Your Business is a Football Game: You’re the Coach, Your Assistant is the Quarterback
"A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are." – Ara Parseghian
Listen up, executives: your business is not a one-man show, and if you’re trying to run it like one, you’re gonna get sacked. Hard.
In the spirit of my beloved #PhiladelphiaEagles playing in the Super Bowl this weekend, I thought I would explain how your business is a football game.
You, the executive, are the head coach—calling plays, strategizing, and (hopefully) inspiring your team to greatness. But here’s the kicker (pun intended): if you’re the coach, your Assistant should be your quarterback. Not your water boy, not your benchwarmer, and NOT a receiver—your QB1. They are the ones running the plays and making sure the ball (your business) moves down the field.
So, let's talk about how you can stop micromanaging, start leading, and let your assistant actually do their job. And, because Fly, Eagles, Fly, let’s use some Philly football wisdom to drive this home.
Your Business is Like a Game of Football
Football isn’t just about talent—it’s about coordination, adaptability, and making smart plays. Same with business. It’s a team sport. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your team doesn’t execute, you’re going nowhere.
Every Play Matters: You’re not scoring a touchdown every pass. Progress comes in small, strategic gains. If you’re only looking for Hail Marys, you’re going to be disappointed. (Also, your assistant is NOT throwing last-minute desperation passes every day because you refuse to plan ahead. Do better.)
You Need a Strong Offensive Line: Your assistant is only as effective as the support around them. If your processes are garbage, don’t expect them to be miracle workers.
Defense Wins Championships: Business is just as much about risk management as it is about taking big swings. A great Assistant isn’t just moving things forward—they’re blocking potential problems before they even reach you.
And let’s not forget: even the best teams fumble. (Yes, I’m still mad about the Tush Push controversy—shove it, haters. It’s a legal play.)
The Executive is the Coach
The coach of the Eagles, Nick Sirianni, isn’t out there trying to throw passes himself, and you shouldn’t be either. Your job as an executive is to set the vision, develop the strategy, and then trust your players to execute. If you’re hovering over your assistant’s shoulder, dictating every move, congratulations—you’re slowing down the game and making them worse at their job.
A great coach:
Studies the whole field, not just one player.
Calls the plays, then lets the team run them.
Adjusts the strategy when things aren’t working (instead of screaming at the QB for a bad throw).
TRUSTS. THEIR. TEAM.
If you don’t trust your assistant to make decisions, why did you hire them? Let them lead.
Your Assistant is the Quarterback (Or Should Be)
Now, let’s be clear—your Assistant is not a backup player waiting to be told what to do. They are Jalen Hurts—commanding the field, reading the defense, and making smart plays. Your job is to make sure they have what they need to succeed.
Great quarterbacks:
Make quick, strategic decisions because they know the goal and strategy of the game they are playing.
Adjust when the defense throws something unexpected at them.
Know their playbook inside and out.
Call audibles when the plan needs to change.
A mediocre quarterback just follows instructions and hopes for the best. If that’s how your assistant operates, it’s because you haven’t empowered them to lead. Give them the authority to make decisions and watch them start winning games for you.
Winning Strategies for a Coach & Quarterback Team
Alright, let’s get into the playbook. Here’s how to build a winning executive-assistant partnership:
🏈 Stop Calling Every Play from the Sidelines: Your assistant is smart. Let them read the situation and adjust. You don’t need to approve every email or decision. That’s like telling your QB exactly where to throw the ball on every play—except you’re watching from the sidelines and don’t even see the field.
🏈 Fumbles Happen—Coach, Don’t Criticize: Bad calls, missed opportunities, occasional interceptions—it’s all part of the game. When your assistant messes up (because they will, they’re human), your job isn’t to yell at them. It’s to coach them through it so they’re better for the next play.
🏈 Know Your Team’s Strengths: Not every QB is Jalen Hurts, and not every assistant is the same. Know their strengths, play to them, and set them up for success. If they’re a deep-throw kind of assistant (big-picture thinker, strategist), don’t waste their talent on minor admin tasks. If they’re a precision-passer (detail-oriented, executor), don’t expect them to craft visionary strategy overnight.
🏈 Your Playbook Should Be Clear: Your assistant can’t execute if you don’t give them a clear strategy. If you’re wishy-washy with direction, don’t be surprised when they hesitate before making decisions.
🏈 Audibles Are Necessary—Roll With It: Sometimes, the plan needs to change last minute. If your assistant calls an audible (adjusts something in real-time based on new info), trust them. You’d rather have them thinking on their feet than freezing up waiting for your permission.
🏈 Winning Teams Communicate Constantly: The best coach-QB duos (think Andy Reid & Patrick Mahomes, ugh) are always in sync. Regular check-ins with your assistant are crucial, not just about tasks but about overall strategy. Don’t ghost them for weeks and then expect them to read your mind.
🏈 You Can’t Complain About the Outcome if You Don’t Invest in the Training: If you don’t give your assistant the training, tools, and trust they need, don’t cry when they don’t perform at an elite level. You can’t run a Super Bowl offense with high school-level resources.
Final Thoughts: Let Your QB Lead the Team
If the Eagles trusted Jalen Hurts the way some executives "trust" their assistants, he’d be benched every time he made a tough call. But instead, he’s leading the team with confidence, because the coach backs him 100%.
Want your assistant to step up? Start treating them like the quarterback of your business instead of a task-doer. Set the strategy, give them the tools, and get out of their way.
Because if you try to be the QB and the coach, you’re just going to end up sacked.
And trust me, it’s a lot harder to win when you’re flat on your back.
#GoBirds