The Intern Model: Character Development in Orbit

By Samantha Visser, CEO, Cosmos Somatics Inc.

In the vast expanse of corporate strategy, we speak often of KPIs, talent acquisition, and performance reviews. These are the instruments that keep our organizations in precise orbit. But what happens when your most challenging "intern" is operating not in a corner office, but in your very own home? And what if their "performance review" clashes directly with your most critical need: executive-level rest due to a CFS flare?

This is a dispatch from my personal "Mission Control." Recently, I faced a common parental challenge: my son, Owen, received a school suspension. This coincided with a significant "energy friction" point at home regarding household responsibilities. In the corporate world, this would be a crisis demanding immediate, high-energy intervention. But as a CEO navigating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, my primary directive is Strategic Energy Management. My rest isn't a luxury; it's a medical necessity, the core fuel for keeping my "spacecraft" (my body and my business) operational.

The Reality of the Home Office: It's easy to get caught in the emotional gravity of a child's choices. The "obliviousness" to clearly visible tasks, the frustration of unfinished work, and the added layer of disrespect towards a parent's need for rest—these are challenges that drain precious "RAM" (Random Access Memory) and threaten the integrity of one's "Mission Control."

The CEO's Approach: Corporate Structure at Home: To navigate this, I shifted from emotional reaction to executive strategy. I realized that my home, like my business, benefits from clear structure and defined expectations. This meant implementing what I call "The Intern Model" for household management. Instead of engaging in a verbal battle that would further deplete my energy, I drafted a Performance Review. This document wasn't about punishment; it was about clarity, setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for household tasks, and outlining corrective actions for unprofessional conduct—including disrespect towards the CEO’s health requirements.

This approach isn't cold; it's a profound act of love and leadership. It teaches that actions have consequences and that personal responsibility is paramount, even within the family unit. More importantly, it allowed me to uphold my boundaries and protect my vital rest without having to exert additional emotional or physical energy in the moment of conflict.

Why Boundaries Are a Medical Necessity: For leaders with CFS, setting and maintaining these boundaries is not merely good parenting or good management; it's a medical imperative. Every ounce of energy spent in unnecessary friction is energy diverted from healing, from strategic thinking, and from the deep work of bringing the Cosmos Somatics vision to life. Protecting my rest is protecting my ability to lead, both my family and my company.

The Anchor: "He who refuses to stock-discipline his son, hates him [at least in effect]; But he who loves him disciplines him diligently and punishes him early [because of his love]." — Proverbs 13:24 (AMP)

The Perspective: "No man is free who is not master of himself." — Epictetus

By applying structured discipline, we are not only shaping capable individuals but also preserving the energy required to lead our own lives and enterprises with integrity and peace.