You’ve been there. The weekly strategy meeting in that windowless room. The air is thick. The same old metrics are being recycled on the screen. Then, someone breaks the silence. They pitch an idea. A “disruptive concept.”
And it’s awful. A boardroom bogey.
It’s derivative, it’s expensive, it’s completely off-strategy. Maybe it’s a “Hero Shot”—that 1-in-100 punch-shot through a three-inch gap in the trees over water. It looks cool if it works, but 99 times out of 100, you’re just reloading and taking a penalty stroke. In business, that penalty stroke costs real money and real time.
Everyone in the room is frozen. The “Old Self” wants to either laugh or immediately “dispose” of the idea (and maybe the person who pitched it).
We are officially resigning from that model. At Skull & Bogeys Golf Co., we believe that recognizing a bad idea is a requirement for mastery, but celebrating the bravery of the person who pitched it is the foundation of our culture.
The First Tee Jitters (of the Brain) Create Boardroom Bogeys
Standing on the 1st tee with a gallery watching is terrifying. Admitting you need help at your first recovery meeting is even more terrifying. Speaking up in a room full of veterans or leadership to pitch a raw idea? That’s right up there on the adrenaline scale.
Bringing an idea forward is an act of vulnerability. It is brave.
That person is putting their reputation, their “handicap,” and their ego on the line for the good of the team. They are attempting a new “swing,” and they are doing it publicly. In our inner circle, that bravery must be celebrated. A culture where people are afraid to swing is a culture that is already dying. If you shoot down the person, you effectively kill every other idea they (and everyone else watching) might have had for the rest of the year.
Grace and Grit: The Art of the Gentle “Bogey”
So, how do you handle the “Hero Shot” in the boardroom? This is where Grit and Grace come in.
You need the GRIT to identify the reality (the Skull). You cannot let a bad idea live because you’re afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. We are fighting a finite clock. We cannot deploy resources to a low-percentage shot that leads us into a deeper sand trap. You must call it out.
That’s a bad idea. It’s a potential double-bogey.
But you deliver that grit with GRACE. The grace is honoring the vulnerability.
…But I am grateful you had the bravery to pitch it. We need that exact level of commitment to innovation. That swing didn’t connect, but your approach is solid. Let’s keep swinging.
Kill the Idea. Honor the Person.
In recovery, we have to admit our “bogeys”—the massive mistakes we made. Acknowledging the mistake doesn’t make you the mistake. It makes you a survivor who is ready for a comeback.
A bad business idea is just a missed target. The goal is better decisions, faster. A safe environment that celebrates the act of contributing—even when the contribution is off-mark—is how you find the “Zenith.” It’s how you find the actual innovative save that changes the game.
The Quartermaster Culture
As a Quartermaster in our brand, you are a leader of the logistics. You are responsible for ensuring we have the tactical advantage. To find that advantage, we need every idea on the table, not just the “safe” ones. We need people who are willing to scramble.
If you’re the one who pitched the “Bogey” today, remember the memento mori: you’re still alive, you’re still sober, and you’re still on the course. You don’t fail until you quit the round.
Kill the bad ideas quickly. Celebrate the brave souls who pitched them. Let’s get back to work.
Lead with bravery. Dress for the grind. Shop the collection at skullandbogeys.com.
