Business leaders rarely talk openly about the moments when things feel raw. But raw is real. Raw is honest. Raw is where transformation begins.

Greg Sankey, Commissioner of the SEC, remembers exactly when SEC Basketball hit rock bottom. The moment was uncomfortable. Painful. And for him, deeply personal.

In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, beginning at the 15 minute 35 second mark, Sankey describes the moment he realized the system was not working. Not because people were not trying, but because the foundation was not strong enough to win. Within 24 hours he stepped back, reassessed everything, and made a decisive move: he brought in a new advisor with fresh eyes and expertise.

That single decision became the catalyst for a full turnaround of the SEC’s basketball legacy.

Now let’s talk about your organization.

Is Your Business Having a “Raw” Moment

Maybe you are feeling it:

• The market is moving faster than your current systems
• AI is evolving faster than your team’s capability
• Strategy feels outdated
• Decisions feel reactive instead of proactive
• You are unsure what needs fixing or where to begin

Here is the truth that most leaders overlook:

Raw is not failure. Raw is feedback.
Raw is the invitation to reset your foundation.

Just like Sankey, your next breakthrough may begin the moment you stop treating discomfort as the enemy and start using it as data.

The companies succeeding in the AI era are not the ones avoiding pain. They are the ones responding to it strategically.

What the “First Bold Move” Looks Like in the AI Era

When the business landscape shifts, bold leadership does not always look loud.

It looks intentional.
It looks disciplined.
It looks strategic.

Here is the blueprint Sankey modeled and how it applies to your business today.

1. Step Back Intentionally

Bold does not mean fast.
Bold means clear.

When everything feels urgent, leaders often rush into the wrong decisions. Sankey did not. He paused. He evaluated. He observed without pressure.

In today’s AI driven environment, that pause is where clarity lives.

Question to ask:
What is really going on beneath the symptoms

2. Assess What Is Actually Broken

A raw market exposes deeper issues in

• Operational performance
• Strategic direction
• Talent capability
• Technology maturity
• Leadership alignment

AI disruption is rarely the root problem. It is the magnifier. If the foundation is shaky, AI reveals it immediately.

3. Bring In Strategic Advisors Early

Sankey hired an advisor the next morning.

Not after months of debate.
Not after waiting for the perfect moment.
Not after forming another committee.

He made the call within 24 hours because momentum matters.

In the world of AI transformation, choosing the right advisor is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of leadership maturity.

4. Lead with Vision, Not Ego

Bold leadership is humble leadership.

It takes courage to say
Our current strategy is not enough. We need a new approach.

Your highest impact decisions often come from the moment you step back, assess honestly, and choose the long term gain over the easy fix.

Your legacy will not be built on perfection. It will be built on your willingness to adapt.

Take Your First Strategic Step Within 24 Hours

Sankey moved quickly because clarity without action is wasted insight. Once he understood what needed to change, he accelerated.

The result was a full transformation of SEC Basketball’s competitive identity.

So ask yourself:
What bold shift could you make within the next day

• Bringing in an AI strategist
• Running an AI readiness assessment
• Resetting your leadership priorities
• Setting new operational expectations
• Redefining what winning looks like for the next year

One intentional move can change everything.

You Are Not Navigating AI Disruption Alone

The generative AI era is reshaping every industry. It is changing how leaders operate, how teams make decisions, and how organizations build competitive advantage.

But here is the part that matters most:

You do not need the entire plan today.
You only need the first step.

Your role is not to become the AI expert. Your role is to guide your organization toward clarity, readiness, and effectiveness.

And that begins with your first strategic conversation.

Book a 25 Minute Strategy Conversation

If your business has felt raw lately, you are in the right place. This is your moment to reset with intention rather than reaction.

In 25 minutes, we will talk through

• Your raw moments
• Your operational pain points
• Your AI readiness gaps
• Your most strategic first steps
• The decisions that will define your next 12 months

You do not need to solve everything today.
You simply need your Sankey moment, the first bold move.

Here is your invitation to that next step.

Schedule your 25 minute strategy conversation and begin the reset that will position your organization to win in the AI era.