The Ted Lasso Way

Hey Flywheel Fam, 👋 

If you’ve ever watched Ted Lasso, you know it’s more than just a feel-good TV show—it's a masterclass in leadership, culture-building, and pure, unfiltered optimism. ⚽️ 

Reflecting on our journey at Round Barn Labs, I cannot help but see a bit of Ted Lasso in our approach.

The Power of Positivity

I stumbled across the show in October 2020, shortly after I became a dad when the world was trying to make sense of pandemic life.

Ted Lasso taught us that positivity isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a superpower. At RBL, we've faced our fair share of challenges—new market landscapes, client pivots, and the evolving demands of the digital world. But through it all, we've stayed positive, believing that with the right mindset, every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise.

Building a Team, Not Just a Business

Ted’s secret sauce? He cares deeply about his team. We’ve taken that to heart. At RBL, our team isn’t just a collection of top-tier talent—they’re a competitive, supportive, tight-knit team that enjoys being around each other. We invest in each other, we lift each other up, and we celebrate every win, big or small.

Focus on the Process

One of my favorite Lasso-isms is that success isn’t just about the final score—it’s about how you play the game. That’s why we focus on the process at RBL.

In season 1, Episode 6 ("Two Aces"), Ted chats with Sam Obisanya after the teams practice using the analogy of planting flowers. He tells Sam that if he plants flowers and nurtures them by watering them daily, he can't force them to grow, but he can control the effort he puts into caring for them.

Focus on the input, not the output.

Over the past ten years in business, we have continued to document standards, processes, and learnings. One of our inspirations for this focus on inputs over outputs is the classic The Score Takes Care of Itself. It’s on the RBL reading list, and we cannot recommend it enough—bonus points for those Bill Walsh / 49ers fans out there.

We’re not chasing the latest fads but committed to the fundamentals that drive long-term growth. This disciplined approach has helped us grow from a scrappy group to the Boutique Agency of the Year, trusted by leading Consumer Tech, e-commerce, and B2B SaaS clients.

Lessons from the Pitch

Like Ted, I've learned leadership is less about knowing all the answers and more about asking the right questions. 

It's about being present, listening, and empowering others to be their best selves. These lessons have been pivotal as we’ve scaled RBL, helping us stay grounded and focused on what truly matters—our people and clients.

We don’t always get it right, but that is the standard and a big part of the mission. We enjoy the challenge along the way and aim to improve each day.

Did you make a mistake? “Good.” As Jocko would say.

Don’t fret or dwell on it. Learn. Ask 5 Whys, document, and build a system to prevent it.

Wrapping It Up

So here’s to the Ted Lasso Way—a reminder that leadership isn’t just about the wins on the board but the people in the locker room. At RBL, we're committed to leading with heart, building with purpose, and staying relentlessly optimistic, no matter the challenges.

Until next time, keep believing.

Cheers,

Tye


Oh, and Go, Team USA!