“Do every job you’re in like you’re going to do it for the rest of your life, and demonstrate that ownership of it.” – Mary Barra, first female CEO of GM
I love golf. I love playing it, but I may love watching it even more. There’s something about seeing people perform at a level I can’t even imagine that draws me in. That’s why, on Sunday afternoons, you can often find me on the couch watching the pros do their thing.
This past weekend was no different. One of my favorite golfers, Tommy Fleetwood—a British player with a great game and even better demeanor—was leading the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship when I tuned in. For context, Tommy is widely considered the best player on the PGA Tour to have never won a tournament. And here he was, holding a one-stroke lead on the final day.
Almost immediately, the announcers started talking about some unexpected drama. Apparently, in the middle of his backswing, Tommy noticed his ball move. He still completed the swing and hit the shot. For non-golfers, here’s the key detail: hitting a ball while it’s moving is a penalty.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. No one else saw the ball move. Not the cameras, not the announcers, not his caddie, not his fellow players—only Tommy. But after the swing, he called a referee over and said he was going to assess the penalty… on himself.
And that right there is one of the many reasons I love golf. The sport has an honor code that’s rare—maybe even unique—in sports. You’ll never see an NBA player stop a game to admit he committed a foul. You’ll never see a batter in baseball tell the umpire, “No sir, that was a strike.” But in golf? Taking ownership like this happens more than you’d think.
That moment got me thinking about ownership in a broader sense—especially when I talk to teenagers about their dreams, goals, and what they “plan” to do to get there. Too often, the plan sounds great in theory, but it doesn’t line up with their history of follow-through. And that’s where ownership really matters.
Let’s put it in terms a 16- or 17-year-old can relate to. Most teenagers have chores—dishes, laundry, vacuuming, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash. But here’s the question: do you do them like you’re just checking a box, or do you do them like the work actually matters?
For example, if you’re unloading the dishwasher, do you make sure every plate and fork is spotless before putting it away? Or do you put away a fork with dried food on it because, technically, you completed the task?
The same thing applies to athletics. Many athletes get summer workout plans from their coaches. But how many actually follow them exactly as written, consistently, without shortcuts? How many fudge the numbers—reps, weight, shots taken—when they record their workouts? How many take 5-10 minutes between sets to scroll on their phone or talk to friends? You’ll never get that kind of break in the middle of a game, so why build it into your training?
When I work with a family, I don’t take on a student-athlete unless they can look me in the eye and tell me—with conviction—that they are 100% committed to the work it takes to be recruited. College coaches have an incredibly sharp radar for insincerity. If your words don’t match your reality, they’ll know instantly—and I won’t risk introducing you to them.
Conviction is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. For serious recruits, that conviction becomes ownership.
The best recruits? They wash the dishes like they bought them and own the house. They train like they own the gym. They don’t just do the minimum—they do more than anyone else, so there’s no doubt who deserves the offer or the playing time.
So here’s your challenge this week: ask yourself, “Do I live with conviction? Do I mean what I say and say what I mean? Do I work like I’m paying the mortgage or coaching the team? Or am I just going through the motions so it looks like I’m doing enough?”
If you can honestly say you take full ownership of your actions—as a student, athlete, leader, son, daughter, sibling—then I’d love to work with you. Because when we combine your ownership with a significant process, we’re going to have a lot of fun. And at the end, you’ll be the one making the decisions about where you want to go next.
If you’re ready to start that journey, visit coachmattrogers.com to learn more about my books, one-on-one recruiting strategy sessions, and speaking opportunities for your school or team. Your future is waiting—let’s go own it.
