From the NFL to Fatherhood: What High-Performance Leadership Taught One Man About Calling, Burnout, and Family
What do the Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers, and a Midwest dad raising three kids have in common?
Answer: Scottie Parker.
In our latest episode of Lead Together, Scottie pulls back the curtain on his journey through elite professional sports and into something far more important—a life aligned with calling, family, and faith.
If you’re a high-capacity Christian professional in your 30s or 40s, juggling work and home life, this story hits different.
Because Scottie’s life is proof of this conviction:
“The quality of your life and leadership depends on the quality of your relationships.”
And it all started in a concrete box...
From Dream Job to Dead End
Scottie wanted to play pro ball but like most of us, he had to pivot.
So he chose the next best thing: working in sports performance.
After college, he landed a dream internship at the University of Minnesota, learning under one of the top strength coaches in the world. And he hated it. “I was trapped in a concrete box with no windows... It was mind-numbing.” What looked like the path to success turned out to be a wake-up call. That early career disappointment sparked something most leaders avoid: Honest self-reflection.
The Pivot: Calling vs. Career
Through a mentor’s advice and his own prayerful processing, Scottie shifted from strength coaching to sports medicine, combining rehab and performance.
That pivot led to a Master’s at CalBaptist University in Southern California…
Which led to a surprising phone call…
Which led to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Which led to the Seattle Seahawks.
Scottie reflects, “God was moving pieces on the board I couldn’t see.”
This wasn’t hustle.
This wasn’t networking wizardry.
It was discernment + obedience + faithful next steps.
That’s a formula any Christian leader can model, whether you’re in pro sports or middle management.
The High-Performance Leadership Shift (A.C.E.S. Framework)
Here’s what Scottie models:
Sustainable leadership doesn’t start with intensity. It starts with alignment.
You can formalize it in the A.C.E.S. Framework, a playbook for leaders who want to win at work and home.
1. Awareness: Be Honest About What’s Not Working
Scottie knew the job looked great on paper, but his soul felt crushed.
Ask yourself: What part of my current rhythm is eroding joy, purpose, or presence?
2. Calling: Match Your Wiring to Your Work
Scottie loved performance but needed more depth, he found that in rehab, relationships, and recovery.
Ask: What energizes me, even when it’s hard?
3. Embodiment: Don’t Just Teach Health, Live It
In pro sports, you can’t fake wholeness. But neither can you at home.
Ask: Do my habits model the values I claim to believe?
4. Support: Build with Relationships, Not Just Results
From his marriage to mentoring athletes, Scottie built trust before performance.
Ask: Where am I building results without relational foundation?
Leading Like a Pro (Without the Burnout)
Scottie’s worked with elite athletes under high pressure. He’s seen what breaks them and what builds them.
Surprise: it’s not grit, hustle, or even talent. “The guys who last—the ones who thrive—are the ones who know who they are and are grounded in people who love them.”
That’s exactly what Christian professionals need right now.
Not more ambition.
Not more productivity hacks.
More rootedness. More clarity. More relational alignment.
So, how does this apply to me?
Here’s 3 Practical Applications (Work + Home)
1. At Work: Name What’s Draining You
Take 15 minutes this week to audit what parts of your role bring life—and what parts don’t.
Start small. Start honest.
2. At Home: Choose Presence Over Proving
Scottie intentionally traded prestige for presence. You can too.
Pick one 30-minute block this week to put your phone down, close the laptop, and be all-in with your people.
3. In Faith: Pray Through Career, Not Just Crisis
God opened doors for Scottie he didn’t even know existed.
Set aside time this week to ask: “What do You want to grow in me—before You open the next door?”
What Scottie Parker Shows Us
Scottie went from being on the sidelines with NBA and NFL stars to being at the center of his family’s life and future.
His journey reveals a deeper truth:
Calling isn’t about going big. It’s about going home, faithfully, purposefully, and relationally.
You don’t have to choose between leadership and love. But you do have to lead with clarity.
Your Next Step This Week
This week, reflect on these 3 questions:
What part of my leadership feels misaligned?
Where am I substituting results for relationships?
Who do I need to invite into this journey?
And if you’re ready to go deeper…
Take the Next Step, Book a Free Strategy Call
Because the quality of your life and leadership depends on the quality of your relationships.
