No Phone Sporting Events? 📵

Is it time for No Phone sporting events? I think so. Let me plead my case.

Let me show you how the masters could pave the way for “the anxious generation” to actually appreciate novel sporting events. I went to the Masters a couple weeks ago, and this is the only picture I have of me there because they don't allow phones.

I was looking forward to this as a chronically online content creator, but I was blown away at how much I appreciated it. It allowed me to appreciate the thing that brought me to the sport in the first place, the sport. Modern day sporting events are an assault on the senses, not only from every sponsor they try to jam in there, but every single person is capturing their own version of the sporting event…except for Phil Knight below. Don't look at this image too long. It will make you depressed.

It's been interesting to start watching sports with my kids. As a lifelong sporting fan, I haven't always noticed things like horror movies being advertised during NBA All-Star Games 😡. Watching basketball with my son is fantastic. He’s VERY interested in the game, the rules, the players, the strategy. We get to talk a lot about it when watching, but at a game, that opportunity feels less possible. We get yelled at by a DJ, blimps dropping coupons on us, dogs balancing on chairs at halftime…I could go on.

I'm here to appeal to the sporting teams and leadership.
If you don't know, there's great concern for many parents right now and there are bestselling books tapping into this concern like “The Anxious Generation”. There's a lot of concern around smartphones and our kids interacting with them and parents not being present enough. I think about this a lot, but there are clues if we will listen.

Major League Baseball had a huge hit with the Field of Dreams concept and the Winter Classic by the NHL has led the way. Fans are looking for novel experiences to go to as a part of their professional sports. And we've seen test cases in other industries like concerts.

Almost every person I know complains about everybody pulling out their phone and God forbid someone with an iPad in the front row trying to film terrible audio and video footage of their favorite musical act. So, musical acts have pushed back and there's companies now who've popped up who will put a phone in a pouch that is locked up for the show so that people can be present.

So while the rest of us in our society are trying to figure out ways to create phone free spaces and times, sports community, this is your opportunity. And I believe a lot of parents and individuals would sign up for this.
I'm here to help. Let know what you think.

Education:
The BrandFathers new episode is out NOW: This week the Fathers talk celebrities and how they’re leveraging their fame and faces to make millions outside of their main careers. YouTube & Spotify Video available below!

Or, you can always visit HowToGetAJobAtNike.com for some of my career resources & advice as well.

Blessings:

I nearly collapsed in a pile of relief and regret after getting a 5 minute golf lesson this week, and it felt like a deep life lesson.

I’ve been obsessed with golf for about 17 years. I don’t have hobbies, just obsessions. And there’s not room for many others. So, golf is it.
But golf is hard. Really hard. Perhaps the reason I’m so drawn to it. You can never Win Golf. As someone equally obsessed with Winning, this is a tough masochistic merry go round.

My golf swing was born out of what felt natural, not what seems logical or efficient. This initial ignorance came out of necessity as I got into the game at the brokest point of my life. I needed a guide, but mostly fumbled my way through Golf Digest, Books and YouTube videos.

This past year, I decided to invest in a few lessons. For years, I created a story in my head that a swing coach would try to “rebuild” my swing, that I would need hours on the range and a complete rehabilitation.
Instead I went to visit an old friend & golf coach, Jeff Hawkins. After 2-3 lessons, and minor quarter inch tweaks of my hands on the grip and positioning of my wrists, I’m hitting the ball better than I have in 17 years.
But, the driver has been elusive, so again, I buckled down and hired Jeff.
In 5 minutes, he tweaked my shoulder direction and pushed my right foot forward…the slice I’ve battled for 17 years was gone.

Look at the image below and you’ll see me nearly fall over after watching a foreign ball flight. I thought of every tee box I’ve struggled on, every curse word uttered, every defeat internalized. This could have been avoided if I just sought help way back when?! Lord, help me.

What are you avoiding? What stories are you creating about how hard that thing might be?
As I’ve learned with so many things in life: recovery, faith, counseling, the submission to seek help is about 90% of the battle. The final 10% is showing up and being willing to be molded.

Entrepreneurship has molded me in new ways. Some great, some I’m really struggling to adapt to. I’m in the process of seeking wisdom and help.

With that acknowledgement alone, maybe the hardest part is done?

May you find the willingness to seek help with your biggest (or smallest) burdens. The transformation may be quicker than you imagine.