Success is honoring values

Scottie Scheffler is the #1 golfer in the world. At his recent pre-Open Championship press conference, he delivered a remarkably honest 5-minute reflection on success and fulfillment. His key statement: "This is not a fulfilling life. It's fulfilling from a sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest places of your heart."

The backlash was swift. Critics called him ungrateful and boring, with criticism including quotes like "vanilla personality" that supposedly hurts golf TV ratings. Fans mocked him as a "poor rich golfer." The golf world seemed uncomfortable with a champion who dared suggest that professional achievements don't equal lasting satisfaction.

Here's someone who has worked harder than most to reach the pinnacle of his sport: 4 majors, World #1 for 112 consecutive weeks, $86M+ in earnings. Yet he's criticized for saying true fulfillment comes from his faith, family, and the process itself, not the hardware.

I applaud his position. We are not our jobs. Fulfillment in work doesn't equal fulfillment in life. Hitting your targets and winning trophies doesn't mean you'll go home happy.
Honoring your values will.

When someone at the top of their field says "I would much rather be a great father than a great golfer," that's not weakness; that's authentic leadership. It takes courage to challenge the cultural assumption that external achievements should define us.

His philosophy didn't hurt his performance either. He won The Open Championship days after making these "controversial" comments, proving that healthy detachment from outcomes can actually enhance excellence.

When we stay true to our deeper values while pursuing professional success, that's a path that may actually make us the best version of ourselves in all areas of life.