The Following contains exceprts from the book, Wooden, a Lifetime of Observations On and Off the Court) (Wooden/Jamison).
At our music school in Midland, Texas we believe that music is more than sound, it is relationships. When dealing with the subject of Leadership, relationships matter.
Coach John Wooden is the inspiration behind many of today’s most prominent leadership books and materials. Reading though this book, I felt like I had read much of it before, due to the many quotes that have been taken and used in other books. Wooden, throughout his life remained a man of humility, seeing himself as an educator, more than a sports figure. His overarching message was simple: Be your best wherever you are, regardless of any outside factors. The one thing you can control in life is your own personal preparation, so always focus on that.
The book is a compilation of Wooden’s thoughts on various subjects, as he was interviewed by Steve Jamison. Following are highlights of these quotes:
At our music school in Midland, Texas we hope to inspire these principles in our students, helping them learn not only musical skills but life-lessons.
Coaching, Teaching, Leading
There is no area of basketball in which I am a genius. None. Tactically and strategically I’m just average, and this is not offering false modesty. We won national championships while I was coaching at UCLA because I was above average in analyzing players, getting them to fill roles as part of a team, paying attention to fundamentals and details, and working well with others, both those under my supervision and those whose supervision I was under. Additionally, I enjoyed very hard work.
A person in a position of leadership must make decisions. Making decisions is a tough job. Those under a leader can make suggestions. Making suggestion is an easy job. Everybody has a suggestion. Not everybody has a decision.
The most essential thing for a leader to have is the respect of those under his or her supervision. It starts with giving them respect. You must make it clear that you are working together. Those under your supervision are not working for you but with you, and you all have a common goal.
Fairness is giving all people the treatment they earn and deserve. It doesn’t mean treating everyone alike.
A leader’s most powerful ally is his or her own example. Leaders don’t just talk about doing something; they do it.
At our music school in Midland, Texas we demonstrate how to successfully play our instruments or sing, so that our students can have successful examples to follow.
Listen to those under your supervision. Really listen…A good motto is “Others, too, have brains.”
Knowledge alone 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.
The teachers at our music school in Midland, Texas enjoy the challenge of motivating each student to achieve their best results.
There is nothing to be ashamed of when you’ve prepared to the best of your ability.
The time to prepare isn’t after you have been given the opportunity. It’s long before that opportunity arises. Once the opportunity arrives, it’s too late to prepare.
The pressure I created during practices may have exceeded that which opponents produced. I believe when an individual constantly works under pressure, he or she will respond automatically when faced with it during competition.
But it all began with attention to, and perfection of, details. Details. Details. Develop a love for details. They usually accompany success.
Every single member of your team needs to feel wanted and appreciated. If they are on the team, they deserve to be valued and to feel valued.
In “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” Thomas Gray wrote,
Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
The star knows he’s important and hears it from a variety of sources. You must make sure that others on the team, those “born to blush unseen,” understand that their role is also very, very important. They should never feel their efforts are wasted in the star’s shadow.
When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur…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.
This one principle sums up our philosophy of growth at our music school in Midland, Texas. Great things can happen when students choose to apply themselves each day towards a little progress.
The four laws of learning are explanation, demonstration, imitation, and repetition. The goal is to create a correct habit that can be produced instinctively under great pressure. To make sure this goal was achieved, I created eight laws of learning; namely, explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, and repetition.
The goal of our instruction at our music school in Midland, Texas is not to prepare the student to execute what they know under normal circumstances, but rather to function successfully under pressure. This is when they will know that they have learned their craft deeply.
Talent is God-given: be humble.
Fame is man-given: be thankful.
Conceit is self-given: be careful.
People learn more effectively if information is given in bite-size amounts rather than everything all at once.
Pyramid of Success
[Faith/Patience- the mortar that holds all levels together]
Competitive Greatness
Poise, Confidence
Condition, Skill, Team Spirit
Self-control, Alertness, Initiative, Intentness
Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, Enthusiasm
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.
Industriousness is the most conscientious, assiduous, and inspired type of work. A willingness to, an appetite for, hard work must be present for success.
The road to real achievement takes time, a long time, but you do not give up. You may have setbacks. You may have to start over. You may have to change your method. You may have to go around, or over, or under. You may have to back up and get another start. But you do not quit. You stay the course. To do that, you must have intentness.
You must identify your conditioning requirements and then attain them. Without proper conditioning in all areas, you will fall short of your potential. It is impossible to attain and maintain desirable physical condition without first achieving mental and moral condition.