Building a Dream Team

Right now, I’m obsessed with two things: building a world-class marketing team... and college football. (Though if you’ve known me long, the football part isn’t new.) Ever since I was a kid, college football has been my favorite sport to watch. There’s just something about the heart, the hustle, the atmosphere.

And in the world of football, nobody’s done it quite like Nick Saban, retired coach of the University of Alabama. His ability to build and sustain elite teams year after year? It's endlessly impressive. You might say it’s a masterclass in leadership. So, yes, I go to his playbook often. Turns out, it applies off the field too.

Saban’s philosophy is rooted in one very KR Squared-friendly idea: process over outcome. He’s not screaming about the scoreboard; he’s laser-focused on execution, accountability, and growth. He recruits people who are coachable, who know how to work as a team, and who value the grind. Sound familiar?

When it comes to team building, I look for similar traits. I want people who are curious, coachable, and hungry to do work that actually means something. People who care more about impact than attention. When trust runs deep and everyone plays their position effectively, well, that’s when the magic happens.

Saban once said, “Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” I think about that often. Because the right people won’t settle, won’t coast, and won’t shy away from a challenge. They’re in it for the long haul, not just the highlight reel.

Every day, I get more excited about the team taking shape. Not because we’re trying to win a single game, but because we’re building something built to last.