“To Hell with Circumstances. I Create Opportunities” – Bruce Lee
Life as a professional father is like coaching a football team through a championship season. Every decision, every moment of connection, and every ounce of energy determines the outcome. But what happens when a head coach, known for his ability to inspire and strategize, suddenly finds himself drained?
Meet Fred Lasso—a football coach who shares more than just a last name with the beloved Ted Lasso from Apple TV. While Ted made his mark in European fútbol with relentless optimism, Fred is navigating the challenges of professional American football and fatherhood. The question remains—are they truly related? That’s for you to decide. Like his potential familial counterpart, Fred is the head coach of a professional football (American…felt the need to clarify) team and a devoted father. On the field, he’s respected for his leadership, vision, and ability to bring out the best in his players. At home, he strives to be just as present and engaged with his family.
Fred is the type of coach who embraces challenges. He sees every setback as an opportunity to innovate and finds creative ways to adjust. His focus is always on building his players up with unwavering support. But this season, things have changed. His star quarterback has been injured, the team’s morale is shaky, and at home, his oldest child is struggling in school. Instead of seeing solutions, Fred finds himself reacting—frustrated at setbacks, overwhelmed by stress, and unable to lead with his usual clarity. He feels stuck, unable to tap into his playbook of solutions.
Every Coach Needs a Coach
Every great coach has someone they learn from, and Fred is no exception. Realizing he needs to regain control, he reaches out to his coach—someone who helps him take a step back and see his challenges from a new perspective. Are we all picturing Ted Lasso as Fred’s guru in this cinematic moment?
The difference between the coach Fred turned to compared to the many leadership or life coaches is this Coach partnered with Fred to raise his conscious awareness using Core Energy Coaching.
This coach doesn’t give Fred the answers but helps him create his own Playbook for Regaining Control—a set of strategies to shift his energy and lead with confidence again.
As Fred sat across from his coach, he hesitated. “I don’t know if I can pull my team—or my family—through this season.” His coach leaned forward, taking a sip of his coffee before responding. “What if it’s not about pulling them through, but about adjusting your playbook?”
Fred exhaled, rubbing his temples. He had spent his career strategizing for high-pressure situations on the field. Why was home life any different? “So, I’m the one who needs to shift—not just the team?”
His coach nodded. “Exactly. Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about energy. Shift yours, and everything around you changes.”
That was the moment Fred realized: he had been coaching his team with a vision, but on the field, he had solely been reacting.
Understanding Core Energy Levels
Core Energy Coaching breaks leadership and mindset into seven levels, ranging from the reactive, catabolic states of fear and anger (Levels 1 & 2) to the anabolic, high-performance states of growth and synergy (Levels 5 & 6). Most professionals, like Fred, operate best at Level 5—where innovation, resilience, and adaptability thrive. But setbacks can trigger an energy shift, influencing decisions and interactions at work and home.
Fred sat back, the weight of his frustration settling in a new way. He had been operating from Level 2—reactive, frustrated, caught in the loop of setbacks. At times, he climbed to Level 3, pushing through out of obligation, but he felt drained, as if every step forward required twice the effort. His coach’s words sank in:
“Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about energy. Shift yours, and everything around you changes.”
If he could shift to Level 5—where innovation, adaptability, and confidence thrived—he could stop reacting and start leading again. That shift wouldn’t just change his team; it would transform how he showed up for his family.
He realized that instead of getting frustrated when things didn’t go as planned, he needed to respond with curiosity and adaptability. At work, that meant empowering his players rather than micromanaging. At home, it meant listening before jumping to solutions. The shift in energy wasn’t just about strategy—it was about presence.
The Energy Leadership Index (ELI) reveals that 70% of professionals primarily function between Levels 3-5, with stress often pulling them downward. This is where self-awareness and intentional energy shifts become game-changers.
Armed with this new perspective, Fred started implementing key plays to shift his Core Energy and lead with clarity.
Fred’s Playbook for Regaining Control
Faced with the challenge of balancing work and home life, Fred—with the guidance of his own coach—turns to a few key strategies to regain control of his energy levels:
Reframing the Challenge: Instead of seeing his quarterback’s injury and his child’s struggles as insurmountable (Level 2), Fred shifts to seeing them as opportunities to build a stronger team and a closer family (Level 5). Studies in cognitive reframing show that individuals who adopt a solution-oriented mindset experience 30% higher engagement and productivity.
- At Work: He begins looking at his team’s depth chart differently, seeing an opportunity for a young backup quarterback to step up and grow.
- At Home: Instead of dwelling on frustration, he helps his child reframe struggles in school as a chance to develop resilience.
Utilizing AI for Strategic Decision-Making: Fred turns to AI-driven game analytics, such as Next Gen Stats and machine-learning scouting reports, to rework his team’s strategy and free up time for better preparation. By analyzing player performance metrics in real time, he identifies trends that help him adjust plays on the fly. Off the field, he uses predictive scheduling tools to optimize practice sessions, ensuring his team gets the right balance of recovery and training. He leverages AI-driven scheduling tools like Motion or Clockwise to optimize his personal time, ensuring he’s present both on the field and at home. ensuring he has more quality time with his family. Just as AI supports game planning, it can help fathers optimize their time for what matters most.
- At Work: AI-generated scouting reports allow him to focus on leadership rather than getting buried in data.
- At Home: He uses AI scheduling tools to prioritize family moments, making sure his energy is invested where it counts.
Energy Awareness & Mindful Leadership: Through self-reflection and mindfulness exercises, Fred recognizes when he is slipping into lower-energy states and consciously shifts upward. According to research, professionals who practice intentional energy management report a 25% increase in decision-making clarity and overall well-being.
- At Work: He starts incorporating breathing exercises before press conferences and games, ensuring he remains in control and composed under pressure.
- At Home: Before reacting to a tough situation with his kids, he pauses, breathes, and leads with intention rather than frustration.
Where Is Fred Now?
Fred’s journey didn’t end with a single victory—it was a season of transformation. He reached his championship moment, not because everything suddenly became easy, but because he discovered more of himself along the way. With the guidance of his coaching guru, Fred built sustainable habits, deepened his understanding of energy leadership, and developed strategies that will carry him through any future challenge.
Now, Fred stands at a new crossroads, fully aware that leadership is an ongoing process. Some days, he still struggles. Some moments, stress threatens to pull him back. But with his playbook in hand, he knows how to shift his energy and step up when it matters most.
The Takeaway for Professional Fathers
Fred’s journey is not just about football—it’s about leadership in every area of life. Like him, professional fathers must navigate work stress, family responsibilities, and unexpected challenges. By recognizing core energy shifts and using tools like AI, strategic reframing, and mindfulness, fathers can stay at their best—whether calling plays on the field or strengthening bonds at home.
Every great coach has a playbook, and professional fathers are no different. By intentionally managing energy levels, they can lead their families with the same focus, adaptability, and resilience that they bring to their careers.
Final Thought:
Energy is the unseen force behind every action, interaction, and outcome. Understanding and managing it effectively is the key to sustained success—at work, at home, and in life. Great leaders don’t just manage tasks—they manage energy. Whether you’re navigating high-stakes decisions at work or striving to be more present at home, how you show up matters.
The Energy Playbook
Each of these plays is designed to help you move from catabolic to anabolic energy—both on the field and at home. Just as Fred transformed his leadership by shifting his energy, you too can take control and lead with clarity, energy, and strategy.
Let’s break down the Energy Playbook into five key strategies so you can begin to consciously ask yourself:
“What’s my next move? What’s my next play?“
Play #1: The Energy Check-In
Situation: When stress or setbacks cause frustration (Level 2) or withdrawal (Level 1), the first step is recognizing where you are.
🎯Tactic: Pause and assess—”What energy level am I operating from right now?”
🛠️Tool: Use a 5-minute reflection scan to identify stress triggers and emotional patterns:
- How am I reacting?
- What’s my dominant thought or emotion?
- How is this serving me or my team/family?
Play #2: Reframing
Situation: When setbacks (injuries, leadership challenges, home stress) push you into frustration or resignation, reframe the story.
🎯Tactic: Shift from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What’s the opportunity in this?”
🛠️Tool: Use the Three Reframe Questions:
- What’s another way to view this challenge?
- What’s the story I’m telling myself?
- What would my highest-performing self do at this moment?
Play #3: Shift Momentum
Situation: When decision fatigue or overwhelm takes over (Level 1) or frustration (Level 2), momentum is key.
🎯Tactic: Take one micro-action to move forward. Action fuels energy—even if it’s just a small win.
🛠️Tool: The 1% Rule: Instead of fixing everything at once, ask: “What’s the smallest action I can take right now?”
- Stuck on a tough work decision? Make a 5-minute outline.
- Feeling disconnected at home? Initiate a 3-minute check-in conversation with a family member.
- Dreading a project? Do 10 minutes of focused, low-pressure effort (Pomodoro technique).
Play #4: Visualize Higher Energy
Situation: When stress builds and the body locks into catabolic tension, it’s time for an energy reset.
🎯Tactic: Reset the nervous system through a high-impact vision and movement routine.
🛠️Tool: MIVA
- Step 1: Move—shake out tension, stretch, crawl, walk, run, or do 10 push-ups.(Close your Eyes here)
- Step 2: Set an Intention: “I choose my response.” “I am in control of my energy.” “I Am Capable” “I Am Alive.” Something empowering, special and unique only to you.
- Step 3: Visualize yourself taking the action you want as you move and speak life into the intention.
- Step 4: Make Quick and Apply: Apply that action as quick and precise as you can with the resources available to you.
Then Repeat Consistently Daily for best results or in some sort of pattern
Play #5: Creating Synergy
Situation: When you feel isolated or stuck in your head, shift energy by engaging others.
🎯Tactic: Leverage the power of shared energy—seek out a high-energy conversation, mentorship, or coaching moment.
🛠️ Tool: The Energy Synergy Map:
- Identify 3 people in your life who elevate your energy.
- Set up a 15-minute conversation or brainstorming session with one of them.
- If supporting someone else, ask: “What do you need most right now?”—and listen deeply.
These plays are just the beginning. If you’re ready to take control of your energy and empower your leadership—both at work and at home—let’s make it happen.
Empower your leadership performance—both professionally and personally
Meet Casey Grimes, an expert in Core Energy Coaching, who helps leaders like you:
✔️ Adapt and optimize your energy for peak performance at work and at home.
✔️ Overcome stress, decision fatigue, and burnout to lead with clarity and confidence.
✔️ Equip your team and workplace culture with transformative coaching skills that foster engagement and high performance.
Take the Next Step Toward Energy-Driven Leadership
📲 Text Casey at 859-519-8056 to schedule your Core Energy Coaching session.
📩 Email Casey at Casey@vitalityleadershipllc.com to discuss leadership coaching for you or your team.
💡 Lead with energy. Perform with purpose. Thrive in every arena.