Run Your Offense: The Business Lessons I Take from the NFL
(Posted on Monday, September 8, 2025)
The NFL season kicked off last week, and as a lifelong football fan, I always find myself reflecting on what the game teaches us about life, leadership, and business.
The discipline.
The leadership.
The patience it takes to play the long game.
Football is more than a sport—it’s a masterclass in execution, accountability, and adapting under pressure. In many ways, it mirrors the realities of executive leadership and career progression more than we realize.
From the Gridiron to the Boardroom
Years ago, I picked up a biography on John Malone—the legendary media executive behind Liberty Media. Known as the “Cable Cowboy,” Malone built and shaped the modern media industry through a series of bold, calculated plays few even saw coming.
Midway through the book, I had a humbling realization:
“So this is what it feels like to be a good NFL quarterback… reading about Patrick Mahomes.”
I had decades of experience by that point. I’d led turnarounds, launched new divisions, made bold acquisitions. And yet, in reading Malone’s playbook, I saw someone navigating the game at a level that made me pause.
Not with envy. With clarity.
There’s always someone else out there who’s playing a bigger field, running more sophisticated plays, and racking up wins you didn’t even know were possible.
And that’s not a reason to feel small—it’s a reason to think bigger.
Comparison: A Double-Edged Sword
Let’s talk about comparison culture, something every professional, from a recent grad to a seasoned CEO, wrestles with.
Earlier in my career, I’ll admit: I compared a lot. I looked at peers who got promoted faster, led bigger teams, or raised more capital. And in those moments, I sometimes felt behind.
But here’s what decades in the media and broadcast industry taught me:
👉 Comparison is only dangerous when it stops you.
👉 It’s powerful when it fuels you.
When you read someone else’s story—whether it’s John Malone, Reed Hastings, or a young startup founder—you have a choice.
You can shrink.
Or you can study.
Instead of seeing their playbook as a threat, borrow a few plays.
Instead of watching from the sidelines, step into the game.
Run Your Offense
Your career is not a simulation. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s a game you’re actively in.
And every week, every quarter, every season—you get to call plays.
I’ve had winning seasons and rebuilding years.
I’ve rebooted my career in my 40s, taken leaps of faith, and reinvented myself after setbacks.
The throughline? I kept moving the ball down my field.
Here’s what I’ve learned from leading media companies, turning around struggling properties, and mentoring executives across industries:
✅ Success is never a straight line.
✅ Every leader has a unique playbook.
✅ Staying in the game is more important than how fast you score.
No one is going to hand you the perfect role, the best team, or the cleanest path. You have to show up. Prepare. Execute. Learn from losses. Build your version of greatness.
Stats That Back It Up
If you’re over 40 and thinking it’s “too late” to level up—think again:
- A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found the average age of successful startup founders is 45.
- Many C-suite executives don’t hit their peak earning or influence years until their 50s or later.
- Career transitions are becoming the norm: according to LinkedIn, 65% of professionals have made at least one major career pivot.
Your best seasons might still be ahead of you.
Play Your Game
So as we head into Week 1 of the NFL season, I’ll leave you with this:
Don’t run someone else’s offense.
Don’t get distracted by someone else’s scoreboard.
Don’t wait for the perfect play to show up in the huddle.
You’ve got what you need.
Run your offense.
Move the ball.
Play your game.