by Craig Impelman | Aug 18, 2020 | Blog
“The true athlete should have character, not be a character.” –Coach John Wooden This famous quote from Coach Wooden reflected the importance he placed on character in the selection process of his team members. Character is so important in everything, he said....
by Craig Impelman | Aug 12, 2020 | Blog
It takes a lot of little things to make one big thing. “Two of the greatest fundamental assets to the athlete in all branches of sport are being relaxed and having what is called balance.” –Ward Lambert, Practical Basketball When Coach Wooden’s teams took the court...
by Craig Impelman | Aug 5, 2020 | Blog
“The great secret of life is to cultivate the ability to appreciate the things you have, not compare them.” –John Wooden In his book Wooden on Leadership with Steve Jamison, Coach wrote about his perspective: Americans, perhaps by nature, are most competitive. In...
by Craig Impelman | Jul 29, 2020 | Blog
“The goal is to satisfy not everyone else’s expectations, but your own.” –Coach Wooden Coach said the most important things his father taught him included never trying to be better than somebody else but never ceasing trying to be the best you can be, and always...
by Craig Impelman | Jul 22, 2020 | Blog
Real happiness comes from the things that cannot be taken away from you. This was one of Coach Wooden’s favorite ideas and one that he almost always spoke about when giving a speech—usually in the context of discussing the sixth item of his father’s Seven-Point Creed:...
by Craig Impelman | Jul 15, 2020 | Blog
“Nothing can give you greater joy than doing something for another.”–Coach Wooden Coach Wooden believed there was no greater joy in life than finding out that something you did or said was helpful to someone else in some small way. Related: John Wooden’s 7-Point...
by Craig Impelman | Jul 8, 2020 | Blog
Much of what we see depends on what we are seeking. Coach Wooden frequently told two different stories to illustrate this idea. The first story was about a friend of his, Bob, who was visiting him at UCLA from Indiana. Upon arriving at Coach’s office on campus, Bob...
by Craig Impelman | Jul 1, 2020 | Blog
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” This was one of Coach Wooden’s favorite quotes, one of many he used and applied from or about his favorite American, Abraham Lincoln. Coach Wooden began studying Lincoln...
by Craig Impelman | Jun 24, 2020 | Blog
“The happiest moments in life come from making someone else happy.” –John Wooden This quote reflects a key idea Coach Wooden was constantly trying to share: help others, a lesson he was taught by his father through example and his Seven-Point Creed. In fact, many of...
by Craig Impelman | Jun 17, 2020 | Blog
It is the little details that make things work. This was one of Coach Wooden’s favorite ideas and a theme that is consistent with successful performers across many different industries, from sports to art to business. As Coach liked to say, “Develop a love of details....
