Book Babble #4: My take on… "Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court"

Today we delve in to the mind and words of a master of the basketball court…

The Wizard of Westwood

If you're not aware, Mr John Wooden was an American basketball player and head coach at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He won ten NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) national championships in a 12-year period as head coach at UCLA, including a record seven in a row… so small feat considering no-one else has ever won more than 3 in a row. 

This comes along with other accolades which make him a tour de force, not only in the sport of basketball, but in the world of success and achievement, whatever form that may take. 

Being a Brit, I'm not too 'au fait' with the intricacies of the more prominent American sports. I didn't know much of this character a few years ago, but was of course interested in finding out more when I saw this book mentioned a couple of times.

Here are a few snippets of Wooden wisdom, along with my thoughts…

“The person who knows ‘how’ will always have a job. The person who knows ‘why’ will be his boss.” 

This was actually quoted in part of the preface to the book. If you know the mechanics of something, you'll do just fine. But if you know why, then you'll be looking at the bigger picture and a driving force. Skills can be taught, underlying motivation not so much. 

you should learn as if you were going to live forever, and live as if you were going to die tomorrow. 

Plan for the long haul. Expect to live a long life and never stop learning. But also live with relish, excitement, not wasting a minute and getting your priorities straight as if it were all coming to an end tomorrow. Finding the balance right here is a key. 

You respect everyone. Then you simply make the strongest effort to prepare to the fullest extent of your abilities. The result will take care of itself, and you should be willing to accept it. 

Have a healthy respect for all. Prepare as best you can as to what you're capable of and concentrate on your own game. Do that and the result will come, and whatever it is, take it on the chin!

As Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “It is better to travel hopefully than arrive.” 

The old, 'it's the journey, not the destination'. I'm not 100% about that, as I feel it is about the destination to a large degree (and you have to keep your eye on the prize in order to not get held up by some of the crap along the way), but I understand the sentiment. 

I think with Wooden, it was more about the details in the run up to big events rather than the events themselves. He said on retirement that he didn't miss the games and championships, but rather the practices. 

Ultimately, the end result will take care of itself and the journey leading up to it is where you hold the control and the enjoyment. 

A Leader Is Fair: Fairness is giving all people the treatment they earn and deserve. It doesn’t mean treating everyone alike. That’s unfair, because everyone doesn’t earn the same treatment. 

Exactly! We are not 'all equal'. Be fair to all but treat people differently according to how they show up and who you are. This is a contentious one as I've had conversations with people who treat people the same regardless, and others who agree absolutely with this. It doesn't mean be rude, it means adjusting slightly to the situation.

Give everyone a fair chance for sure, and then based on evidence through interactions, fairness then becomes giving people what they deserve and earn (oh, and you expect to be treated in the same manner, by the way). 

Develop a love for details. They usually accompany success. 

The devil is in the detail! Wooden was big on the small things having a huge impact. Pay attention to and perfect these little details and success will follow. And learn to love that process, rather than it be a chore. Then you will have that edge. 

I believe it was Muhammad Ali who said - “It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out, it's the pebble in your shoe”. Take care of the pebble, or no mountains are getting climbed today ;). 

It was as Cervantes described. For me the journey was the inn.    

A reference to the Spanish writer and once again the journey being the most important thing. The destination not being what he was striving for but the striving itself was the destination he was seeking. Wooden loved the routine. The minutiae itself, knowing what you need to be doing at a given time, executing the plan and allowing that to lead you forward. 

how close can we get to perfect? 

Ok, you'll never be perfect, but how close can you get? Strive for supreme excellence. Another great coach (American Football), Vince Lombardi once said - "winning isn't everything but the pursuit of winning is". Try to raise the bar a little each day. 

Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens—and when it happens, it lasts. 

Ties in with the last point. Small and consistent steps, and lasting success. 

"If you get caught up in things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect those things over which you have control” 

A quote from Wooden's father who was clearly a huge influence on him. Focus on only the things you can control, as that's the only thing you can do. And try and ignore all that is out of your control. Easier said than done but probably the key to everything. 

“You’re just as good as anyone, but you’re no better than anybody.” 

Again this was a comment from Wooden's Dad. In particular, it was referring to race but obviously can be applied to everything. You're not inferior, nor are you superior, to anyone. Of course, you have your talents and skills (as do others) where you may be 'better' or 'worse' but not in any general human sense. 

Athletes should be good role models, but not heroes. 

A role model is someone that those who love you would want you to be like. A hero is just someone the general public holds up to acclaim. They are often different people. 

As Pearl Mesta said, “Those that matter don’t mind and those that mind don’t matter.” 

I think this speaks for itself. Don't give too much credence to what you hear flying around, whether that be praise or criticism. Know your contribution and that's all that really matters. A lot of the noise is irrelevant fluff, so "absorb what is useful, discard what is not" (Bruce Lee). 

Success is peace of mind that is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming 

Do your best. Make progress. That's 'success'. 

Thanks Woody! Anything else?

There you have it; a great at his craft and a master of how sports and life can be run. Within the book there were a few lists - tips of life advice condensed into a number of points, which I'll include here as it may help inspire in some way. 

If you want to see more info on these and their backstory, and more about Mr Wooden himself, then pick up the book… I'm sure there'll be some nuggets for you in there, sports fan or not!

This is something his Dad gave him to see him right in life. On the one side of a piece of paper was a verse by a reverend, and on the other, a 'creed' of "Seven Things to Do": 

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. 

As Wooden points out, no-one is an 'overachiever', we're all just underachievers to varying degrees. Here are Eight suggestions For Succeeding: 

1. Fear no opponent. Respect every opponent.      
2. Remember, it’s the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen.      
3. Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.     
4. Be more interested in character than reputation.      
5. Be quick, but don’t hurry.      
6. Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have.      
7. Know that valid self-analysis is crucial for improvement.      
8. Remember that there is no substitute for hard work and careful planning. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. 

And finally, nine promises that can bring 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 of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in 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 to 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. 

Phew, those are some lists… plenty to be getting on with there! 

So, what do you think? Have you read this book? Do you have any great recommendations?

~ Adam

*****

Creative Director & Copywriter @ FortressFree.com

Adam (that's me!) is a Spain based English copywriter and creates spice-filled words for adventurous brands worldwide! Feel free to check out my profile and get in contact if you'd like to chit-chat exciting creative writing projects!