Goals & the 2 Week Golf Break 10-18-25 - Becker Business

Summary4 min read

Becker Business with Scott Becker

Episode: "Goals & the 2 Week Golf Break 10-18-25"

Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Scott Becker

Episode Overview

In this solo episode, Scott Becker reflects on his personal and professional goals as the year nears its end. He candidly assesses his achievements and shortcomings across business, investment, fitness, and golf, providing listeners with an honest review of his performance. The episode centers on setting realistic goals, accepting partial successes, and the importance of taking breaks—including an upcoming two-week respite from golf.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Annual Goal Setting

Scott sets yearly goals in four main areas:
- Investment
- Business
- Fitness
- Golf

“At the start of each year I set different goals for myself that they often revolve around investment around business, around fitness and around golf.”
— Scott (00:14)

2. Year-End Reflections & Grading Performance

Investment & Business:
- Overall performance described as strong.
- Attributes success largely to favorable market trends.
- Self-assigned grade: A- / B+
- Recognizes the role of charitable giving as part of business goals.

“On the investment in business goals. I did absolutely fine this year. A lot of that's just due to the market moving in the right direction. Nothing specifically that I did particularly well.”
— Scott (00:36)

Charitable Giving:
- Feels proud of contributions this year.
- Bundled with professional success categories.
Fitness:
- Did not achieve target weight, spent most of the year 3–4% above goal.
- Self-critical about discipline and willpower.
- Self-assigned grade: B- / C+

“I would say that I failed on that and I've not failed miserably… but I've spent most of the year 3 or 4% above that core weight. It irritates me only as much as, because it's like a lack of discipline and willpower to get to that weight as anything else…”
— Scott (01:12)

Golf:
- Set out to become a single-digit handicap golfer (target: 10 index).
- Will finish year around a 12 index.
- Missed target by about 20% but prefers a charitable self-assessment.
- Self-assigned grade: B- / C+

“We of course failed to do that. It was an unsuccessful year there. We'll end the year… about a 12 index or so.”
— Scott (01:46)

“I'll give myself a B minus, C plus on the golf. But there are days where it's just absolutely miserable, where I play so poorly. My head is just not in the game.”
— Scott (03:00)

3. The Two-Week Golf Break

Plans a two-week pause from golf to reset, with intention to attack the handicap goal during winter play in Florida.
Frames the break as a means to come back refreshed and motivated.

“I'm now going to take a two week golf break with the hope that we'll start to attack that handicap as we play some golf down in Florida this winter.”
— Scott (02:25)

4. Honest Self-Assessment & Grace

Scott emphasizes the importance of being honest with oneself, but also allowing for “grade inflation” and self-forgiveness.
Accepts that while some goals were missed, overall effort and progress matter.

“I like to be more charitable than that because it's the year. It's the world of great inflation.”
— Scott (02:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On missing fitness goals:
“It irritates me only as much as, because it's like a lack of discipline and willpower to get to that weight…”
— Scott (01:20)
On golf frustrations:
“But there are days where it's just absolutely miserable, where I play so poorly. My head is just not in the game.”
— Scott (03:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

[00:14] — Outlining the four key goal areas
[00:36] — Reflections on business/investment outcomes this year
[01:12] — Assessment of fitness goals and self-discipline
[01:46] — Golf index update and missed target
[02:25] — Announcing the two-week golf break
[02:55] — Self-assessment philosophy and “grade inflation”
[03:01] — Acknowledging the emotional ups and downs of golf

Summary

Scott Becker uses this episode to exemplify transparent self-review, sharing his triumphs and misses in a relatable and self-aware tone. He underscores the value of setting concrete goals, honestly appraising results, and granting oneself the space to rest and try again—especially when the results aren’t perfect. The upcoming golf break is offered as a metaphorical and literal pause, preparing to renew his pursuit of improvement in the new year.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
This is Scott Becker with the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. Today's discussion is goals in the two week golf Break. So here's the deal. At the start of each year I set different goals for myself that they often revolve around investment around business, around fitness and around golf. So here's what I'd say is we're getting into almost November, so it's sort of the end of this year. This year is almost in the books on the investment in business goals. I did absolutely fine this year. A lot of that's just due to the market moving in the right direction. Nothing specifically that I did particularly well. But in terms of investment in business and quite frankly in terms of the charitable giving I did, I feel like I did a good job this year. I give myself, you know, A minus, B pluses in those areas. In terms of fitness, I set a target weight at the start of the year that I want to sort of get at and get at regularly and hopefully stay at that weight more often than not. I would say that I failed on that and I've not failed miserably. I'm not 10% above that core weight, but I've spent most of the year 3 or 4% above that core weight. It irritates me only as much as, because it's like a lack of discipline and willpower to get to that weight as anything else on the golf index. We've also failed to hit the goal for myself. The goal for myself was get to be what is called a single digit handicap. We of course failed to do that. It was an unsuccessful year there. We'll end the year as long as it doesn't go too much further in the wrong direction. About a 12 index or so. But, but I would say that the, the, the in terms of goals for the year, I'm now going to take a two week golf break with the hope that we'll start to attack that handicap as we play some golf down in Florida this winter. But at the end of the day, here's where, where things ran, the investment in business stuff and overall a terrific year. And in fact on the charity contribution spot, a terrific year as well in terms of a few other things we're trying to accomplish this year. Pleased with those, I give myself A minuses, B pluses across board there. In terms of the fitness goals, which as you get to my age is probably a more important goal than a lot of the other ones, I'm closer to a B minus, C plus haven't quite hit that target weight much this year in terms of the golf goal. If I end up the index the year at a 12 point something and index, and my, my goal was a 10 index, I you could say I missed the goal by 20%. I like to be more charitable than that because it's the year. It's the world of great inflation. I'll give myself a B minus, C plus on the golf. But there are days where it's just absolutely miserable, where I play so poorly. My head is just not in the game. It just is what it is. But, but that's the, that's the, the concept of the two week break we're taking now. Today's podcast goals in the two week golf break. Thank you for listening to the Becker Business and the Becker Private Equity Podcast. We hope you enjoy this. Thank you very much for joining us.