John Wooden
Basketball Coaching Legend
7 Keys To Success
Given to John Wooden by his father, Joshua Wooden
1. Be true to yourself.
2. Make each day your masterpiece.
3. Help others.
4. Drink deeply from good books.
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build shelter against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings everyday.
Thoughts About Happiness
1. Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness, and prosperity as often as possible.
2. Promise yourself to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value.
3. Promise to think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best from yourself and others.
4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
5. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.
8. Promise to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.
Quotes and Deep Thoughts
By John Wooden
"Good coaching is based purely in leadership... a positive example... and instilling respect in your players."
-- John Wooden
"Knowledge is not enough to get desired results. You must have the more elusive ability to teach and to motivate. This defines a leader; if you can't teach and you can't motivate, you can't lead."
-- John Wooden
"You must have respect, which is a part of love, for those under your supervision. Then they will do what you ask and more."
-- John Wooden
"Motivating through fear may work in the short term to get people to do something, but over the long run I believe personal pride is a much greater motivator. It produces far better results that last for a much longer time."
-- John Wooden
"Young people need models, not critics."
-- John Wooden
"Happiness begins where selfishness ends."
-- John Wooden
"Ability will get you to the top, character will keep you there."
-- John Wooden
"The team with the most talent usually wins."
-- John Wooden
"As much as I value experience, and I value it greatly, I'd rather have a lot of skill (speed & quickness) and little experience than a lot of experience and little skill."
-- John Wooden
Team spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player."
-- John Wooden
"A person must be interested in finding the best way, not in having their own way."
-- John Wooden
"Teamwork is not a preference, it is a requirement."
-- John Wooden
"Loyalty is a cohesive force that forges individuals into a team."
-- John Wooden
"Make sure team members know they are working with you, not for you."
-- John Wooden
"In 1948, I began coaching basketball at UCLA. Each hour of practice we worked very hard. Each day we worked very hard. Each week we worked very hard. Each season we worked very hard. Four fourteen years we worked very hard and didn't win a national championship. However, a national championship was won in the fifteenth year. Another in the sixteenth. And eight more in the following ten years."
-- John Wooden
"Perfection is an impossibility but striving for perfection is not. Do the best you can. That is what counts."
-- John Wooden
"Winning games, titles and championships isn't all it's cracked up to be, but getting there, the journey, is a lot more than it's cracked up to be."
-- John Wooden
"Make every day your masterpiece."
-- John Wooden
"At times when I am feeling low, I hear from a friend and then
My worries start to go away, and I am on the mend.
In spite of all that doctors know, and their studies never end,
The best cure of all when spirits fall, Is a kind note from a friend."
-- John Wooden
