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Nick Saban, the former head coach at the University of Alabama, won numerous national championships and became—arguably to Auburn fans—the greatest college football coach in history.
The guy must have been doing something right. But what was it?
When Saban was asked that question, he always gave the same answer: the “Process.”
Focus on the Process
“Focus on the process” means to concentrate on the fundamentals, what we can control, and giving our best effort.
The phrase “blocking and tackling” came from football but has become a metaphor for “work that is important but perhaps not glamorous.” It’s the kind of work that makes a difference and ultimately creates champions.
Coach Saban drove his coaches and players to identify the fundamental tasks necessary to be the best. To understand the top few things that are most important and work relentlessly on those things. One at a time. Over and over and over.
“It’s the journey that’s important. You can’t worry about end results. It’s about what you control, every minute of every day. It’s a process.” (Nick Saban, in Sports on Earth)
The Process focused on the power of concentrated effort by each player. For each of them to make a personal choice to be the best they could be, work hard all the time, and do whatever it takes.
This passion for doing the small things with excellence helped Saban’s players stay focused. To run every play as if it matters, work out as hard as they can, and show up on time. Every time.
“Eliminate the clutter and all the things that are going on outside and focus on the things that you can control.” (Nick Saban on The Quad, The New York Times Blog)
To focus on the Process is to take a step-by-step approach. Again, in Nick Saban’s words:
- It’s the journey that’s important.
- You can’t worry about end results.
- It’s about what you control.
- Every minute of every day.
Hmm, that sounds familiar.
Origin of the Process
How did Nick Saban develop the Process? Where did it come from?
“Saban owes this philosophy to Dr. Lionel ‘Lonny’ Rosen, a Michigan State University psychiatry professor he befriended when he coached there in the late ’90s. Rosen taught the Michigan State Spartans a form of step-by-step thinking developed by cognitive therapy pioneer Aaron Beck and popularly used in the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program.” (Monte Burke in Saban: The Making of a Coach, on Business Insider)
Ahhh, that’s why Saban’s philosophy to focus on the Process rings a bell. It’s based on the most successful life improvement program in history—recovery. And we can compare his key points to fundamental principles of recovery such as:
- Every journey begins with a first step.
- Keep doing the next right thing.
- Focus on what you can change.
- Take life one step at a time.
In the book STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life, this translates to: surrender your will to God, admit your mistakes and seek to improve, pursue empathy and forgiveness, get better every day, and serve others. One step at a time. Over and over.
In summary, “focus on the process” means to focus on the fundamentals, what we can control, and giving our best effort.
Because in life, it’s the journey that’s important, and every journey begins with a first step. You can’t worry about end results, and it’s better to just keep doing the next right thing. It’s about what you can control, so focus on what you can change.
Then, every minute of every day, take it one step at a time.
In life, sometimes we make things too complicated. They don’t have to be. In football, in recovery, and in living each day well, some things just work if we give it our best effort. And if we remember to focus on the process.
Question: Do you have a process to help you stay focused on the most important things?
Action: Pick 3 tasks that are fundamentally important and commit to do them every day.
