Book Review: The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban by John Talty

Stoney Keeley offers up his thoughts on The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban by John Talty

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I have to admit…I’m a bit of a Nick Saban nut. Roll Tide and what have you, but my appreciation for what the coach has built in Tuscaloosa extends past my Alabama fandom. He’s created something that goes far beyond the confines of college football, laying a blueprint for how to successfully create an executable process and serving as an example of the work it takes to see an ambitious vision through to fruition. But, we all get so caught up in the championships that we lose sight of how well the leadership principles that Saban has instituted at Alabama translate into “real life.” So, when I received word that John Talty, the Senior sports editor and SEC Insider for AL.com, had written a book that presented Saban specifically through that leadership lens, I knew it was something I had to get my eyes on. That’s how I came to know The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama’s Coach Became the Greatest Ever.

Again…I’m a bit of a Saban nut. I’ve consumed a lot of Saban content throughout the years, so forgive me if I picked this book up skeptically asking if I’d learn anything new about college football’s G.O.A.T.. I was quickly proven wrong, as Talty kicked over rocks with quotes sourced from folks that have worked alongside Saban throughout his career (the “I think that’s Steve Sarkisian” story got me pretty good). I’m a slow reader, but I found this to be a breeze – a completely engrossing picture of a man who has guided generations of players to the next steps of life. It’s an interesting capture of what makes Saban tick, and how hard his work ethic and desire are to replicate.

We know how Saban’s process has yielded results on the football field, but this book examines the aspects of the process that translate to leaders in all walks of life. Themes like buy-in permeate…how good Saban has been at making every member of his organization believe his or her job was critical to the overall success of the program. Adjustment…how important it is to know when to make the big change, including a story about Saban letting up on practices after the Ohio State Sugar Bowl because the tired team wore down as the game went on and ended up losing. Preparedness…how he plans for any possible scenario he can think of, and the ramifications of what happens if you don’t show up prepared (the Clemson National Championship that supposedly ended the ‘Bama dynasty). Talty examines all of these themes in a well-sourced, relatable fashion that almost feels like it’s more of a self-help book than anything else. I caught myself taking notes on ways I could inject my day-to-day routine with some of the principles discussed in this book.

Because of how Talty approaches this book, it doesn’t really matter how much you know about Saban. It’s not about him as much as it’s about finding what we can take from his process and apply it in our own way. One quote stuck with me, and you’ll have to forgive me because I made note of this on a Friday night after I’d been in the gin and didn’t jot down the name who said it….but, “he lives his life looking into the abyss. A win is simply a step back.” Hot damn, I felt that shit on a spiritual level. That is some hard stuff. Roll Tide. Nonetheless, Talty handles the greatness of Saban in a careful manner that shows us ways that we can take his vaunted process and institute them in our own everyday lives. Get your own copy on Amazon today.

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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.

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