The Bison Principle

THE BISON PRINCIPLE

CLARITY, DISCIPLINE, AND COURAGE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF PARKS AND RECREATION

by Jamie Sabbach

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WHY THIS BOOK, WHY NOW

Local government stands at a defining moment.
Expectations are rising. Revenues fluctuate. Deferred maintenance compounds quietly. Political pressure intensifies.

Good intentions are not enough.

The Bison Principle challenges leaders to confront hard truths with clarity, discipline, and courage — before systems weaken beyond repair.

INSIDE THE BOOK

The Bison Principle is a provocative and timely book for anyone responsible for public resources. Drawing on more than 20 years of field leadership and nearly two decades advising professionals and agencies nationwide, Jamie Sabbach challenges the habits and assumptions that quietly erode public systems over time. Blending story, strategy, and plainspoken insight, she offers a disciplined framework for making hard decisions with clarity and courage. In a time of rising expectations and tightening resources, this book equips leaders to run toward the storm—and build communities that endure.

BULK ORDERS

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Bulk orders are available at a discounted rate for quantities of 10 or more.

The Bison Principle is perfect for:

Parks and recreation professionals
City, county, and special district administrators
Finance directors and budget officers
Elected and appointed officials
Public works, planning, and library leaders
Consultants and civic advisors
University students in parks and recreation, public administration, and finance

For orders of more than 20 copies, please contact us directly.

HOW IT HELPS

The Bison Principle Will Help You Gain

Build shared clarity around purpose and priorities
Apply the math that reveals what is sustainable — and what is not
Make transparent trade-offs instead of avoiding them
Strengthen public trust through consistency and discipline
Confront political pressure without losing professional integrity
Protect assets before crisis forces reaction

WHY THE BISON

When storms approach, most animals run away.
Bison run into the storm.

By moving toward difficulty, they shorten its duration.

Public leadership requires the same instinct.
Avoidance compounds cost.
Drift erodes trust.
Delay multiplies consequences.

Running toward the storm is not aggression.
It is stewardship.

WHO THIS IS FOR

For Leaders Responsible for Public Systems

Parks and recreation professionals
City, county, and special district administrators
Finance directors and budget officers
Elected and appointed officials
Public works, planning, and library leaders
Consultants and civic advisors
Graduate students in public administration and finance

ABOUT

Jamie Sabbach is the founder and president of 110% Inc., a consulting and education firm specializing in fiscal stewardship and responsible decision-making in local government. A sought-after speaker, facilitator, and educator, she has presented nationally and internationally and has testified before the U.S. Congress on the importance of parks, recreation, and other quality-of-life services.

Jamie works with elected officials, executive teams, and practitioners across the country to help them navigate complexity, confront hard trade-offs, and align public investment with public purpose. Her work sits at the intersection of math, meaning, and leadership—emphasizing clarity over comfort, long-term responsibility over short-term wins, and courage over convenience. Known for blending practical financial frameworks with values-based leadership and plain-spoken storytelling, she helps organizations move from aspiration to accountability while protecting the services and places that shape community quality of life.

Jamie lives in the mountains of Colorado with her wife, Lisa, and their two dogs, Wrigley and Ernie. When she’s not working with professionals and communities across the country, you’ll likely find her on a trail with dirt on her boots, in the woodshop with sawdust on her hands, or anywhere outdoors in the kind of landscapes that remind her why the work 110% does matters.

TESTIMONIALS

Charles Marohn

Founder & President, Strong Towns

Jamie applies a clear-eyed fiscal lens, reminding us that maintenance before expansion, honest lifecycle math, and disciplined leadership are the foundations of long-term resilience. This book challenges public servants to build systems their communities can afford to sustain.