Dynasty = planning + grit + belief

....excerpt from my daily message to the team

“We had a mission…everybody wanted to end things the right way. We just all came to work every day and just put in the work. We got the result that we wanted.” -Mac Jones, Alabama QB

Last night in case you missed it The University of Alabama won the College Football National Championship beating The Ohio State University. The head coach for Alabama, Nick Saban held his 6th title trophy of his tenure as the head coach at Alabama and his 7th overall as a college head coach (LSU 2003). Saban surpassed another Alabama legend, Paul “Bear” Bryant (6 titles) last night as the coach who has won more National Championships than any other coach in history. Bear Bryant held that distinct recognition since 1982.

Saban’s first year as head coach in 2007 was 7 wins 6 losses, this would be the last year he would not win 10 or more games over the next 13 years. In fact, Saban has won 165 games and lost only 23 since he took the reins back in 2007. 

Nick Saban methodically began building his coaching staff and recruiting some of the best players in the country. He is known for his intense preparation of his teams prior to each game regardless of the opponent’s record or status as an elite program or not. 

I also thought it was interesting when I read about the "Saban effect" in the Southeastern Conference which has 14 teams including Alabama. Since 2007 when Saban became head coach at the University of Alabama there have been 58 coaches (including interim coaches) rotate through the other 13 schools.

Alabama – 1 coach – Nick Saban

Arkansas – 8 coaches

Auburn – 4 coaches

Florida – 6 coaches

Georgia – 2 coaches

Kentucky – 3 coaches

LSU – 2 coaches

Ole Miss – 5 coaches

Mississippi State – 5 coaches

Missouri – 3 coaches

South Carolina – 5 coaches

Tennessee – 7 coaches

Texas A&M – 3 coaches

Vanderbilt – 5 coaches

So, Team what does ALL of this have to do with Potrero? 

My intent is to demonstrate that consistency, planning, reciprocal accountability, drive, and mission are all keys to our success. It is to show you the power of intensely focusing on the details and maintaining discipline under all circumstances. To demonstrate that our goal planning is the first step toward a Nation Championship run. To highlight Saban's first 7-6 year was like our first year of commercial life - hard, lots of learning, grit, belief in defeat, and never quit attitude. All of this lays the foundation for long-term growth as people and as a team. 

Sometimes you have to squint through the tough times to see the bright future. Sometimes you have to push through pain and have the grit and fortitude to win. You have to believe in your inevitability, because you know you are doing the right things and preparing for the win.

We have been discussing and initiating the planning process for this quarter and year over the last couple of weeks. The planning and the follow-on pivots, accountability, achievement is the foundation and future for Potrero. 

We are inevitable because our technology is helping thousands of patients. We are winning and will continue to win because we focus on doing right by the patient, nurse, & doctor – our default is that patient in the bed – we will do everything we can to help that person be better. We will protect the kidney and help the nurse bedside by providing rich information that helps guide critical fluid balance, the surgeon in the operating theatre in complex tough cases, and the person that is fighting for their life.  

Our record will look like Saban’s and Alabama’s – because of our focus, methodical planning, and ability to quickly pivot and most importantly we are helping people – patients, nurses, doctors! Don’t lose sight of that and never stop fighting the status quo!

ALWAYS FORWARD!!!!!  

Joe

This is a series of articles based on the daily letters that I write to my company (slightly modified - company specifics removed). My hope is to share some positive thoughts that gently push the world toward positive thinking and encourage many to achieve their fullest God-given potential