There is a cost to leadership, and Kirby Smart keeps a reminder at his desk of that little known fact.

The Georgia coach spent some of his allotted time Tuesday at the podium at SEC media days in Nashville discussing the importance of leadership.

“I think anyone can tell you the benefits of great leaders,” he said. “Anybody can tell you what it looks like. They can tell you what leadership can do for you. They can tell you how to develop leadership. There are tons of books written on great leaders and leadership.

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“But you won’t see, and what you will never see, is people talk about the costs of leadership and costs associated with leadership I should say. If we truly want to be honest and up front about leadership, you can’t ignore the costs of leadership.”

He said great leaders will accept those costs.”

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Smart shared three of those costs that he keeps on a Post-It note in his office.

• No. 1, you will have to make hard decisions that negatively affect people you care about.
• No. 2, you will be disliked despite your best attempts to do the best for the most.
• No. 3 , you will be misunderstood and won’t always have the opportunity to defend yourself.

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He went on to explain his players have accepted the price of leadership.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.