Today is John Wooden’s 99th birthday. For those of you who don’t know, John Wooden was the basketball coach at UCLA from 1948 to 1975. He amassed a lifetime coaching record of 664-162. His teams set records by winning 88 games in a row, 98 straight wins at home, 38 straight wins in the NCAA tournament, 4 seasons with a perfect 30-0 record, back to back undefeated seasons, 7 consecutive NCAA championships, and 10 championships in 12 years.
Wooden is universally recognized as the greatest coach of any sport in the history of athletics. He considered himself a teacher first, and a coach second. He always stressed to his players that the lessons he was teaching them were about life, not basketball, and that they should take these lessons and apply them to all phases of their lives in order for them to manifest themselves on the court. He was a man of great character. He honored his commitments and kept his promises. He never once asked for a raise. He wrote his wife a letter every day. When UCLA commemorated their court in his and his wife’s names, he asked that her name come first. He steered the lives of hundreds of young men, and his impact on them surely has made itself known to their wives, children, careers, and communities. John Wooden can still be found sitting in the stands at almost every UCLA home game.
In honor of a truly great man, here are some of his greatest life lessons from which we all can learn:
“Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”
“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
“The worst things you can do for the ones you love are the things they could and should do for themselves.”
“Happiness begins when selfishness ends.”
“Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.”
“Make a decision! Failure to act is often the biggest failure of all.”
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.”
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
“Success travels in the company of very hard work. There is no trick, no easy way.”
“It is what we learn after we know it all that really counts.”
“Never mistake activity for achievement.”
“Have the utmost concern for what’s right rather than who’s right.”
“Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.”
“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”
“Perform at your best when your best is required. Your best is required each day.”
“Good values attract good people.”
“Love is the most powerful four-letter word.”
“Make each day your masterpiece.”
“The carrot is mightier than a stick.”
“Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then… Adversity is an asset.”
“Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but what you should have accomplished with your ability.”
“”If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
“It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”
“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
“Be prepared and be honest.”
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
“Seek significant change.”
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