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How Good Do You Want to Be?: A Champion's Tips on How to Lead and Succeed at Work and in Life
The winning philosophy for creating and inspiring success that will help you triumph at work and in life from renowned football coach Nick Saban—with a foreword by Bill BelichickExcellence doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from hard work, consistency, the drive to be the best, and a passion for what you do. Few understand this better than Nick Saban. With more than three decades of experience as a player and coach, Saban has worked alongside some of the game’s legends and has seen firsthand how great leaders encourage greatness in others. In this candid and thoughtful guide, he shares his unique • Organization, Organization, Create an environment where everybody knows his or her responsibilities—and each is responsible to the entire group.• Motivate to Understand the psychology of teams and individuals, and use that knowledge to breed success.• No Other Way than Practice ethics and values—and demand the same from your team.• Look in the Maintain an understanding of who you are by knowing your strengths and your weaknesses.How Good Do You Want to Be? is more than the story of how Nick Saban motivates his staff and players to excel—it is also the memoir of one of America’s most successful coaches. Filled with instructive anecdotes and illuminated by never-before-told stories of his life and career, this is a book that challenges and inspires us all to be our best.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2004
213 people are currently reading
1178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 12, 2011
I'm a Nick Saban fan - forget what team he coaches, I root for Saban. Saban is a great coach and his "process," which he explains in full detail in this book (along with anecdotes and family stories and his family history and career history) is very inspiring. Even if you hate Saban, if you can put the fact that he wrote the book out of your mind, it's still a very inspiring book. My husband even enjoyed it and he couldn't care less about Saban.
August 2, 2023
Just a great book. Lots of wisdom for life, not just football.
May 24, 2025
Was suggested this book by a mentor at work. Overall a solid reflection by Nick Saban on the keys to success in his years. The craziest part reading this is that it was written in 2004 after he won at LSU but before he even got to Alabama and truly became the GOAT of college football. Would be interested to read an updated version now almost 20 yrs later. I have no doubt most of the philosophies he describes / implements in the book are still being implemented today at Alabama even now that he is retired.
Basically breaks down into three parts:
1. Create a game plan and process and stick to it. The culture and everyday vision must be clear.
2. Execute on the vision and process. Always find ways to improve. Consistency not Complacency
3. Go the extra mile
His journey from West Virginia coal mining life into this path was a unique one to hear unfold. He is a fan of history from WW2 and after and ties in lots of stories from leaders like Patton, MLK, Bush.
Lots of references to principles from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius without realizing that the themes he describes are that old. He typically references “great historians” as Americans from the last 60 yrs. 🤷🏻♂️ Just another framework of principles to move through life with. Tools in the toolbox. A shorter, easier read I did in like 6 hrs.
Basically breaks down into three parts:
1. Create a game plan and process and stick to it. The culture and everyday vision must be clear.
2. Execute on the vision and process. Always find ways to improve. Consistency not Complacency
3. Go the extra mile
His journey from West Virginia coal mining life into this path was a unique one to hear unfold. He is a fan of history from WW2 and after and ties in lots of stories from leaders like Patton, MLK, Bush.
Lots of references to principles from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius without realizing that the themes he describes are that old. He typically references “great historians” as Americans from the last 60 yrs. 🤷🏻♂️ Just another framework of principles to move through life with. Tools in the toolbox. A shorter, easier read I did in like 6 hrs.
December 30, 2023
2.5 stars
October 14, 2024
i’ve always admired coach saban and its ironic this was written before he even went to alabama. its really basic advice but its really authentic and honest which makes it so enjoyable and impactful.
November 2, 2012
I will readily admit that my favorite motivational books are written by coaches at the top of their profession. In order to achieve their goals they have to inspire assistants and athletes with their vision and direct their actions to achieve excellent results. In college football's Southeastern Conference, one of the toughest conferences to achieve consistent success, Nick Saban has won both conference and national championships as head coach of LSU and the University of Alabama and enjoyed success in the National Football League.
How Good Do You Want To Be was written before Nick Saban became the coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide but it is obvious from his speeches and results at the University of Alabama that he adheres to the principles in this book. A central theme of the book, and his coaching philosophy, is to focus on what you need to do to perform as a champion and not the results themselves. While this might seem obvious, too often people focus on external factors they can't control and make excuses for why they cannot be successful due to the economy, environment, their upbringing, or a hundred other reasons. As Saban notes regarding the LSU national championship team:
We never talked as a team or as a staff about championships. We simply focused on the process of becoming champions. p.12
Throughout the book he describes in great detail the importance of maintaining focus, discipline, and healthy communication. His focus on developing effective processes and working the system is critical to business or team success. His principles of leadership are evident in the successful careers of coaches who once served as his assistants. He, in turn, credits Bill Belichick, who wrote the forward to the book, for being a positive role model who helped shape his approach.
I appreciate his focus on success in one's personal life as a component of overall success. If you have great professional success but leave a trail of broken relationships in your wake you have not succeeded. He practices what he preaches and provides sound guidance in this book for integrating work and personal life.
The book is very well organized and it is easy to highlight the important lessons to learn and the takeaway points. Each chapter ends with a summary of the main points that is useful as a review list.
In contrast to a lot of motivational books that are heavy on platitudes and pep talks, Nick Saban's process oriented approach inspires by demonstrating that if we develop a good system, focus on our preparation and the factors we can affect, we will achieve good results. His advice for dealing with roadblocks, difficult people and situations, and deficiencies through good decision making, not wishful thinking, is a welcome change from the "grit your teeth and bear it" philosophy of many motivational books.
If you are inspired by the book, I would also recommend you watch the DVD Gamechanger which also discusses the championship approach as practiced by the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2009 National Championship season. The access to planning, practices, and his home life reflect what you learn from the book.
How Good Do You Want To Be was written before Nick Saban became the coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide but it is obvious from his speeches and results at the University of Alabama that he adheres to the principles in this book. A central theme of the book, and his coaching philosophy, is to focus on what you need to do to perform as a champion and not the results themselves. While this might seem obvious, too often people focus on external factors they can't control and make excuses for why they cannot be successful due to the economy, environment, their upbringing, or a hundred other reasons. As Saban notes regarding the LSU national championship team:
We never talked as a team or as a staff about championships. We simply focused on the process of becoming champions. p.12
Throughout the book he describes in great detail the importance of maintaining focus, discipline, and healthy communication. His focus on developing effective processes and working the system is critical to business or team success. His principles of leadership are evident in the successful careers of coaches who once served as his assistants. He, in turn, credits Bill Belichick, who wrote the forward to the book, for being a positive role model who helped shape his approach.
I appreciate his focus on success in one's personal life as a component of overall success. If you have great professional success but leave a trail of broken relationships in your wake you have not succeeded. He practices what he preaches and provides sound guidance in this book for integrating work and personal life.
The book is very well organized and it is easy to highlight the important lessons to learn and the takeaway points. Each chapter ends with a summary of the main points that is useful as a review list.
In contrast to a lot of motivational books that are heavy on platitudes and pep talks, Nick Saban's process oriented approach inspires by demonstrating that if we develop a good system, focus on our preparation and the factors we can affect, we will achieve good results. His advice for dealing with roadblocks, difficult people and situations, and deficiencies through good decision making, not wishful thinking, is a welcome change from the "grit your teeth and bear it" philosophy of many motivational books.
If you are inspired by the book, I would also recommend you watch the DVD Gamechanger which also discusses the championship approach as practiced by the Alabama Crimson Tide's 2009 National Championship season. The access to planning, practices, and his home life reflect what you learn from the book.
January 18, 2018
Phenomenal
Just a great account of people creating their own potential no matter what their background is. Really great read, loved it.
Just a great account of people creating their own potential no matter what their background is. Really great read, loved it.
February 10, 2021
TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More
My dad used to say "Be like the grass - the more manure they throw on you, the stronger you get."
My dad used to say "Be like the grass - the more manure they throw on you, the stronger you get."
Want to read
March 12, 2021Great book but it can't be renewed any more, so it has to go back.
Main takeaways:
Just show up and dominate for 60 minutes of football. Don't think about becoming a national champion. Don't even think about winning this game. If you made a fuckup on the last play, don't think about that either. Just let it go. Do the best you can THIS play, on what's in front of you right now. Do that every play and you'll do your best—and that's the best you could possibly do.
The reason it's so hard for a team to win the championship two years in a row is it messes up how they evaluate themselves. Their goals get all screwy, they expect too much from themselves, then they get disappointed, and generally they get too fixated and distracted by the idea of the championship. They fall away from what got them there in the first place, so they fall away from their success. Instead, recommit to your processes and whatever got you to success. Do more of that.
Left off p. 144.
Notes:
p. 84
"If a guy can throw a fastball consistently in the upper nineties and has success with it through twenty-six batters, why would he use a curveball against the twenty0seventh and potentially lose the game? If you are going to lose, do it with your best stuff. Know your strengths, play to them, and make the opponent beat you doing it."
p. 115
Dominant teams are extra hard to beat because of their aura of dominance. The other team gets scared and psyches themselves out. "So what make someone or some team dominant? Actually, it's pretty simple: the competitive spirit, relentlessness, physical play, and toughness." He also reminds players not to stay on the ground unless they're severely hurt. It's the lesson from Mohammad Ali: "Champions don't belong on the ground." They don't show frustration with their mistakes, either. Just strength.
p. 119 "Dominant individuals and teams only beat themselves." (The other team can't beat them, so the only way they can lose is if they beat themselves.)
Main takeaways:
Just show up and dominate for 60 minutes of football. Don't think about becoming a national champion. Don't even think about winning this game. If you made a fuckup on the last play, don't think about that either. Just let it go. Do the best you can THIS play, on what's in front of you right now. Do that every play and you'll do your best—and that's the best you could possibly do.
The reason it's so hard for a team to win the championship two years in a row is it messes up how they evaluate themselves. Their goals get all screwy, they expect too much from themselves, then they get disappointed, and generally they get too fixated and distracted by the idea of the championship. They fall away from what got them there in the first place, so they fall away from their success. Instead, recommit to your processes and whatever got you to success. Do more of that.
Left off p. 144.
Notes:
p. 84
"If a guy can throw a fastball consistently in the upper nineties and has success with it through twenty-six batters, why would he use a curveball against the twenty0seventh and potentially lose the game? If you are going to lose, do it with your best stuff. Know your strengths, play to them, and make the opponent beat you doing it."
p. 115
Dominant teams are extra hard to beat because of their aura of dominance. The other team gets scared and psyches themselves out. "So what make someone or some team dominant? Actually, it's pretty simple: the competitive spirit, relentlessness, physical play, and toughness." He also reminds players not to stay on the ground unless they're severely hurt. It's the lesson from Mohammad Ali: "Champions don't belong on the ground." They don't show frustration with their mistakes, either. Just strength.
p. 119 "Dominant individuals and teams only beat themselves." (The other team can't beat them, so the only way they can lose is if they beat themselves.)
June 29, 2024
Good read, despite its deceptive cover photo.
My middle and high school years were spent during the heyday of Saban's Alabama coaching career. The majority of Alabama's wins were won while I was in school. I read this book to feel some nostalgia for my high school days, get a behind-the-scenes look at Alabama's most memorable games, learn what made Saban so great, and learn about his life. I only got the latter two.
The first third of the book talks about his coaching career at LSU , the second third is filled mostly with buzzwords, and the final third dove a little bit deeper into Saban's background. I found the second third to be a chore to read, especially since I disagreed with his viewpoints on Corporate monopolies, which it sounds like he's in favor of lol
That said, I enjoyed learning about his childhood, where and how he learned his work ethic and the principles he taught about being successful. I appreciated that, although a football coach, his standards for excellence were very practical and could be applied to all fields of life, not just sports. He does give a lot of hypothetical scenarios which I found not useful.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from this book is the importance of sticking to routine and good principles. He talks about his LSU championship season and how almost every week there was an obstacle that distracted him and his team from sticking with their routine and best practices. He emphasizes that those routines and best practices culminated in their championship win, but were put in place years before. Their success was the result of those best practices compounding.
My middle and high school years were spent during the heyday of Saban's Alabama coaching career. The majority of Alabama's wins were won while I was in school. I read this book to feel some nostalgia for my high school days, get a behind-the-scenes look at Alabama's most memorable games, learn what made Saban so great, and learn about his life. I only got the latter two.
The first third of the book talks about his coaching career at LSU , the second third is filled mostly with buzzwords, and the final third dove a little bit deeper into Saban's background. I found the second third to be a chore to read, especially since I disagreed with his viewpoints on Corporate monopolies, which it sounds like he's in favor of lol
That said, I enjoyed learning about his childhood, where and how he learned his work ethic and the principles he taught about being successful. I appreciated that, although a football coach, his standards for excellence were very practical and could be applied to all fields of life, not just sports. He does give a lot of hypothetical scenarios which I found not useful.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from this book is the importance of sticking to routine and good principles. He talks about his LSU championship season and how almost every week there was an obstacle that distracted him and his team from sticking with their routine and best practices. He emphasizes that those routines and best practices culminated in their championship win, but were put in place years before. Their success was the result of those best practices compounding.
May 21, 2025
This is my favorite book I've ever read. This book was written in 2004 following Coach Saban's first title at LSU. He practically predicted his 6 more championships later on in this book. It outlines his life and upbringing in small town West Virginia. How that, his parents, and the fuel station they owned taught him work ethic and what is important in life. His point is that anyone can have the type of success he has had at what they are doing. They need to focus on what small things they can be doing daily to get to the place they want to be, rather than focusing on the place they want to be. Doing that causes you to get discouraged as it is so hard to get there, and neglect the important, but small things to do daily. Read this if you are looking for a self-help book, are a football fan, or enjoy success stories.
October 16, 2025
This book was very eye opening. If people aren’t familiar with football, coach Saban is very well known for his philosophy for being a leader. This book takes a deep dive into his thoughts about becoming a leader in all sorts of life. Reading this in 2025 and learning about how he initially started his craft back when he was a kid learning from his dad is very inspiring. And i enjoyed reading it because he’s not some super hero, he’s not a wealthy person with everything in the works. He was raised from a strong family and is a human just like you and me. This was my first time picking a book and actually sitting down and reading it since being forced to read back in high school, and i couldnt have started off with a better book.
July 4, 2024
I purchased this book at the LSU Book Bazaar because it’s signed by Nick Saban. Although my version is from his time at LSU, meaning much changed in his career, the life lessons still stand up to the test of time. His “roadmap” to culture portions even helped me develop my own version at work.
One funny aspect is him accidentally referring to Alabama’s stadium at Jordan Hare, which is Auburn’s stadium! Funny to think that just a few years later, he’d start a Bama dynasty and become the greatest coach of all time.
One funny aspect is him accidentally referring to Alabama’s stadium at Jordan Hare, which is Auburn’s stadium! Funny to think that just a few years later, he’d start a Bama dynasty and become the greatest coach of all time.
February 4, 2021
Nick Saban is one of those people whom I respect tremendously. Not because of how successful he is, but how he carries himself professionally. His process is so meticulous and it's incredible. This book challenged me as a person to be the best version of myself daily - to focus on bettering myself. Saban gets the best out of his players and those in and around of his organization year after year because he challenges them. This book does just that.
August 16, 2022
This is a real nice book. Coach Saban tells his life story and how he became the great success that he is. He explains his coaching philosophies and how he helps nurture young men into becoming champions. The book has helpful suggestions and advice that is suitable for everyone, no matter their circumstances or individual goals. Coach Saban gives you the tools in this book to become as good as you want to be.
October 27, 2025
Entertaining look at Saban's career prior to his time at Alabama.
about me-focused players:
"Paranoia over being cheated out of one’s rightful share. Along with feeling that they are not appreciated, these individuals are routinely concerned about who gets credit and who gets blame. No credit given to them is ever enough, and too much offered to a teammate is flat-out wrong. They are concerned not with the team’s success, but with whether they are going to get credit for any success.”
about me-focused players:
"Paranoia over being cheated out of one’s rightful share. Along with feeling that they are not appreciated, these individuals are routinely concerned about who gets credit and who gets blame. No credit given to them is ever enough, and too much offered to a teammate is flat-out wrong. They are concerned not with the team’s success, but with whether they are going to get credit for any success.”
May 9, 2017
I got about half way and couldn't finish it because frankly it was just very poorly written. Ideas weren't very well flushed out and he was listing examples that weren't exactly his area of expertise. What was a zero star review turned into two stars because I have a lot of respect for the coach, just not this book.
November 10, 2024
Been a huge fan of Nick Saban for sometime now and I always wanted to learn his thought process on leadership, especially with his success as one of the greatest College Football coaches. Even though this book was published a while back, I would love for him to update it and tell what he learned from his final years as a coach then moving onto retirement.
April 8, 2020
Nick Saban explains how he got to where he is today. But, this book is more than football, there are many lessons to be learned from him. It’s simple, but truthful to how he coaches and thinks. He explains everything in different lessons that are individually important.
Read
March 15, 2022Great book for young athletes who are in Highschool but also recommend to folks who want to develop into a successful young man. This book talks a lot about character and how to deal with adversity. Most importantly, this book teaches many lessons not only about football but about life.
September 3, 2025
How big is your frying pan?
You can have no flickering lights
Great leaders hire good people
Great leaders don't have all the answers, but they find them.
Highly motivating book on choosing to be a good leader at whatever you aspire to be.
You can have no flickering lights
Great leaders hire good people
Great leaders don't have all the answers, but they find them.
Highly motivating book on choosing to be a good leader at whatever you aspire to be.
May 7, 2017
The master of coaching spills his philosophy for success. A must read before any job interview.
December 18, 2017
It was an OK book. Has great advice! Had to read for school!
June 5, 2020
The last section, part 5, gives the gist of the whole book. The ideas throughout are typical of leadership. Very good for preparing or building leadership skills.
June 20, 2021
Everything you need to know are the topic sentences of the first paragraphs. This is an older version also
January 21, 2022
It's Nick Saban, but with candle light dinners with Julio Jones.
October 14, 2022
One of my favorite books of all time. I have read it personally, with teams I coach, with colleagues, and with a coach's group. I always get new information and perspectives.
July 17, 2024
This is a good look into Saban’s philosophy on attacking life, at least that as of 2004. It was a good read, easy to follow.
December 20, 2024
A spectacular guide to leadership from one of the greatest leaders of our time.
April 3, 2025
Really solid book of advice for anyone no matter where you’re at in life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews