The Golfer's Journal Podcast Mind Game: Nick Kokonas, "Know What Good Is"
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Jan 30, 2025 
Nick Kokonas, co-founder of the three-Michelin-star restaurant Alinea, shares his thrilling journey from trading to transforming the culinary scene. He discusses risk-taking strategies and his insights on the intertwined worlds of fine dining and golf. With humor, he dives into the importance of embracing discomfort for growth, explores creativity in restaurants versus sports, and offers ideas to reenergize the PGA Tour. Kokonas also reflects on psychological barriers in competitive environments, emphasizing the need for personal growth and accountability.
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Out-of-Office Humor
- Nick Kokonas wrote humorous out-of-office emails, including one about a panda adoption and another about a tantric sex retreat.
- One joke email caused him to lose business with a major hotel group, but he doesn't regret it.
Core Skills
- Nick Kokonas's core skills include a desire for independence, self-accountability, and questioning authority.
- He believes in owning one's situation and challenging the status quo.
False Prestige
- Kokonas's father owned a grocery store and prioritized being present in his children's lives.
- This taught him that career prestige is a false metric.