I was only 13 or 14 years old when I first got involved in the fire service as a Fire Explorer. I spent about five years in that program before beginning what has now become a 13 year career in the fire service.
Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much time has passed. I’ve had some great experiences, met some incredible people, and learned lessons that have stayed with me. I’ve also seen the other side of this profession. The long nights, tough calls, mistakes, and challenges that come with the job.
One thing I’ve learned is that sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.
That brings me to Nick Saban.
For those who may not know, Saban is the former head football coach at the University of Alabama and one of the most successful coaches in college football history imo. He won seven national championships during his career.
But what has always stood out to me about Saban isn’t just the winning. It’s his approach to discipline, preparation, and doing things the right way.
In 2023, Saban delivered a speech called “The Importance of Nothing.” It was a simple message about entitlement, discipline, effort, and paying attention to details.
And as I listened, I couldn’t help but think about the fire service.
We work in a profession where people are always looking for ways to grow. Whether it’s becoming a paramedic, joining a special operations team like GSAR etc, becoming a relief driver, or working toward that next promotion, there’s always something to chase.
And that’s a good thing.
I encourage firefighters to take classes, earn certifications, and push themselves. We should never stop learning.
But somewhere along the way, I think we sometimes forget about the basics.
We get so focused on where we want to go that we forget about what we should be doing right now.
We want to drive the fire truck, but are we taking care of the equipment? We want to lead others, but are we leading ourselves? We want advanced training, but have we taken the time to master the skills we already have?
What good is having every certification in the world if we lack the discipline to do the little things right?
That’s where Saban’s message really hit home for me.
He reminds us that talent means very little without discipline, focus, and preparation. And becoming too comfortable can cause us to overlook the very things that made us successful.
In the fire service, those little things aren’t always exciting. Checking equipment, training, cleaning the station, showing up prepared for duty, and looking out for each other…this all might seem routine.
But those are the things that build a strong crew and a stronger YOU
There’s another part of Saban’s message that I think we need to hear as firefighters or public safety officers in general…
Nobody owes us anything…..
That’s a tough one, especially in our profession.
We chose to serve our communities. That doesn’t mean we don’t deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, or support. We absolutely do. There are real issues within the fire service and healthcare system that need to be addressed.
But we also have to look within our own walls.
Sometimes we spend so much time talking about what’s wrong around us that we forget to ask what we could be doing better ourselves.
And I’m included in that.
After 13 years, I still have plenty to learn. I’ve made mistakes, overlooked things, and had moments where I could have done better. Being an Lieutenant doesn’t make me any different.
If anything, it reminds me that I have a responsibility to keep growing too.
I don’t believe Saban’s speech is about being perfect. It’s about making the effort, staying focused, and not allowing past success to make us comfortable.
And I think that’s something every firefighter, from the newest recruit to the most experienced chief, can take something from.
We should all have goals. We should all want to grow and accomplish more.
But maybe before we focus so much on that next big thing, we should take a little more pride in the small things we do every day.
Because those little things are what make us better firefighters, better leaders, and better people.
And without them, what do we really have?
Nothing.
