What are our standards? How consistently do we maintain them?
When Nick Saban was a boy, he worked with his father at the family's service station. He washed cars. His father inspected the finished job and if there was one spot or streak, his father made him to the job over. There was one standard.
"What are you selling today?" Model excellence.
Shane Parrish addresses standards in Clear Thinking. "But average standards aren’t going to get you where you want to go. Standards become habits, and habits become outcomes."
Sean Miller shares standards (harsh language).
2: Having high standards
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) July 21, 2025
"The standard is the standard."
High standards create clarity and direction about what's expected.
Great coaches set the bar high because they want the best for you.
When someone believes in you enough to expect greatness, it inspires you to rise up. pic.twitter.com/VsqNRTAcKn
49ers coach Bill Walsh preached standards in his "Standard of Performance" and his exceptional book, The Score Takes Care of Itself.
Via ChatGPT:
Bill Walsh's philosophy on standards in The Score Takes Care of Itself centers on the idea that success is a byproduct of relentlessly high personal and organizational standards—not a pursuit of the scoreboard.
Here are the key principles he emphasizes:
1. The Standard of Performance
Walsh’s central concept is what he called the “Standard of Performance.” This is a detailed blueprint for behavior, attitude, and execution, applied consistently across every person and role in the organization—from secretaries to quarterbacks.
“The culture precedes positive results. It doesn’t get tacked on as an afterthought on the way to the victory stand.”
He believed you win by doing things right, not by obsessing over winning.
2. Details Create Discipline
Walsh insisted on mastery of the small things—punctuality, communication, dress code, preparation, body language. These weren’t superficial; they were manifestations of excellence and pride. Standards lived in the details.
“Excellence is a habit, not a one-time act.”
3. Leaders Set the Standard—Then Model It
Walsh made clear that standards start at the top. The leader must define and consistently embody the behaviors they expect, even when no one is watching.
“You must be the first to demonstrate the discipline you expect from others.”
4. Standards Before Outcomes
He often reiterated that focusing on execution—on your role, on alignment, on timing—leads to outcomes. But chasing outcomes directly, without standards, collapses under pressure.
“When you have the right culture, the right behaviors, the right standards—the score takes care of itself.”
5. Accountability Without Drama
Walsh did not tolerate mediocrity. If someone wasn’t meeting the standard, it was addressed—firmly, clearly, and professionally. It wasn’t personal, but it was non-negotiable.
Some people say that it's tough to play for coaches with exacting standards - Walsh, Belichick, Lombardi. It's the opposite. Coaches without standards don't commit to attention to detail, to relentless preparation, to relying on each other to execute. Once coaches let things slip, the end is coming.
Lagniappe. Long and unforgettable message from Coach Saban
