I have a good team around me. I have people I trust around me.
I have a good team around me. I have people I trust around me. If I go the wrong way, they will yell at me. Just as they have in the past.
The words of Bubba Watson shine with humility and strength: “I have a good team around me. I have people I trust around me. If I go the wrong way, they will yell at me. Just as they have in the past.” In these lines we find the eternal wisdom of community and accountability. For no man, however gifted, can walk the road of life alone. Even the strongest warrior needs companions to guide his steps; even the greatest king needs counselors to keep him from folly. Bubba speaks not of his own greatness, but of the power of those who surround him—his team, his circle of trust, his protectors against pride and error.
The ancients taught this lesson often. Consider Alexander the Great, whose empire stretched across continents. Though his courage and vision were immense, he leaned upon generals like Parmenion and Hephaestion, men who could speak boldly and correct him when needed. Without their counsel, his victories would have crumbled into chaos. Bubba’s words echo this truth: the true strength of a leader is not measured only in his own decisions, but in his willingness to be guided, corrected, even rebuked by those who love him enough to speak truth.
There is great nobility in accepting correction. Many rulers of old refused it, and their pride destroyed them. King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, spurned the wise advice of his elders and listened only to flatterers; as a result, his kingdom was torn in two. Contrast this with leaders who heeded counsel, and you will see the difference between ruin and flourishing. Bubba Watson, in acknowledging his team, reveals the humility that guards a man from the fate of Rehoboam: he welcomes not only support, but rebuke.
In sport, as in life, greatness is never solitary. The golfer swings alone, yet behind him stand coaches, family, friends—those who see the flaws he cannot, those who call him back when he strays. This principle is universal. The poet needs editors, the soldier needs comrades, the merchant needs advisors. A lone traveler may stumble into darkness, but a traveler with companions is guided by many eyes and many hands. Bubba’s words remind us that true achievement is born not from isolation, but from communion.
The essence of his saying is not comfort but accountability. To have people who will “yell at me” is to have guardians of the soul, those who refuse to let pride or error go unchecked. Such voices are not enemies but treasures. They are the ones who love us enough to risk our anger in order to preserve our path. To be without them is to be surrounded only by silence or by flatterers, and both are dangerous.
The lesson is clear: build around yourself a circle of trust, a team that loves you enough to tell you the truth. Value not only the voices that praise you, but those that correct you, for they are your shield against folly. Greatness lies not in rejecting guidance, but in welcoming it with humility and gratitude.
Practical actions follow: choose carefully those you allow close to you, ensuring they are people of honesty and integrity. Invite their counsel and give them permission to speak boldly, even when it stings. Do not resent correction, but weigh it with care, knowing it may save you from error. And in turn, be such a voice for others—offering truth not in cruelty, but in love. In this way, all may walk the road of life with steadier steps, upheld by the wisdom of trusted companions.
HCHa Chau
This quote makes me wonder—do you think it’s always easy to find people who are comfortable enough to speak up and challenge you when you’re going down the wrong path? Bubba Watson seems to have cultivated that environment, but can it be difficult for others to do the same in their own lives or careers? How can someone create a space where constructive criticism is welcomed, rather than feared?
TNThanh Nguyen
I admire Bubba Watson’s view on trusting his team to keep him in check. It sounds like it really helps him stay grounded. In your opinion, do you think this kind of accountability is more effective in certain types of work environments? For example, does it work better in sports where performance is easily measured, or would it be just as useful in other fields like entrepreneurship or the arts?
LMHoang Le Minh
What I find interesting about this quote is Bubba Watson’s acceptance of criticism from his team. It makes me think about how people in leadership positions often find it difficult to be vulnerable or accept criticism. Do you think it’s essential for leaders to have this kind of trust in their team, or is there a risk of over-relying on others’ opinions? Could this dynamic work in industries outside of sports, like business or creative work?
BVnguyẽn thị bảo vy
Bubba Watson’s perspective about his team holding him accountable is great, but it also makes me wonder, how do you build that level of trust in a team? Can a team dynamic work when one person is constantly giving direction, or does it only thrive when everyone is open and honest with each other? What do you think it takes for a team to feel comfortable enough to challenge each other like that?
LTluu thuy
I really like the idea of having a team that holds you accountable, like Bubba Watson mentions. It sounds like a system built on trust and openness. In your opinion, do you think it’s always easy for someone to accept criticism from people they trust, especially in public or high-stakes situations? How do you think having that kind of honest feedback affects someone’s performance, both positively and negatively?