“Commitment is the pledge to do the uncomfortable.”
— Matt Rogers, Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
Whether I’m working with a student-athlete, coaching my basketball team, or talking about the future with my daughter, this truth always finds its way into the conversation: commitment is uncomfortable—at first.
It’s uncomfortable to send that first email to a college coach, to pick up the phone and introduce yourself, to put yourself out there and say, I belong at the next level.
“What if they don’t think I’m good enough?”
It’s uncomfortable to wake up at 5 AM to train when your competition is still asleep. To put in extra reps when no one is watching. To push through fatigue, doubt, and the voice in your head whispering, No one else is doing this.
But the athletes who truly want to play at the next level—the ones willing to exchange comfort for opportunity—are the ones who make it happen.
One of my all-time favorite shows is The Newsroom. I can’t get enough of Aaron Sorkin’s writing—the rhythm, the conflict, the resolution. In an early episode, two main characters, played by Sam Waterston and Jeff Daniels, are in a heated discussion about taking a stand to do what they know to be right. Waterston’s character looks at Daniels and says, “Do you know why? Because we just decided to.”
That line hit me like a truck.
In June 2022, I was almost 50 pounds overweight. I hated my job. I missed coaching. I had rewritten the introduction to my book 15 times, getting nowhere. I felt like I was failing my wife, my kids, and myself.
By Christmas 2023, I was one pound—yes, one pound—from my college playing weight (236 lbs to 189 lbs). I published my book on college recruiting. I quit my job, launched my own company, and now have multiple student-athletes on their way to playing at their dream schools. I took a head coaching job at a great high school. And most importantly, I’m proud to look my wife and kids in the eyes because I am the person I set out to be.
Was it hard?
For ten years, it felt impossible.
But then I just decided to.
I decided my life was worth living.
The same is true for you. If you want to play college athletics—if you want anything—you have to make the pledge to do the uncomfortable. Because the only way forward is through.
Are you ready?
If you’ve enjoyed this blog and want to dive deeper into understanding motivation and personal growth, check out my book, Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes. It provides valuable insights into the recruiting process and how athletes can take control of their journey.
Families and school administrators can also schedule a strategy session with me. Together, we can uncover what truly motivates you and develop a game plan for long-term success.
