The difference between winning and succeeding, Lessons from John Wooden

I came across a fascinating video, where John Robert Wooden spoke about the difference between winning and succeeding. John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player and head coach at the University of California at Los Angeles. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood," he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach at UCLA, including a record seven in a row. He was also an accomplished author, some of his books are “They Call Me Coach”, A Game Plan”, Inch and Miles” and many others.

Winning speaks to the end result while Succeeding emphasizes the journey and efforts that result in winning. In this 17-minute video, there are some key messages from John, I have captured 10 of them that really appealed to me.

1.     Make each day your masterpiece.

2.     Never try to be better than someone else, always learn from others. Never seize trying to be the best you can be, that is under your control.

3.     Success is peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction and knowing you made the effort to do the best which you are capable.

4.     Your reputation is what you are perceived to be. Your character what you really are.

5.     Work hard and enjoy what you are doing.

6.     Whatever you are doing you must have patience.

7.     Not all change is progress, but there is no progress without change.

8.     When we fail to give our best, then we simply haven’t met the test.  

9.     Don’t whine. Don’t Complain. Don’t make excuse. Whatever you doing do it to the best of your ability

10.  The journey is better than the end.