Theres a wonderful new book that Id like to recommend. Its called My Personal Best by the beloved UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. From his early years on a small Indiana farm to his historic record-setting series of national basketball championship, this is an All-American journey.
His eventual championships were built on a series of life lessons from the many people who taught John Wooden along the way. I believe those life lessons, as shared in this book that is filled with many interesting photographs, are valuable and worth sharing.
Born on October 14, 1910, John Wooden was eventually called The Greatest Coach of The 20th Century. Among his many awards, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.
Joshua Hugh Wooden, Johns father, was his first coach in life. He taught character mostly by his own example. One of Joshuas favorite sayings was, Dont try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be. You have control over that. The other you dont.
This philosophy of working hard at those things one can control and not losing sleep over the rest of it was expressed to John and his brothers at the kitchen table of the family farm. Boys, said Joshua, always try to learn from others, because youll never know a thing that you didnt learn from somebody else even if its what not to do.
Johns mother, Roxie Anna Wooden, taught him lessons about overcoming tragedies. She lost two young daughters, Johns sisters, and had to survive because farm life offered no time for self-pity. How often do most people allow life to stop them in their tracks when difficulties occur? Keeping busy at such times helps propel us forward toward new beginnings.
Although life for John and his two brothers seemed almost perfect on the farm, it was hard for his parents. According to the book, Bad vaccination serum killed the hogs, drought stunted the crops, and the bank took the farm. Through it all, Dad never winced. He laid no blame on the merchant who had sold him the bad serum, didnt curse the weather, and had no hatred toward the banker.
The lesson for all of us, when challenging times occur, is clarified by Johns father who was a living model of his own two sets of three life instructions that were basic to decent behavior: Never life. Never cheat. Never steal. Dont whine. Dont complain. Dont make excuses.
According to John, As instructive as it was to hear him recite the two sets of threes, seeing him abide by them as he lost the farm had a most powerful effect on me. Thats where I came to see that what you do is more important than what you say youll do. People say theyll do all kinds of things.
If you thought this column was going to be about basketball, its not. Its about a little boy who learned some valuable lessons that made it possible for him to become a great basketball coach.
When I graduated from Centerton, states John in the book, it was a big occasion because in those days a grade-schooler who lived in the country didnt automatically go to high school, let alone college. Parents usually wanted to give their children a gift of some kind, but there was little money in our house for this sort of thing. Nevertheless, Dad gave me something of lasting significance advice, or wisdom, that Ive tried to live my life by.
That advice was on a crisp three-by-five card which contained a poem on one side that had the following message: seek clarity of thought, fill your heart with love and compassion for others, be honest and fair, and trust in the Good Lord.
The back of the card contained his fathers Seven-Point Creed: 1. Be true to yourself. 2. Help others. 3. Make each day your masterpiece. 4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. 5. Make friendship a fine art. 6. Build a shelter against a rainy day. 7. Pray for guidance and count and give thanks for your blessings every day.
In a world that seems to be caught up in instant communications, impatience, and a level of stress thats shortening many peoples lives, maybe its time to slow down and adhere to some of these wonderful and simple life lessons. After all, these lessons were responsible for the very successful and admired life of John Wooden.
Each of us is the coach of a very special team us. Take a look at how youre coaching yourself. If you dont like the way your team is performing, perhaps the coach could find some helpful lessons in this valuable book.
A Coaching Affirmation
I have identified some powerful, basic concepts that now guide my team toward a championship season.
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John Wooden recites "Little One Who Follows Me"by 180communications8,042 views
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