He sits in the conference room with his advisors. He’s rich in financial assets, leadership capabilities, fan base, and collegial respect. His thoughts drift back a sec to last Saturday, He and the other Dad’s got together; friends from high school and the JC.  They traded stories:  Encouraged the kid-free athletic coach to “just have one, which is ten times easier than two anyway”; cheered the banker-Dad, who’s finally legally marrying his “husband” of five years; speculated on the housing market; shared a couple of grill recipes; and downed a few beers.  All occurred while simultaneously watching their kids.  All agreed it was tough to multi-task, like the women.  Nope, they didn’t come close to what those Moms did.

He blinks and brings his focus back into the room. He and his business team have made some of the biggest economic moves in sports history.  It promotes adrenalin and their deep connection, a bit like what he’d seen between Gramps and his military buddies.  On second thought, this business “high” is more like a drug connection.  That big-hit-buzz, labeled money, power, and control.

Yet, no one in this room would suspect that his daily nutrition is supplemented by Xanax or evening pot.

His first panic attack hit him straight in the latch-key loneliness of the after school TV programs. He was eleven and the big brother with the responsibility. His younger brother jumped into homework, with the reward of extra time to escape with Harry Potter, et al.  Big brother worried about stuff.  Thought he’d pushed it away.   Mom was single, working and attending college at night.  Dad was AWOL (he appeared twenty years later).  Grammy and Gramps came over after their work and ate dinner together. They helped with the rest of homework. They even enjoyed the background rap to a point.

Back to the conference room and the business at hand.  These guys have shared a lot, though all on what’s outside.  It’s the Dads, who know his inside-out truths:  Those blinking-neon warning lights when panic hits. His Homies have been there.  Not the same blinking-neon-lights at the arenas.

You can play the Leadership game awhile.  When panic hits the field, it plays you; it leads.

Are you ready to change the cycle?   LeadLifeNow.