Principles from Nick Saban, Legendary College Football Coach
Success isn't just about the Scoreboard; It's about the Next Play.
Estimated reading time (5 minutes)
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On Principles Friday, I share one principle that can help you in your life or business, one thought-provoking question, and one call to action toward that principle.
Principle of the Week
âDonât look at the scoreboard; play the next play.ââ Nick Saban, Legendary College Football Coach.
Nick Saban is currently the highest paid College American Football coach at $11.4 million annually.
But Nick Saban, the legendary college football coach, didn't just excel on the field; he is also a recruiting wizard. One story that perfectly captures his recruiting brilliance happened during his time at Michigan State.
Picture this: Saban skipped a Christmas Eve family gathering to spend time with a recruit's grandmother. This wasn't a one-off but part of his relentless pursuit of promising talent. Saban had a knack for spotting future stars, even when they were flying under the radar.
His ability to connect with recruits and their families made Saban exceptional. Despite his tough coaching persona, he had a warm and engaging recruiting style. It wasn't about flashy presentations; it was about building genuine relationships. He also was very confident about it.
In 2007, Nick Saban asked then-Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore.
âDo you think youâve hired the best coach in the country?â
âWhy, Nick, of course I do,â Moore said while thinking: For $4 million a year, I sure hope so.
âWell, you didnâtâIâm nothing without my players. But you did hire a helluva recruiter.â
So, what can you learn from Saban's recruiting playbook?
Spot Hidden Gems: Just as Saban discovered overlooked talent, entrepreneurs should seek untapped opportunities in their field. Don't follow the crowd; dare to find those hidden gems.
Never Back Down: Saban's relentlessness is a trait every business founder should embrace. In the face of adversity, keep pushing forward. Success often rewards those who refuse to give up.
Build Connections: Building meaningful relationships is the lifeblood of any venture. Take a page from Saban's book and prioritize building genuine connections with customers, partners, and your team.
Remember, success isn't just about the scoreboard; it's about the long game.
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Question to Ponder
Can you think of an event where you should have focused on the present moment and the immediate actions ahead but didnât? How do you feel this has impacted the trajectory of your life?
Call to Action
If you want long-term consistent success, you must change your mindset from outcome-oriented to process-oriented. Bob Bowman, the long-time coach of Olympic legend Michael Phelps, writes in his book Golden Rules, âGold Medals are out of your control. Another swimmer may be better than you on race day. But if you set your sights on breaking a record at nailing the best time possible, you can visualize something tangible, achievable, and within your controlâ.
Here are a few call-to-actions for you to become process-oriented:
Embrace a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to develop skills and intelligence through effort and learning. Research in psychology, particularly the work of Carol Dweck on growth mindset, has shown that individuals who believe their abilities can be developed through hard work and dedication are more likely to embrace challenges, persevere in the face of setbacks, and achieve higher levels of success.
Establish Productive Habits: Create daily or weekly routines that align with your goals. Utilize research-backed strategies for habit formation to make these routines stick. Research, such as that by Charles Duhigg, highlights the neurological basis of habits and how they can be established and modified over time.
Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. Studies have shown that mindfulness meditation can improve focus, attention, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.
Solicit Constructive Feedback: Seek feedback from mentors, peers, or experts in your field. Use this feedback to adapt and refine your approach.
Celebrate Your Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your small wins along the way. Understand the psychological benefits of this practice and use it to stay motivated and focused. Research by Teresa Amabile and Steven J. Kramer has shown that recognizing and celebrating progress, even in incremental steps, can boost motivation, creativity, and job satisfaction.
Video of the Week
The five choices we have in life.
If you want to learn more principles, I interview founders on my podcast, The First 100, where they share how they acquired their first 100 paying customers. This week:
Episode 100 - The First 100 with Jiaqi Pan, the CEO and Co-founder of Landbot
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