“It Is All About Points”
If you are in a relationship, and especially if you are married, you will understand about points. You are either ahead in points or behind in points. In most cases, if you are like me, behind in points is the story of your life. Very simply put, you gain points by doing what is expected such as yard work, working on the house, doing the dishes, the vacuuming, and not forgetting birthdays and anniversaries. You lose points by not doing what is expected in all categories just mentioned. Forget a birthday or an anniversary, and you might get a half-point back if you show up with flowers or take the significant other on a cruise.
My wife and I golf a lot. I like to fly fish, and thought it would be nice if my wife tried it on for size. I found an advertisement in a travel magazine for “Fly Fishing Boot Camp.” This was put on every Sunday by a fly fishing shop in a nearby city. The cost was $200, and the session lasted all day, so lunch was thrown in. Upon arrival at an old farm property beside a river, the boot campers were handed a fly rod with reel and line all ready to go. (While this was all taking place, I went fishing. Lost some points with this maneuver).
The group worked on casting in a big field nearby, were taught how to tie a fly and a bit about entomology, were given lunch, and then went on a field trip to the river to try out their skills. At
the end of the day, everyone sat around a campfire, drank coffee and a few adult beverages, and learned a bit about fish tales. When it was time to go, my wife was presented with a gift – the rod, reel, line, leader, and the few flies she had tied. All of the participants received the same gift. I was fascinated! I figured the fishing gear had a value of about $200 – not top-of-the-line gear, but functional. Lunch was nothing fancy, but most of the veggies came out of the garden right by the old farmhouse, and there was lots to eat. The brewskis were on the house, as were the coffee and fireside chit-chat.
A great experience, and all of the participants were absolutely thrilled with the day, the equipment, and the guides who had done the teaching. I asked the principal how many people he had put through the boot camp. Four thousand was the answer! These folks were not in the boot camp business; they were in the customer creation business. Most of the new fly fishers would be heading back to the home shop for more gear, better gear, guides to take them back to the river, and information on where to go next.
My thoughts then turned to the golf teaching industry and the struggle to get more people golfing more often. I hope some big-idea person can figure out a way to get the hook into new golfers like the fly fish shop did with their new fly fishers.
When you do, let us in on it!
