What I Like... With Golf World Publisher Tom Nolan

Golf World Publisher  Tom Nolan

In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports execs for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today, Golf World Publisher TOM NOLAN.

A business deal I admire: My wife's ability to barter at Baby Gap.

A story that bears watching: Dubai, and the FedEx Cup.

An insight: As long as my expectations are higher than everyone else has for me, then I know I will succeed.

An influential person in my career: My parents never worked in the corporate world, but they taught me early on how important hard work is.

An out-of-the-box idea: Teaching my dog to baby-sit.

A timeless idea: Dress for success.

A marketing idea: Private jet cards.

Sports facility: Wrigley Field.

A TV ad campaign: American Express' "Members Moments."

A print ad campaign: Gatorade's "G" campaign.

A strategy: Plan to work and then work the plan.

A hire: Someone who complements you, as opposed to someone just like you. If you have two people doing and saying the same things, you only need one of them.

A brand: How can you argue against Coca-Cola, Disney and Nike?

A trend: I'm thinking there may be something to this "Internet" concept.

An innovation: DVR.

A business decision: Trading for JOHAN SANTANA.

A pro league or team business initiative: See above.

A business solution: Wireless e-mail.

A decision-maker: Someone who understands the facts and makes a decision based on the real and not on the popular.

A competitor's idea: I am my own competitor.

An idea or invention I wish I had thought of: Google.

A fantasy job: Professional golfer, but only after I've won the lottery, so I wouldn't have to play to eat. Otherwise, I'd starve.

What I like about sports: The passion and rivalries.

Sports business: It moves fast and the faces change.

Sports media: They all wish they could play, or could still play, like the ones they report on.

Pro sports: People getting paid to do what they love.

Football: The sheer ability of some of the greats to see the game so slowly and react so quickly.

The NFL: Competitive balance.

Golf: No sport is a better judge of character.

College sports: That 99% of the guys and gals playing won't ever be pros but play because they love to win and want an education.

Competing in this business: It's filled with people I admire.

The future of sports business: If our economy continues as it has, I wonder if people will simply get so turned off to the costs of going to events and be disenchanted with the absolute wealth top-name athletes get to play. I think we may see a real turn to amateur sports as allegiances to local sports (such as a Double-A baseball team) and colleges are much easier than to the athlete who goes to the highest bidder, whom I can't afford to see anyway.

What I would like to change: Bipartisanship -- we need some focus.

See different: I would love to see the world through my kids' eyes.

Refresh: My 20s.

Reintroduce: The Perm ... oh, wait, BARRY HYDE did that already.

Eliminate: Decisions based purely on profit.

What I don't like in general: When my work life balance gets skewed. There is nothing that makes me more productive and excited to work than understanding the reasons why I am doing it.

Pet peeve: Laziness.

In sports: Lack of loyalty (to sponsors, teams, cities, etc.).

In business: Thinking you have to climb a ladder to achieve success. Be good at what you do and good things will happen.

In sports business: 874 bowl games.

In sports media: The skill level of the announcers in the 874th bowl game.

In sports marketing: That every pitch or tackle is "brought to me" by some company.

In sports facilities: Artificial turf of any kind and long lines at the bathrooms.

What I like in people: Those who work hard with a purpose.

That would surprise those who know me: Golf is my second-best sport.

Above all else: Family.

About myself: My work ethic.

Hero: HARRY TRUMAN.

Players: NOLAN RYAN, TIGER WOODS, JIM BROWN.

Teams: Mets, Jets, Knicks and Islanders.

City: San Francisco.

Possession: A letter I found from BOBBY JONES.

Memento: My grandfather's lifetime gym membership card from when he worked at Grumman in the '60s.

Time of year: Fall, especially the fall of 1986.

Music: Country.

Books: "The Match."

Authors: MARK FROST, JOHN FEINSTEIN.

Magazines: HBR, The Week.

Web sites: WSJ.com, ESPN.com.

Blogs: Golfwrx.com, Golfclubatlas.com, Geoffshackelford.com.

Ideas: When ideas become tangible workings.

Gadgets: iPod and Blackberry.

Chores: Mowing the lawn.

Hobbies: Family, golf.

Trips: Anywhere with my family.

Movies: "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Caddyshack," "The Natural," "The Shawshank Redemption."

TV: "Monday Night Football," "Lost."

Concert: The Wiggles (Three kids age 4 and under has its challenges).

Artist: Tiger Woods.

Food: PB&J, I have it every morning for breakfast.

Dessert: Ice cream.

Drink: Guinness.

Scent: The smell of a new baseball glove.

Vacation spot: Wherever there isn't a TV.

Car: '68 Camaro.

Aftershave: Hermes.

Singers: KEITH URBAN, ALAN JACKSON.

Quote: "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit" -- Harry Truman.

Editor's note: Golf World is owned by Condé Nast, which also owns Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily.