John Robert Wooden was born on a Friday morning, October 14, 1910 in the tiny town of Hall, Indiana. At that point in time, who knew that was a mere beginning to one of the most incredible lives lived. 10 NCAA Basketball National Championships. 7 of which were consecutive. 16 Final Four appearances. Most all time. 88 consecutive victories from 1971 through 1973. Yep you guessed it, most all time. That was just as a coach. As a player, he won the Indiana State High School Championship in 1927 and was a three-time All-State selection. Then came his career at Purdue University where he won the 1932 National Championship and was the first player ever to be selected three times as a consensus All-American. All of that that put him in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach. He was the first one to accomplish that feat. That's quite a bit of winning.
You see, it was never about winning to the coach or the player Wooden. That was simply a by-product. It was about the commitment and discipline to do the right thing. All the time. It was about the preparation. One of Wooden's great maxims is "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." How true in anything you choose to take part in.
I don't think it can be argued that John Wooden was more successful as a man than he was as a coach or player. He was a family man who had one of the sweetest love affairs with his beloved wife Nellie, whom he met when he was 16. They were inseparable from the day they met until death did them part when Nellie past away on November 21, 1985. Even after her death, he remained faithful. Coach Wooden visited her grave on the 21st of every month, and then wrote a love letter to her. After finishing the letter, he would place it on her pillow with all the other letters that he wrote to her. Coach only stopped writing those letters the last few months of his life because of his failing eyesight. He also was a father figure to many of his players instilling those same values that his father instilled in him. Not to mention, being a father of his own two children. Wooden was a man of faith, reading the bible every night. We certainly can't forget his service in the US Navy for three years during World War II.
Mr. Wooden's lasting legacy might be summed up by two things that have the ability to be past along from generation to generation. Two things that are applicable to sport, business, and your personal life. The first is the Pyramid of Success followed by the Seven Point Creed. The Seven Point Creed was given to John Wooden by his father upon his graduation from grammar school and is made up of the following...
The Pyramid of Success might be his greatest work. Wooden said, "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." Below is a link to view the Pyramid of Success.
You see, it was never about winning to the coach or the player Wooden. That was simply a by-product. It was about the commitment and discipline to do the right thing. All the time. It was about the preparation. One of Wooden's great maxims is "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." How true in anything you choose to take part in.
I don't think it can be argued that John Wooden was more successful as a man than he was as a coach or player. He was a family man who had one of the sweetest love affairs with his beloved wife Nellie, whom he met when he was 16. They were inseparable from the day they met until death did them part when Nellie past away on November 21, 1985. Even after her death, he remained faithful. Coach Wooden visited her grave on the 21st of every month, and then wrote a love letter to her. After finishing the letter, he would place it on her pillow with all the other letters that he wrote to her. Coach only stopped writing those letters the last few months of his life because of his failing eyesight. He also was a father figure to many of his players instilling those same values that his father instilled in him. Not to mention, being a father of his own two children. Wooden was a man of faith, reading the bible every night. We certainly can't forget his service in the US Navy for three years during World War II.
Mr. Wooden's lasting legacy might be summed up by two things that have the ability to be past along from generation to generation. Two things that are applicable to sport, business, and your personal life. The first is the Pyramid of Success followed by the Seven Point Creed. The Seven Point Creed was given to John Wooden by his father upon his graduation from grammar school and is made up of the following...
- Be true to yourself
- Make each day your masterpiece
- Help others
- Drink deeply from good books, especially the bible
- Make friendship a fine art
- Build shelter against a rainy day
- Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
The Pyramid of Success might be his greatest work. Wooden said, "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." Below is a link to view the Pyramid of Success.
http://www.coachwooden.com/index2.html
The Pyramid of Success is something I have on my wall next to my desk. I fully believe that if you follow that road map, you will find your self-satisfaction. One common phrase that Coach Wooden used was "Be at your best when your best is needed." Coach, you certainly were. I think you gave us all something to shoot for.
Written by Eric for sytesee.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment