What's the point

Close your eyes and dream for a minute. Imagine that you're the best in the world at what you do.

As a teenager, I dreamt of being a pro golfer and winning the biggest tournaments in the world.

So when I close my eyes, I see myself winning golf's oldest major championship. I'm holding the Claret Jug – the trophy every golfer dreams of lifting. Cameras are flashing, crowds are cheering, and I've just secured my place in sporting history.

Now imagine, in that moment of supposed triumph, asking yourself: "What's the point?"

That's exactly what happened to Scottie Scheffler, the world's number one golfer, in the lead-up to his Open Championship victory last week.

"Playing good golf and winning tournaments feels pointless," he said. "What's the point? Next week, there's another tournament. Another chance to win. I'm just back on the treadmill."

The best golfer on the planet. Achieving his (and my) lifelong dream. And yet questioning the very pursuit that made him the best golfer on the planet.

Sound familiar?

When Excellence Becomes Emptiness

Scheffler wasn't having a bad year.

He'd already won multiple tournaments. He was dominating his sport in a way few athletes ever do. By every external measure, he was living the dream.

And yet.

"What's the point?"

You see, Scheffler had stumbled into the achievement trap that ensnares so many high-performers. The ladder with no top rung. The dopamine hit that gets shorter while the recovery time grows longer.

Win this week. Great. What about next week?

Hit your quarterly target. Fantastic. What about next quarter?

Got the promotion. Wonderful. What about the next one?

The treadmill never stops.

The Identity Prison

But there's something even more profound in Scheffler's story.

When you've spent your entire adult life being "the person who wins", questioning that pursuit feels like questioning your entire identity. Who is Scottie Scheffler if not the guy who dominates golf tournaments?

Who are you if not the person who delivers results?

It's terrifying to even consider, isn't it?

I was speaking with someone last month – let's call her Sarah – who'd just closed the biggest deal of her career. Seven figures. Career-defining stuff.

"I should be celebrating," she told me, "but instead I'm wondering what comes next. And I'm scared that the answer is... more of the same."

That fear? It's not weakness. It's clarity beginning to break through.

The Plot Twist

Here's where Scheffler's story gets interesting.

After voicing his doubts, after questioning the very point of his pursuit, he didn't quit golf. He didn't walk away from competition.

He went ahead and won The Open.

But something had shifted. In interviews after his victory, he spoke differently. Not about the next tournament, not about defending his ranking, but about perspective.

About what truly mattered.

A Different Scorecard

So what changed for Scheffler? What moves someone from "what's the point?" to genuine satisfaction?

I think he started asking different questions:

• "Why am I really doing this?"
• "What am I optimising for, beyond just winning?"
• "How does this align with my values?"

These aren't comfortable questions. But comfort isn't the point.

The point is building a life where your outer world of accomplishment aligns with your inner world of values.

The Real Victory

Want to know what Scheffler said after lifting that Claret Jug?

He talked about his family. About how the win mattered, yes, but it didn't define him.

He'd learned to hold his achievements lightly. It was amazing to win, but it was not everything. Important, but not identity.

That's the real victory.

The ability to pursue excellence whilst maintaining your humanity.

Your Turn

If you're reading this and thinking, "I've felt exactly like Scheffler," you're not alone.

The achievement trap catches the best of us precisely because we are high-performers. We're wired to push, to climb the next mountain.

But here's what I want you to consider: What if the next mountain isn't higher? What if it's different?

Start here:

• Track your satisfaction – After your next professional win, notice how long the feeling lasts. Hours? Days? Minutes?
• Question your "shoulds" – Are you pursuing this because you want it or because it's expected?
• Identify your jealousy – Who do you envy and why? Your envy points you towards neglected values.
• Right-size achievement – What would it look like to care deeply about your work while holding your identity lightly?

The paradox of success isn't that achievement is meaningless. It's that achievement alone is insufficient.

Scheffler figured this out at 28, whilst being number 1 in the world in his chosen profession. It's taken me much longer to get to that level of insight.

How long will it take you?

Until next time,

Jon "Champion Golfer of the Year" Kaye

Finding meaning in the Everyday

P.S.

I wrote a song to encapsulate my time at Do Wales 2025. It's part of my journey as an audio branding expert. Can I take an event and turn it into memories? I made this track for free (as a gift) but would this be valuable for other companies? We'll see.