From Socks Filled With Rags to Winning Championships: Leadership and Life With John Wooden

John Robert Wooden was an All-American basketball player, coach, and teacher, and is the winning-est coach of all time. He won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach at UCLA, including a record seven in a row.

Regardless of if you are a basketball fan or not; Wooden's life lessons will help you navigate the tumultuous waters of life and relationships.

Integrity is not tied to income.

When John Wooden was 8 years old, he and his older brother, and his parents, Joshua "Hugh" Wooden and Roxie Rothrock Wooden moved to a farm in Centerton, Indiana. Later, two younger brothers were born. Coach Wooden spoke of the gentle and loving way his parents interacted and the fact that his father's favorite Abraham Lincoln quote was, "The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

The Wooden's didn't have much money during John's childhood, "We had no electricity, plumbing or conveniences, and for entertainment Dad read books to us in the evening by the light of a coal-oil lamp... For my brothers and me, growing up on that little farm in Centerton was almost perfect."... It was "a hard good life." ("My Personal Best" by John Wooden & Steve Jamison)

John's mother, Roxie, made all their clothes, washed them by hand, and cooking all their meals from the products they grew on the farm. When the Wooden boys expressed a desire to play basketball, but the family didn't have the money to purchase one; Roxie created basketballs for her sons by stitching socks together and filling them with old rags. John's father, Hugh, made a basket for his sons from knocking out the bottom of a tomato basket and nailing "it to the hayloft in the barn." ("My Personal Best" by John Wooden & Steve Jamison)

Coach Wooden taught life skills needed for a successful life to his students, coaches, family members, and others for over 70 years. He developed his "Pyramid of Success" over a 14 year period, 1934- 1948 by identifying 25 behaviors he believed were necessary to achieve his idea of success.

Hugh and Roxie Wooden modeled the behavior they wanted to show their children. They had a long and loving marriage. They were married for 45 years until Hugh Wooden died. John Wooden and his wife Nell Wooden had a loving happy marriage also. They were married for 53 years until Nell died. Coach Wooden continued to write his wife love letters every month after her death.

Coach Wooden said, "I can just see my dad as I see you, if I close my eyes. By the shores of Gitche Gumee, / by the shining Big-Sea-Water, / stood the wigwam of Nokomis, / daughter of the moon Nokomis... Upon completing the verse by Longfellow, Wooden opened his eyes. "We had no electricity, no running water."

More is caught than taught

Coach Wooden said, "My Father, Hugh Wooden, tried to get his ideas across, maybe not in so many words, but by action. He walked it."

"Hugh didn't lecture his boys so much as he sprinkled seeds along their paths." ("Wooden: A Coaches Life" by Seth Davis)

When John Wooden graduated from 8th grade his father gave him a small hand written card with his "7 Things to Do" and his "Two Sets of 3" with a short poem by Reverend Henry Van Dyke and a two dollar bill. Joshua "Hugh" Wooden wanted to guide his sons by giving them a "moral compass and a powerful foundation". Coach Wooden kept it in his wallet to read it. These words he lived by for his 99 years on earth. These were Coach Wooden's "core principles" of his life, which he shared with his students, coaches, family, and others for over seven decades.

On the Wooden farm, John Wooden learned "the habits of discipline and hard work." Farm chores and studying were a priority in the Wooden household.

Joshua Hugh Wooden's "7 Things to Do" later Coach Wooden called it his "7 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."

   https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/john-woodens-7-point-creed-true/

Coach John Wooden's parents, Hugh and Roxy Wooden were his most important teachers. They showed him by example how to have a loving home, to respect others, how to work hard with enthusiasm, and gave him a moral compass to live by.

Coach Wooden said, "Success is peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable."

Coach Wooden's first cornerstone of his "Pyramid of Success" is "Industriousness". He says, "There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning."

The second cornerstone of Coach's "Pyramid of Success is "Enthusiasm". Coach Wooden says, "Having enjoyment and love for your task, job, or profession". When we enjoy and love what we are doing, we work harder with more energy, are more focused and productive working with enthusiasm.

Coach Wooden's father Joshua "Hugh" Wooden's "7 Point Creed" and "Two Sets of Three" are words of timeless wisdom for you to live by just like Coach Wooden, his family, his students, and coaches have for over 70 years.

Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an award winning teacher, Amazon.com Best Selling Author, 2017 Coach Wooden Certificate of Excellence, John Maxwell Team Member, Certified World Class Speaking Coach, sought after speaker, business owner, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly article & Musical Tips Blog" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". Her book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget" is available on Amazon or Kindle. Contact Madeline Frank for your next speaking engagement at  mfrankviola@gmail.com


 By Madeline Frank


Article Source: From Socks Filled With Rags to Winning Championships: Leadership and Life With John Wooden

Post a Comment

Informations From: Taun17

Previous Post Next Post
  • Fear of Success Explained

    By Stuart J Adams I spoke with a young man today who just couldn't seem to motivate himself to focus on his studies. He'd procrastinate, make excuses and generally found himself completely depressed without energy to 'make a start' with anything. His reasoning was similar to many people's - what'... Readmore

  • When Experience Gets in the Way of Empathy

    By Steve Wickham The conversation went a little like this: 'Others (i.e. you) don't really know what this is about... ' to which I said, 'Yes, but I've been through the same sort of season in the past.' There was tacit agreement. The person had to agree. They knew my story, and they knew I underst... Readmore

  • The Hardest Thing About Listening

    By Steve Wickham As a pastor and counsellor I've found what is indispensable is also non-negotiable; that in listening we must denounce the intrusive self. The intrusive self is never too far away; like the enemy it prowls like a lion. Our ego and agenda would be painted all over the billboard tha... Readmore

  • Those Precious Moments Missed Are Lost

    By Steve Wickham Having made the choice to attend a work function and miss spending time with my five-year-old son it was easy to reconcile the matter - there are plenty of those times. Trouble is, there are not plenty of those times. He is already five years old. In a reflective moment we're give... Readmore

  • Understanding Cycling's Major Tours: A New Viewer's Guide

    By Sean McConeghy Cycling teams are organized by corporate sponsors. Each team may consist of as many as thirty riders of whom eight (nine until 2018) are chosen for each of the Grand Tours - the Giro d' Italia, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a Espana. While many teams tend to have several rid... Readmore

  • Lessons by Omission

    By Alicia Castillo This one is difficult. We lost my father a few weeks ago. Dad was a retired professor, so notes of support poured from all over, sparkled with references to the important lessons he gave others: From our neighbor Daniel who told us how much he cherished the rides from school to ... Readmore

  • Building a Functional Lung is Now Possible With Bioengineering

    By Richa Verma A new study has inched us closer to designing a new lung with the help of bioengineering. A team of bioengineers has successfully created a functional lung with a healthy, perfusable vasculature in an ex vivo rodent lung. End-stage lung diseases are the third leading cause of deaths... Readmore

  • An Unexpected Link: Immune Cells Send a Muscle Injury Signal to Activate Stem Cell Regeneration

    By Richa Verma A recent study by the Stanford research team has concluded that the immune cells send muscle injury signal to activate stem cell regeneration. Immune cells activate cells for muscle regeneration and repair which will aid in treating muscle disorders. Studies indicate that a gene Ada... Readmore

  • Want to Own An Online Grocery Store? Get These Custom Magento Themes

    By Rob Stephen Online grocery shopping is on the hype! People are no more confined to shopping cooking supplies, everyday essentials from supermarkets or grocery shops. Rather, they are finding solace in surfing through various online sites, sitting at their home and getting everything at their do... Readmore

  • Have a Blank Notebook, But Don't Know What To Use It For? Here Are Some Ideas

    By Vinod Vullikanti Have you just received a blank notebook as a gift from a friend, colleague or from a family member or you saw a nice looking notebook at the stationery shop and bought it? Are you thinking of what to do with your blank notebook or you have no idea what to use it for? If you ar... Readmore