Today on the podcast, I get to talk to someone whom I admire, because they were willing to pivot from a good career in publishing to one completely outside their comfort zone to build something meaningful.
I’m talking about Mary Lengle. Early in her career, Mary worked at Rodale, where she built a reputation as a talented publicist promoting books for some remarkable people — from Denise Austin to Gary Player, LL Cool J, and Morgan Freeman.
She enjoyed the work and was building a successful career. But like many creative people, Mary had this quiet feeling inside her that she was meant for something more. Not just helping tell other people’s stories, but helping build something that connected with her own passions and purpose.
And for Mary, that passion had been there since childhood. She grew up around the game of golf, learning from her grandfather that golf isn’t just a sport — it’s a game that brings people together.
Eventually, that inner voice got louder. Mary realized that if she wanted to create the kind of life and work that truly resonated with her, she would have to take a leap. So, she made a bold decision: she left Rodale and partnered with PGA instructor Eric Cogorno.
What started as a shared belief in the power of the game has grown into something much bigger. Together they’ve built a global golf instruction platform, creating content and community for golfers all over the world.
I wrote about Mary in my book because her story captures something I believe deeply — that creativity often begins the moment you stop waiting for permission and start trusting that instinct that tells you there’s more out there.
