Dan Mechem is the newly minted NextLinks CEO after a varied professional career that included being Congressman John McCain’s press secretary, serving as a White House correspondent and Emmy-winning investigative reporter, and rising to vice president at Nielsen Online. Mechem, whose father Charles was the LPGA's commissioner from 1991-1995, shares his key principles to business success and how his past and the pandemic have shaped his view of work.
The First Call: Please give us a short overview of your company.
Dan Mechem: NextLinks is a new tech driven indoor golf company that takes the experience of Topgolf to the next level with our proprietary technology and player experience.
TFC: What is your handicap index?
DM: 18.
TFC: What time do you wake in the morning, and what time do you typically start the workday?
DM: I wake at 6 a.m. and start work at 7 a.m.
TFC: What are key elements to leadership or to being a good leader?
DM: Honesty, integrity and hard work.
TFC: What changes, if any, have you made based on the events of the past year?
DM: I just started this job as CEO recently, so I have not had time to impact our company yet. But regarding the pandemic as a major event in the past year, I value more than ever living a full and abundant life, because my wife's mother and brother both died of COVID.
TFC: What's the secret to your success?
DM: Working harder and smarter than most. But retaining humility and never losing my temper around employees.
TFC: Who is your role model?
DM: My father.
TFC: Knowing what you know today, what professional advice would you give a younger you?
DM: I would tell him to not sweat the little things. And let him know that you will fail sometimes. That's OK. Learn from your mistakes, dust yourself off and get back to work on living your dream.
TFC: What’s the last book you read?
DM: My father's book, “Total Anecdotal.”
TFC: What’s the last movie you saw?
DM: “Goodfellas.”
TFC: What’s on your playlist?
DM: Carl Cox, The Killers and Steve Aoki.
TFC: When I’m not at work, you can find me …
DM: Playing golf.
TFC: What is your greatest extravagance?
DM: Ice cream.
TFC: What are the favorite golf courses you have played?
DM: Mayacama, near Santa Rosa. Amazing Jack Nicklaus design where you play golf, often with deer and other animals roaming the course.