If you’re an advisor who loves golf, here’s the truth: the game teaches more about winning clients and building lasting trust than most people ever realize.

That’s exactly what I dive into with today’s guest, Marisa Messana. She went from leading Clemson’s women’s golf team to the national championship, to competing as a professional golfer, to now coaching Fortune 100 companies, investment firms, and business owners.

Through her work, Marisa helps in two ways:

First, through her High Performance Training, where she equips people to perform like “corporate athletes.” This is the work that helps advisors shift from solopreneur to CEO, lead with more clarity, and create the space they need to actually grow.

Second, with her Golf Experiences, she shows how to turn a round of golf into a trust-building, referral-generating opportunity. She blends fun on the course with growth-focused conversations off the course, creating the kind of experiences clients never forget.

In this episode, Marisa shares how golf becomes more than a pastime, it’s one of the best ways for advisors to build trust, win clients, and grow their business.

4 of the biggest insights from Marisa Messana…

1.) Winning On Paper, Falling Apart Inside

At Clemson, Marisa hit the pinnacle of success—leading her team to nationals and winning the Elite 90 Award. But behind the accolades, she was overwhelmed, burned out, and holding back tears. Her story exposes the danger of chasing external success without the systems and self-awareness to sustain it.

2.) Self-Awareness Is What Separates Amateurs From Pros

In golf, pros track every stat after a round to find patterns and improve. Marisa realized she wasn’t doing the same for her life. That’s when she built her “mental gym,” a process of auditing habits, energy, and emotions. By tracking patterns and adjusting, she turned awareness into action—and that’s what creates real, repeatable growth.

3.) New Game, New Rules: Solopreneur to CEO

Most advisors start as solopreneurs, where success depends on sheer hustle. But scaling a firm requires a different identity: leader, coach, CEO. Marisa shares how this shift mirrors her journey from athlete to business builder—and why so many advisors get stuck when they keep playing the old game by the old rules.

4.) How to Host Golf Events That Drive Referrals

Golf is more than just a pastime for advisors—it’s a powerful business tool. Marisa breaks down how to design unforgettable golf experiences that combine fun on the course with meaningful, growth-oriented discussions. By pairing the “golf component” (18 holes, a clinic, or even a simple range session) with a “growth component” (roundtable conversations, workshops, or keynotes), advisors can break down barriers, connect as equals, and build deep trust with prospects & clients.

SHOW NOTES

https://bradleyjohnson.com/134

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DISCLOSURE 

DBDL podcast episode conversations are intended to provide financial advisors with ideas, strategies, concepts and tools that could be incorporated into their business and their life. No statements made in the episode are offered as, and shall not constitute financial, investment, tax or legal advice. Financial professionals are responsible for ensuring implementation of anything discussed related to business is done so in accordance with any and all regulatory, compliance responsibilities and obligations. 

The Triad member statements reflect their own experience which may not be representative of all Triad Member experiences, and their appearances were not paid for. 

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