The Transformational Leader

13Becoming More: The Intersection of Potential and Transformation

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

—Lao Tzu

FOR ME, THAT single step was a lesson learned after an intense Sunday morning speed training session. I was a junior in high school and had just set a new personal best in the 40-yard dash. I felt invincible. Standing beside me was my very first coach—my father. In my first book, Winning Plays, I discuss my high school years in more detail. If you haven't read it, know that those years revolved around my football career and pushing myself.

I was proud of what I'd achieved, and for good reason. At home, I had a stack of recruitment letters from some of the top college football programs in the country, proof that my hard work was paying off. As we returned to the car, my father said something that shaped my worldview and put me on the path to lasting success. Although he was a man of few words, when he spoke, you listened. “Matt, you have potential, and I'm proud of you,” he said, looking me in the eye, “But remember, the world is full of people with potential. It's not about having it; it's about what you do with it. The question isn't whether you can play football; it's whether you're willing to do what it takes to succeed.”

That was a wake-up call. For far too long, I'd coasted on coaches telling me my potential would carry me through. My father's job was to prepare me for reality, and the truth was that relying on potential and talent was ...