Meet James Keegan | Envisioning Strategist and Reality Mentor

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Keegan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?

Theodore Roosevelt, “Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

This quote represents the “Entrepreneur’s Creed” to me. Success is not a straight line; it is not exponential but a series of starts and adjustments adapting to an ever-changing market.

This quote has been the central theme of my life that continues to motivate me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My career has had six segment segments:

1) Education: obtaining a BBA at TCU and MBA at the University of Michigan,
2) Captain in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War,
3) CPA with KPMG,
4) Founder of a golf management software firm serving 450 golf courses (the large municipalities in the US),
5) As an envisioning strategist and reality mentor providing strategic financial analysis to golf courses around the world serving over 2,000 of the world’s 58,000 golf courses
6) Enrolled in a Ph.D. Program in Sports Leadership.

The journey of life has resulted in flying over 3 million miles on United Airlines to 64 countries, where I have played golf in 42 countries, including 91 of the Top 100 golf courses in the world.

What I have learned is:

1) Individuals are like logs in the ocean. The current may bring us together for a short time, but the currents of life will most likely drift us apart.

2) Life is merely a journey through which we experience the polarities of pleasure vs. pain, gain vs. loss, success vs. failure, and praise vs. blame.

3) We underestimate that though the world appears static, incremental change constantly occurs moment by moment, and we are only truly impacted by exponential changes.

4) Companies and political institutions, while subject to the perils of capitalism and changing societal values, control the narrative of our lives. We are merely stand-ins in the main play of life.

5) People, at their core, do not want to change. The vast majority are comfortable with the status quo. Though they ask for help, many will reject and resent an individual who wants to provide them with the requested advice and guidance, suspicious of their motives.

Mario Andretti has an expression, “If you enjoy your work, you need no hobbies.” I am very fortunate that my passion for golf has fueled my life experience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A summer trip through the Colorado Mountains, first stopping in Vail, taking the Gondola to the top, doing some zip lines, and then walking down the Mountain to catch a performance at the Betty Ford theatre.

We would proceed to South Fork, staying at the Arbor House B&B. During the day, we would play the Rio Grande Golf Club before heading to dinner and theatre in South Fork.

On the way back to Castle Pines, we would stop at the Broadmoor and have a “yard of ale” in the Golden Bee.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents instilled in me at a young age the necessity of hard work and being active.

From delivering the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin on my bicycle nightly to caddying at Philmont County Country from the time I was 12 to 22 complimented my active participation in the Boy Scouts, where I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and participated in school sports (baseball, basketball, golf, and bowling) to summer Sandlot baseball.

Though I had a college scholarship for baseball, I opted to play golf my senior year in high school, realizing it was a lifelong sport that provided the foundation for my career.

My parents said two things that were instrumental. Though I wanted to become a PGA Golf Professional, my mom said, “You want to strive to become a member at the Club – not an employee.” My Dad said, “I should become an accountant. In good times and bad times in business, they always need a scorekeeper, and that role is filled by accountants.”

Website: https://jjkeegan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjkeegan/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjkeegangolf

Twitter: Deleted account when it changed to X

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jj.keegan.75

Image Credits
No credits required. Pictures taken by associates.