Are you guys familiar with John Wooden?
John Wooden is a man most well-known for his role as the former head coach of the UCLA men’s basketball team and the success he had during his coaching career. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 99 but left behind a series of coaching accomplishments that were record-setting and beyond impressive:
- First Person Inducted to Basketball Hall of Fame as a Player AND as a Coach
- 10 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships (7 of those were in consecutive years from 1967 – 1973)
- 16 Appearances and 21 Victories in Final Four Tournaments
- 88 Consecutive Victories (from 1971 – 1973)
- 38 Consecutive Wins in NCAA Tournament Play (from 1964 – 1974)
What made Wooden such a unique person was that, in addition to astonishing success coaching basketball teams to victory, he was someone who also had a tremendous impact on the lives of his players and anyone who came into contact with him. He was a mentor to so many young men leading them to become better sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, friends, and leaders. Although many consider Wooden to be a legend, he was extremely humble and considered himself to simply be a teacher preferring to be addressed as simply “coach.”
To Coach, there was more to success than winning basketball games. Winning at life, leaving others better than you found them, and doing your very best were where he believed true success could be found.
Wooden shared his wisdom with the world through investing in players as well as through books that he wrote or were written about him. A few of my favorite Wooden “nuggets” of wisdom are:
“You can’t live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
“Happiness begins where selfishness ends.”
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.”
I think one of the most influential pieces of wisdom Coach shared with the world was his seven-point creed for life. These seven maxims were given to him by his father when he graduated from grammar school. They are simple words, but could be incredibly powerful if applied to our daily thoughts and actions.
John Wooden’s Seven Point Creed
- 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 a shelter against a rainy day.
- Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
This creed obviously served him well during his 99 years. Wonder what it could do for us?
If interested, you can listen to the following speech Coach Wooden gave about true success (warning: it’s 18 minutes long) and learn more about his incredible life at coachwooden.com.
{If you are reading this in email, you may need to click over to the blog to watch the video.}
Have a fantastic day!
♥ Rachel
