--- title: When the Ball Hits the Rake description: The surprising findings of Oracle's Global Workplace study in 'Manager vs Robot in Eyes of Employees'. Learn how AI is reshaping leadership & team dynamics image: https://more.butlerstreet.com/hubfs/rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png --- [![butler-logo](https://more.butlerstreet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/butler-logo.webp?width=600&height=161&name=butler-logo.webp "butler-logo")](https://www.butlerstreet.com) Login/Sign up [OUR BLOG](https://www.butlerstreet.com/blog-1) - [Home](https://www.butlerstreet.com/) - Solutions - [Sales Training Programs](https://www.butlerstreet.com/sales-training-programs) - [Leadership Development](https://www.butlerstreet.com/leadership-development) - [Recruiter Training](https://www.butlerstreet.com/recruiter-training) - [Key Account Management](https://www.butlerstreet.com/key-account-management) - [Virtual Training](https://www.butlerstreet.com/virtual-training) - [AI Coaches](https://www.butlerstreet.com/ai-coaches) - Products - [eLearning](https://www.butlerstreetonline.com) - [NPS ®](https://www.butlerstreet.com/net-promoter-score) - [Voice of the Customer](https://www.butlerstreet.com/voice-of-the-customer-survey) - [ClientFit®](https://www.butlerstreet.com/kam-clientfit) - Resources - [Blog](https://www.butlerstreet.com/blog-1) - [Events & News](https://www.butlerstreet.com/events) - [Book - Become the Only Choice](https://www.butlerstreet.com/become-the-only-choice) - [Videos](https://www.butlerstreet.com/videos) - [Members Only](https://www.butlerstreet.com/site-members) - About - [Leadership](https://www.butlerstreet.com/leadership) - [Clients & Testimonials](https://www.butlerstreet.com/testimonials) - [Staffing Industry Solutions](https://www.butlerstreet.com/staffing-industry-solutions) - [Print Industry Solutions](https://www.butlerstreet.com/print-industry-solutions) - [Contact](https://more.butlerstreet.com/contact-us) [Contact Form](https://www.butlerstreet.com/contact) --- 2 min read --- # When the Ball Hits the Rake ![rake in sandtrap image](https://more.butlerstreet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png?width=900&name=rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png) SHARE - - - [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/when-the-ball-hits-the-rake&body=Check%20out%20https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/when-the-ball-hits-the-rake&media=https://22459909.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22459909/rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/when-the-ball-hits-the-rake&body=Check%20out%20https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/when-the-ball-hits-the-rake&media=https://22459909.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/22459909/rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png) - - ## Spaun, Staffing, and the Science of Staying Ready At the U.S. Open last month, JJ Spaun delivered what should have been a perfect shot. His swing was crisp, the ball flight pure. It struck the flagstick—dead center—and then bounced violently away from the hole. Next hole: another well-played shot ruined by a rake, left haphazardly in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two brilliant efforts. Two brutal outcomes. But Spaun didn’t throw a club. He didn’t unravel. Instead, he regrouped. And he played on. That moment wasn't just about athletic grit—it was a testament to the power of preparation. Spaun didn’t flinch because he had prepared his mind and body for these exact moments. He didn’t rely on luck. He relied on process. And if you’re in staffing or sales, you’ve had your own “rake moments,” haven’t you? ### **We All Hit the Flagstick and the Rake** Maybe your top candidate fell through just before the client signed. Maybe your prospect loved the proposal… until they didn’t. Maybe your competitor undercut you by pennies and stole the deal. These aren’t just setbacks. They’re gut-punches. Especially when you've done everything right. But here’s the truth: > Winning consistently has little to do with perfect outcomes. It has everything to do with your preparation, your mindset, and your ability to respond—not react—when things go sideways. JJ Spaun didn’t survive those moments. He was built for them. And so are you—if you’ve built your own process. ### **The Role of Habit, Practice, and Structure** Revenue generators—salespeople, recruiters, and leaders—aren’t measured by their intentions. We’re measured by outcomes. And outcomes are born from structure: - You role-practice the client objections - You rehearse the live call until you nail the disarm - You refine your value statement until it captivates, differentiates, and validates This isn’t magic. It’s muscle memory. The same way Spaun hits a thousand putts in practice to make one under pressure, you refine your language, your timing, and your listening skills so that in the heat of the moment, you can execute. It's a structured, repeatable process. And it works. But what if you could accelerate it? ### **Enter AI Coaching: Speed, Precision, Empowerment** Here’s where modern sales and staffing gain a new edge—AI Coaching. Butler Street’s AI-powered tools don’t replace your process. They sharpen it. They transform every rep, recruiter, and leader into a faster learner and more consistent performer by delivering: - **Speed** – Feedback in real time. Instead of waiting days for a manager review, you get instant insights on a voicemail, a live call, or a meeting strategy. Momentum builds faster. - **Precision** – No more vague coaching. You get targeted, skill-specific feedback aligned to proven frameworks like LAER, DPQ, and SIGN. You know exactly where you’re strong—and where to improve. - **Empowerment** – You don’t just wait for success. You practice it. You build confidence with every rep, every simulated objection, every meeting plan. AI doesn’t remove the human. It reinforces it. Spaun didn’t just learn from coaches—he used data, video, biomechanics. Precision tools. The modern athlete accelerates growth with every resource available. So should we. ### **Your Process Is the Difference** There’s one more truth Spaun reminds us of: > Confidence is earned in practice. That swing—flawless, despite the unlucky bounce—wasn’t made in the moment. It was made in every hour he spent getting 1% better. It was made in the quiet repetition of drills no one saw. You’ve got the same opportunity. Whether you're hunting new business, hiring talent, or leading a team, every touchpoint is your U.S. Open moment. You either show up prepared—or you get exposed. With a disciplined process—and [**AI-enhanced tools**](https://more.butlerstreet.com/ai-coaches)to help you sharpen it—you don’t just recover from the rake. You win because of it. So swing freely. Trust your practice. Use your tools. And when the bounce goes against you—play on. And [**contact Butler Street**](https://more.butlerstreet.com/contact-us) to improve your game! ## Related Articles [![Overthinking vs Outcomes image](https://more.butlerstreet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Overthinking%20vs%20Outcomes.png?width=500&name=Overthinking%20vs%20Outcomes.png)](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/overthinking-vs.-outcomes-simplifying-ai-fluency) --- ### [Overthinking vs. Outcomes: Simplifying AI Fluency](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/overthinking-vs.-outcomes-simplifying-ai-fluency) A big birthday milestone is approaching, and I’ve been stressed about how to celebrate. A good friend of mine, who’s hitting the same milest... 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[Continue Reading](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/the-big-cost-of-not-doing-the-little-things) [![Maze of challenges](https://more.butlerstreet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog%20images/maze_570928017.png?width=500&name=maze_570928017.png)](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/the-top-5-questions-staffing-leaders-are-asking-about-ai-and-how-to-answer-them) [Sales Leadership](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/tag/sales-leadership), [AI in Sales](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/tag/ai-in-sales) --- ### [The Top 5 Questions Staffing Leaders Are Asking About AI (and How to Answer Them)](https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/the-top-5-questions-staffing-leaders-are-asking-about-ai-and-how-to-answer-them) With ASA Staffing World right around the corner, I can promise you one thing: AI will be the most talked-about topic in every hallway conver... 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[Atlanta, GA, United States | info@butlerstreetl.com](mailto:info@butlerstreetllc.com) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joel Schaffer, Principal", "url" : "https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/author/joel-schaffer-principal" }, "dateModified" : "2025-07-23T16:43:02.530Z", "datePublished" : "2025-07-22T15:46:35.000Z", "headline" : "When the Ball Hits the Rake", "image" : [ "https://more.butlerstreet.com/hubfs/rake%20and%20green%20image_1221093954.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://more.butlerstreet.com/blog/when-the-ball-hits-the-rake", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://more.butlerstreet.com/hubfs/Butlerstreetlogo%20(1).png" }, "name" : "Butler Street" } } ```