3 Rules for Inevitable Success from My D1 Football Coach
The system that turned our 1-10 team into #14 nationally ranked in just 3 years.
When I was a freshman playing D1 football at Liberty University, we were the definition of rock bottom.
A 1-10 record. Dead last in our division.
Then Coach Danny Rocco arrived, and everything changed. Three years later? We were ranked #14 nationally with a 10-2 record.
Enter Coach Rocco — a titan in college football with over 40 years of experience at powerhouse programs like Penn State, Texas, Virginia, and even the NFL's New York Jets.
His track record?
Seven conference championships as head coach
Five-time conference coach of the year
Proven ability to transform struggling programs into winners
But what made him truly exceptional wasn't just his resume — it was his ability to transform programs from the ground up. Just like he did with our team at Liberty.
Today, I'm sharing the game-changing lessons from Coach Rocco that transformed not just our team, but how I approach business, wealth-building, and life. These aren't just football principles — they're the exact strategies I use to run my successful business and build the life I want.
Let’s get into it ↓
Lesson 1: Earn The Right to Win
You know that feeling when you're working hard but not seeing results? When it seems like success is always just out of reach?
I've been there. We all have.
But here's the truth: Most people focus on the wrong thing. They obsess over the end goal — the big win, the successful business, the perfect investment strategy.
Coach Rocco taught us something different.
His first words to our demoralized 1-10 team?
"You haven't earned the right to even think about winning yet."
Harsh? Yes.
True? Absolutely.
Victory isn't earned on game day — it's earned in the thousand tiny moments before:
The planning
The preparation
The unglamorous work nobody sees
Want to know what changed our team's trajectory?
We stopped focusing on winning and started focusing on earning:
Every practice
Every film session
Every weight room visit
We built the habits and systems that made winning inevitable.
The same principle applies to your financial journey. You don't earn wealth on the day you make a great investment or land a big client. You earn it through consistent, intentional actions that compound over time.
Lesson 2: Leave Nothing to Chance
Here's a hard truth about success: Hope isn't a strategy. And luck? It's not reliable enough to build a future on.
Coach Rocco's second principle was simple but profound: "Leave nothing to chance."
He taught us that when your preparation is thorough enough, success becomes inevitable. It's not about luck — it's about creating systems so bulletproof that winning becomes the only possible outcome.
Think about that for a moment.
How many areas of your life are you leaving to chance?
Common "hope-based strategies" that need to change:
"I hope the market goes up"
"I hope we get more clients"
"I hope I have more time for family"
This mindset shift revolutionized everything for me. Instead of hoping for results, I built systems that delivered them. Instead of wishing for financial freedom, I created a framework that made it inevitable.
Lesson 3: Be Pleased, But Never Satisfied
Want to know the biggest trap in success?
Thinking you've made it
Getting comfortable
Letting up when things are going well
Coach taught us a powerful distinction: There's a difference between being pleased with progress and being satisfied with where you are.
It's not about perfectionism or constant stress — it's about maintaining momentum even when things are going well.
This lesson hit home during our historic run to the best season in Liberty's history. Even after dominating wins, when the locker room was electric with celebration, Coach Rocco would gather us all and declare:
"I'm pleased with the performance today, gentlemen, but I'm not satisfied. We have more work to do."
Think about that.
Here we were, racking up win after win, transforming into one of the most dominant teams in the nation. But Coach kept us hungry. Kept us focused. Kept us growing.
I've seen this same pattern play out everywhere:
Build a profitable business and quit innovating their offerings
Finally make six figures but spend like they make seven
Get in amazing shape and slowly let their habits slip
But here's what I've learned:
The moment you become satisfied is the moment you start falling behind.
That’s it.
These three principles aren't just football lessons. They're the foundation of sustainable success in any arena:
Earn the right to win
Leave nothing to chance
Be pleased, but never satisfied
Remember: Freedom and fulfillment aren't destinations you reach. They're the result of systems you build and maintain.
Keep earning. Keep building. Keep growing.
Thanks for reading,
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