When I talk about a successful program, define that. It's not just winning the national championship every year because nobody can do that.
Interpretation
Success is not solely measured by winning, but by achieving set goals and values.
In this quote, Nick Saban emphasizes that success should not be simplistically defined as winning championships every year, as that is an unrealistic expectation. Instead, true success encompasses consistently working towards defined objectives, fostering growth, and measuring progress beyond just outcomes.
In practice
In a motivational speech for student-athletes discussing what it means to be successful beyond just winning.
I don't want people to think I'm not happy when we win - I am. But there's a difference between being happy for the feeling of accomplishing something and being overjoyed and feeling, 'This is it - we conquered the world.' We didn't. We just won a game.
I don't believe you name a starter until the starter wins the team.
People talk about you won four national championships. Well, I feel like we've had good enough teams to win eight. So I feel like we failed four times. I feel like I failed four times.
What happened yesterday is history. What happens tomorrow is a mystery. What we do today makes a difference - the precious present moment.
I think the worst thing a player can do is just not be yourself.
I think when you win the national championship, it works throughout your team. Where human nature is to say, I did well. I got my quota this month. Now do I get some time off? Do I get a bonus? Do I get to go on a cruise? But it's not to keep trying to be the best. That's not necessarily human nature.
Share your profits with all your associates, and treat them as partners. In turn, they will treat you as a partner, and together you will all perform beyond your wildest expectations.
They'll forget all the rubbish when I've gone, and they'll remember the football. If only one person thinks I'm the best player in the world, that's good enough for me.
I lived a fairly average, anonymous small-town life till I got the idea to do Nine Inch Nails. Then I locked myself in a studio for a year, and then got off the tour bus two years after that, and I didn't know who I'd turned into.
You will always need more capital than you think, because it will always take you longer to reach profitability than you can imagine.
There is no relief at it being over. There is the joy of winning it.
Being named among the best is special and beautiful. But if there are no titles, nothing is won.
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