“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

“Falk, stay here.”

I had just wrapped up a spring ball film session when Coach Mike Leach called me back. Not exactly what you want to hear when you haven’t been practicing great. I was in the middle of a quarterback competition against a talented younger guy, and truthfully, I was feeling it.

The year before, I had ended the season as the starter after an injury to the senior. I’d earned Pac-12 Player of the Week once, and even threw for over 600 yards in one game. Leach, of course, brought me back to Earth right after that performance:

“You would’ve thrown for a f***ing thousand if you didn’t turn it over.”
Another classic What, Not How moment.

But now, in the spring, things were different. I was tight. I wasn’t cutting it loose. I was playing to not mess up—and it showed.

“You’ve got to start playing with House Money.”

Coach looked me straight in the eye and said it.
“Think about it. If I gave you $100 and told you to go play at Zeppos”—our little closet-sized casino in Pullman—“you’d play loose. You’d be free. Because that’s house money. But if that $100 came out of your paycheck, you’d play careful. You’d hesitate.”

He was right. I had gone from a walk-on with zero expectations to someone playing with fear—afraid to lose the starting job I had fought for. My anxiety was up. My decision-making slowed. I was stuck in paralysis by analysis.

Coach wrapped it with a line I’ll never forget:

“Falk, I’d rather you be wrong and decisive than right and indecisive. Swing your sword.”

The Birth of “House Money”

That day changed the way I played—and later, how I coach. I used to call it “Be Decisive.” Leach called it “Swing Your Sword.” Now, I call it the House Money Skill.

It’s the mindset of cutting it loose. Playing free. Playing like you’ve got nothing to lose.

When I embodied this, I was unstoppable. When I didn’t? My kryptonite—overthinking—took over.

This concept works in every sport. A college QB I coach lights up every time we get on a call:
“House money again, Coach.”
It works in basketball, tennis, baseball, wrestling—even rodeo. It’s the John Wayne skill. As Janis Joplin put it:

“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.”

The Playbook: Code This Skill

Here’s how you can apply it today.

Code the skill in your own language:

• House Money

• Be Decisive

• Swing Your Sword

• Cut It Loose

• Let It Rip

• “Falk It”

• John Wayne

Say it out loud when you feel yourself starting to play tight.
Verbal cues bring your focus back to freedom, not fear.

Coaching Tip: Stop the Jekyll & Hyde Routine

Coaches—this one’s for you.

If you want your players to play free, you have to create an environment that allows it. Too often, I see coaches say they want decisive players, but then they punish mistakes instantly. That’s Jekyll & Hyde coaching.

Here’s the truth:
Fear of being yanked kills decisiveness.
Fear creates an outcome obsession. And outcome obsession spikes anxiety.

Instead, give your players a cushion to fail forward. Let them know they won’t lose your support after one or two mistakes. This creates the safety that fuels confidence.

Personal Proof: My Senior Season

In 2015, I felt unlimited support from Coach Leach. He even said publicly I should’ve won the Heisman. I played loose. I let it rip.

Fast forward to my senior year in 2017—we had drifted. I let entitlement and frustration creep in. I got benched a couple times. The leash was tight. And it showed. My performance was up and down, directly tied to how safe I felt to make mistakes.

I didn’t display great Mind Strength in those moments. I let the external noise influence my internal game.

But I learned.

When I Became the Coach

As a college QB coach, I remembered what I needed as a player. During open competitions, I let the battle play out. But once a starter was named, I gave them the keys.

One of those quarterbacks went on to be Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. He even earned National Player of the Week after we knocked off a top-10 opponent.

The next year, I moved on to another job. That same QB saw his completion percentage drop 10 points. Why? Jekyll & Hyde coaching.

He told me:
“I was afraid to make a mistake the whole season.”

Final Word: Build a “House Money” Culture

Let your players swing the sword. Give them the freedom to play decisive, to make mistakes, to grow into greatness.

Correct them? Of course.
Coach them? Always.
But let them play loose. Let them play free. Let them play with House Money.

You’ll like the results.