You Are the CEO (Chief Energy Officer)

I’m not a physicist but I did learn a few things about energy and motion in school.  For example, the first law of motion states that an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it.  That is where you come in, you are a force.  Whether you will be a force for good or evil or nothing in particular is up to you. As a leader you are the CEO of your life, your team, your organization, and by CEO I mean Chief Energy Officer.  In other words, a force in our universe.

It takes energy to move anything; think of yourself in bed in the morning or your team or organization. The good news is you get to change the direction of your life, your team, your organization by virtue of being the CEO.  This is the first and most important Law of the CEO: you’re the driver of your bus.Bus being a metaphor for your life, team, or organization. This is the most important law because if you don’t take responsibility for your life and control of your bus you can’t take it where you want to go.  You end up a passenger on your own bus. 

We live in a victim culture in which we are all victims of circumstance or bad luck or the choices of previous leaders.  So here’s the second law of the CEO: every problem is a gift and as the driver of your bus you get to focus on the problem or the opportunity (gift).  As the CEO of your life, team, or organization your task is to look at the road ahead and start heading in the right direction.  As the driver you need to be looking out the windshield and not the rear-view mirror. Victims are always looking backward but leaders keep their focus on what is ahead of them.  As CEO keep the energy on the future and not the past.

Which leads me to the third law of the CEO: Identify your vision and start to mobilize energy and resources to make the vision a reality.

I know, easier said than done but embracing your role as CEO can be incredibly empowering.  Jesus tells a story in Matthew 12.

⁴³ “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Apply that to positivity and your life, team, or organization.  If your not busy filling the room with positive energy then someone is going to come in and fill it with negativity. Over the years I have found one of my main jobs is not letting negativity take over the bus.  There are always some “Negative Nancys and Nathans” on your bus that you have to deal with.  They are the “Energy Vampires” of any team or organization.  So how do you handle the Energy Vampires on your team or organization?

We will have to save that for another time.  If you want to learn more about the power of positivity and dealing with the negative Nathans and Nancys in your world check out our Leadership Development Videos and look for our “How to Deal with Energy Vampires in Your Life or Organization.”

Being the Chief Energy Officer of your life or team means taking ownership of the energy you bring to every situation and intentionally shaping the environment around you. It’s about leading with positivity, resilience, and purpose—whether for yourself or those you influence. As the Chief Energy Officer, you set the tone, inspire momentum, and cultivate a mindset that fuels growth, collaboration, and high performance. This means managing your own energy—physically, emotionally, and mentally—so that you can show up as your best self and empower others to do the same. By being intentional about your energy, you create a ripple effect that drives engagement, motivation, and success, both personally and professionally.

How are you doing at managing your energy and the energy of your team or organization?  When I coached basketball I always tried to take a nap before each practice so that I would have fresh energy to coach the players.  What do you need to do to bring your best energy to your team and organization?

Until next time I wish you a little grit, a lot of grace, and a spirit of gratitude to fill your life.