When Merril Hoge was eight years old, someone asked him a question that most kids would shrug off. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For Hoge, that moment changed everything. Soon after, he walked into his grandparents’ house, glanced at the TV, and saw a football game for the very first time. From that day forward, he knew. He wasn’t just going to play football. He was going to play in the NFL.

The problem was that everyone around him thought it was impossible. Coaches, teachers, even well-meaning adults told him the odds, reminded him how difficult it was, and warned him not to put all his eggs in one basket. But where most kids would have listened, Merril made a decision that would shape the rest of his life. He would find a way.

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The Wall of Goals and a Moment of Truth

At just 10 years old, Merril’s teacher encouraged the class to write down their goals and post them where they could see them every day. Merril took the advice seriously. When his father built him his first bedroom in the basement, he asked for a wall of corkboard. At the top of that wall, he pinned his dream: “I will play in the NFL.”

Next to it, he pinned a picture of Walter Payton, a photo of the Steelers, and the NFL shield. But when he looked at those images, he had his first moment of truth. Were these just words on a wall, or was he willing to do the work? That’s when the phrase that would define his life came to him: Find a way.

It wasn’t just about football. It was about life. No matter what the obstacle, no matter how steep the hill, he would find a way.

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Lessons from Walter Payton and Aristotle

When you’re chasing greatness, you need mentors, even if you’ve never met them. For Merril, that meant Walter Payton and, surprisingly, Aristotle.

Payton’s tape Winning in Life revealed the secret that set him apart. He wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or biggest player. He was the one who wanted it more than anyone else, every single day of the week. That relentless mindset stuck with Merril forever.

Around the same time, Merril stumbled across Aristotle’s famous line: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. To a young kid chasing an impossible dream, those words were fuel. Habits, effort, and choices were all within his control. If he could shape those, he could shape his destiny.

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The NFL, the Steelers, and Chuck Noll

Merril’s dream became a reality in 1987 when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It didn’t matter that he was a 10th-round pick. He was in the league, and he had another mountain to climb.

There he met legendary coach Chuck Noll, who told his players something that stopped Merril in his tracks: “Football is not your life’s work.” At first, Merril didn’t understand. But Noll’s words planted a seed. The game would end someday. His life’s work would be what he built after. That advice prepared him for the transition into broadcasting, writing, and eventually becoming a keynote speaker.

The Steelers’ culture also left its mark. Merril saw firsthand how ownership, consistency, and modeling from the top down created a culture of excellence. That culture didn’t just produce wins, it produced leaders.

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Darkness, Depression, and Getting Off the Couch

For all the triumphs, Merril faced moments of deep darkness. After his playing career ended abruptly due to health issues, he found himself on the couch, physically broken, emotionally drained, and without hope. For months he spiraled, pointing fingers and blaming others for the way things had ended.

Then one day, he had another moment of truth. He realized nobody was coming to save him. He had to get off the couch. That simple act—standing up, making a phone call, taking the first step—was the beginning of his recovery.

It’s a lesson he shares often: depression lives in the past, anxiety lives in the future, but hope lives in the present. When you take ownership, when you do something instead of nothing, you can change your trajectory.

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Health, Leadership, and Life After Football

Merril also credits his commitment to health and fitness for saving his life more than once. From surviving open heart surgery to fighting cancer, his physical health was a weapon he had built long before he needed it. That discipline became another pillar of his message: invest in yourself daily, because you never know when you’ll need it.

Today, Merril’s passion is helping others build their own blueprint. Through his books like Find a Way and Brainwashed, and his keynote speaking, he teaches audiences how to turn adversity into fuel, how to own their habits, and how to lead themselves before leading others.

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The Legacy of Walter Payton

Before wrapping, Merril shared a story that says more about leadership than any stat line. In his rookie year, after a preseason game against the Bears, he finally met Walter Payton, the man who inspired him. Nervous and rambling, Merril asked for an autograph. Payton didn’t have a pen, so instead he gave Merril his elbow pads, wristbands, and headband.

Even more powerful than the gift was how Payton made him feel. He remembered Merril’s name, thanked him sincerely, and treated him like he mattered. That moment has stayed with Merril for life and shaped how he treats others, no matter the circumstance.

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The Takeaway: Find a Way

Merril Hoge’s life is proof that greatness isn’t about odds, talent, or luck. It’s about mindset, habits, and resilience. It’s about taking ownership when life knocks you down. And most of all, it’s about finding a way.

Whether you’re chasing a dream, rebuilding after failure, or just trying to be a better parent, leader, or teammate, Merril’s message applies. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t let others define your limits. Write down your vision, take action, and find a way.