John Wooden, UCLA's basketball coach, and innovator of basketball techniques passed away this week. All over the world, many former UCLA players are coming forward with their favorite John Wooden stories. I was never lucky enough to meet Coach Wooden, but I have read his quotes and stories about his teachings for several years.
I would like to share a few of my favorites, it is amazing how things he taught his young male basketball players, are relevant for a woman in Advertising Sales. The following are some of his most famous:
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation."
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
The John Wooden Pyramid of Success is among one of the most amazing insights into how a person thinks and behaves that I have seen, even with all of the classwork for my degree in Psychology. "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
His principles are so simple, yet cross over boundaries- for the most talented basketball players in the world, to business owners who want to increase their business, for the young student athletes who just want to be better than their rival school, to the advertising account executive who wants to do the best for the client and make a difference. For Coach Wooden, it was not about his team winning or losing, it was about developing player to be great human beings, very similar to Coach Krzyzewski. These great men realized that their main goal as a college basketball coach, was not just to make some 18-20 year old boys into champions, it was their job to turn these boys into amazing men, and great citizens.
Cheers to Coach Wooden and his amazing insight and for sharing so much with all of us, that stands the test of time. Just remember, living life is the most important thing, don't miss out on life looking for the great things, enjoy all little things as they happen.
