The Ripple Effect Mindset: How Leaders Can Reset After a Bad Moment

What do you think is the hardest shot in golf?

It was 2006, I'm standing behind Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY.

It's the 18th hole at the US Open.

He has a one shot lead.

His wayward drive bounced off a corporate tent and landed him in the left rough completely blocked out by a huge pine tree.

He has no direct shot at the green.

Rather than play it safe, he goes for the hero shot.

The ball disappears into the middle of the tree, ricochets out leaving him another impossible shot.

He ends up with a double bogey costing him the championship.

The hardest shot in golf is not...

The first tee shot
The 50-yard bunker shot
The final putt to win the championship

The hardest shot in golf is the one immediately after a bad shot.

Competing at a young age, I learned this for myself.

A bad shot could ruin my round—not because of the mistake itself, but because I under appreciated the Ripple Effect of what happens next.

One poor decision could spiral into a worse, more costly one.

That’s when I discovered the power of mindset and emotional regulation.

Dr. Izzy Justice once told me something I’ve never forgotten:

“It takes 5 positive stimuli to counteract the physiological impact of one negative event.”

This changed the way I approached both golf and life.

I started carrying an index card in my bag with my top five greatest golf shots and moments.

When I hit a bad shot and felt my heart racing, I’d pull it out, take a deep breath, and remember who I was at my best.

The difference was incredible—not just in my performance, but in my resilience. I could feel myself return to a state of calm.

And the same holds true for your leadership.

As a leader, you face your own “bad shots” every day—difficult conversations, missed opportunities, or setbacks that can throw you off course.

If you don’t pause to self-regulate, you risk letting those moments ripple into your next decision, your next action, and the next person you lead.

The Ripple Effect Mindset is real, and it starts with being intentional about how you respond—not just react.

After his round, Phil told reporters...

"I'm still in shock. I still can't believe I did that. This one hurts more than any tournament because I had it won...I just can't believe I did that. I'm such an idiot."

It's okay to make a mistake, just make sure it doesn't ripple into the next one.

How do you reset after a bad moment?
What would you put on your “index card” as a leader?