John Wooden is widely regarded as the greatest philosopher, teacher, and coach in all of sports history. Though he passed away more than six years ago, he left behind many pearls of wisdom, from which we can all, continue to learn. One such gem is his “Pyramid of Success”. As we begin 2017, I will post a series of blogs, highlighting the “building blocks” of the “Pyramid”, and how they can be helpful to us in sports, as well as everyday life.
John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success
THE CORNERSTONES
The First Cornerstone of the Pyramid, is “Industriousness“. At its simplest, Wooden is talking about “hard work”. “There is no substitute for hard work”. Nobody achieves greatness without hard work. There are no short cuts. If you want to be the best you can be, whether it be in sports, school or anything else, work your hardest toward that end. Industriousness is not just going through the motions. It is focused, conscientious and passionate.
The Second Cornerstone, is “Enthusiasm“. To truly attain success, you must enjoy what you are doing. The two elements go together. Enthusiasm can turn hard work into “Industriousness” . If you have enthusiasm for something, it will become contagious. Positive leadership is a powerful force, whether it comes from a Coach or a Player.
If you can be Industrious and Enthusiastic in whatever you endeavor to do (sports, school, work etc.), you will be well on your way to achieving real success.
