

Somewhere along the way, though, the humans started paying attention. 

Not just to the golf, but to the people. 

Every tournament is filled with remarkable stories and, if you're willing to look for them, powerful leadership lessons. Professional golf provides an unusually clear window into decision-making under pressure, emotional regulation, resilience, preparation, focus, and the ability to keep playing your game regardless of what's happening around you. 

We'll explore more of those lessons in the coming weeks, but this past weekend's 3M Open offered one worth sharing immediately. 

Twenty-one-year-old Jackson Koivun captured his first PGA Tour victory in only his third professional start - holding off the world's No. 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, down the stretch. 

As the pressure mounted Sunday afternoon, so did the crowd. 

"Scottie's coming! Scottie's coming!" 

Imagine hearing that while trying to close out the biggest tournament of your life. 

Afterward, Koivun admitted something refreshing in his press conference. He doesn't believe he's always the most talented player in the field. 

Instead, he believes his greatest advantage is his mindset. 

"If I can go out there and believe and use my brain to my advantage, then that's definitely kind of like a superpower." 

He also shared the three words written on his golf glove: 

Confidence. Trust. Dominate. 

Those three words are just as applicable in business, leadership, parenting, relationships, and everyday life as they are on a golf course. 

Whether our competition is the world's top-ranked golfer, a large competitor with greater resources, or simply the voice of self-doubt in our own minds, many of the variables around us are outside our control. 

Our mindset isn't. 

One principle I often teach from my mental health background is that behavior generally follows a simple sequence: 

Think → Feel → Act. 

Our thoughts influence our emotions, and our emotions heavily influence our actions. 

That's both sobering and empowering. 

The person with the greatest influence over my thoughts isn't my circumstances, my competitors, or even the people around me. 

It's me. 

So when I'm not getting the results I want, one of the first questions worth asking is: 

What am I telling myself that may no longer be serving me? 

Likewise, when I think back on seasons where I've grown, succeeded, or persevered, I can usually identify the thoughts that fueled those moments. 

Mindset alone isn't enough. It never replaces preparation, discipline, or hard work. 

But it determines whether those investments are fully utilized. 

Like any other leadership skill, mindset can be developed. 

No one expects to ride a bike, speak confidently in public, or become a great leader without practice. We'll lose our balance from time to time. We'll make mistakes. We'll need to regroup, refocus, and keep moving forward. 

That's part of the process. 

When asked what his greatest strength as a golfer is, Koivun didn't mention his swing or his putting. 

He answered simply: 

"My mentality." 

So let me leave you with the same three words written on his glove. 

Confidence 

Where might a lack of confidence be quietly limiting your performance? 

What's one small step you could take today if you chose thoughts like: 

I've got this. 

I may not have every answer, but I can find them. 

I've done difficult things before. 

Trust 

Where would greater trust change the outcome? 

Trust in yourself. 

Trust your preparation. 

Trust your team. 

Trust the process. 

Trust the people you've chosen to learn from. 

Dominate 

For me, this word isn't about overpowering other people. 

It's about focus. 

As the old saying goes, "If you chase two rabbits, you catch neither." 

What one area of your thinking deserves your best attention this week? 

Improve there by even one degree, and you may be surprised by what follows. 

Friends will undoubtedly ask me this week which golfer Denver and Dottie are cheering for now, and I'll smile. 

What started as white noise for two Labradors has become one of my favorite weekly leadership classrooms. 

Sometimes wisdom comes from unexpected places. 

This week, it came from a 21-year-old golfer who reminded all of us that while we can't control the competition, we can choose the mindset we bring to it. 

I'd love to hear from you. 

Which of those three words - Confidence, Trust, or Dominate - deserves your greatest attention this week?