Football & Sales: Same Game According to One Great Coach
Say what you want about the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Say even more about recently retired Head Coach, Nick Saban. There is no arguing about the great play of Alabama. Even less arguing about the stellar coaching of Saban. In 17 years, he won 6 National Championships down in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It might take a lot to impress a BIG TEN fan. That’s impressive.
In the days after Saban’s retirement there were posts after posts after posts on Social Media singing his praise. One in particular focused on a talk he gave to his team. When? Pre-game? Half-Time? Post-Game? No idea. It doesn’t matter. Saban just flat out knew how to motivate a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds.
No doubt in my mind he’d be equally as effective leading a sales organization & motivating salespeople.
Some key takeaways from his talk are here.
- Entitlement is a disease. It stunts growth & erodes culture.
- Success has a one-day life cycle. Yesterday doesn’t dictate today.
- Nobody is owed anything. When your feet hit the floor in the morning, it’s on you.
- Talent matters, but it’s far from all that matters.
- The actions you take drive success. Talent only amplifies those actions.
- Even the best can’t afford complacency. There are competitors trying to defeat you every day.
- If you’re entitled, the biggest competitor is yourself.
- If you’re owed nothing, that means nobody else is either. Therein is your opportunity.
- You can have the best strategy, the best business model, the best talent & … none of it matters if you don’t execute.
- There are no guarantees. Relish the unknown.
Now, close your eyes & imagine Saban addressing you or your sales team. Giving you chills? Me too!
