John Wooden's Leadership Example

(Source: Wikipedia)

Every once in a while I like to showcase one of the coaching professions greatest leaders, Coach John Wooden. Here are a few thoughts and poems he shared in the TED presentation "John Wooden on True Success."

No written word, no spoken plea.
Can teach our youth what they should be.

Nor all the books on all the shelves.

It’s what the teachers are themselves.

(Author Unknown)

Wooden's Definition of Success:

"Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable."

Reputation versus Character:

• Reputation: What you are perceived to be.
• Character: What you really are.
• Character is more important than reputation!

Wooden Family Rules to Live By:

• Never try to be better than someone else.
• Always learn from others.
• Never cease trying to be the best you can be that is under your control.
• If you get too engrossed, involved, and concerned with things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things with which you have control.Never be late.
• Don't use profanity.
• Never criticize a teammate.
• Don't whine.
• Don't complain.
• Don't make excuses.

The Road Ahead or the Road Behind (George J. Moriarty)

Sometimes I think the fates must grin as we denounce them and insist,
The only reason we can’t win is the fates themselves have missed.
Yet, there lives on the ancient claim – we win or lose within ourselves,
The shining trophies on our shelves can never win tomorrow’s game.
So you and I know deeper down there is a chance to win the crown,
But when we fail to give our best, we simply haven’t met the test
Of giving all and saving none until the game is really won.
Of showing what is meant by grit, of fighting on when others quit,
Of playing through not letting up, it’s bearing down that wins the cup.
Of taking it and taking more until we gain the winning score,
Of dreaming there’s a goal ahead, of hoping when our dreams are dead,
Of praying when our hopes have fled. Yet, losing, not afraid to fall,
If bravely we have given all, for who can ask more of a man
than giving all within his span, it seems to me, is not so far from – Victory.
And so the fates are seldom wrong, no matter how they twist and wind,
It’s you and I who make our fates, we open up or close the gates,
On the Road Ahead or the Road Behind.

Previous Blog Spotlights:

Be sure to check out our previous blog entries regarding "Coach."

• "John Wooden on True Success" - February 9, 2011
• "Wooden's Pyramid of Success" - August 23, 2010