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Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A compelling look inside the mind and powerful leadership methods of America's coaching legend, John Wooden
"Team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination. . . . Acquire and keep these traits and success should follow."
--Coach John Wooden
John Wooden's goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Wooden's 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qualities essential to building a winning organization, and shows you how to develop the skill, confidence, and competitive fire to "be at your best when your best is needed"--and teach your organization to do the same.
Praise for Wooden on Leadership
"What an all-encompassing Pyramid of Success for leadership! Coach Wooden's moral authority and brilliant definition of success encompass all of life. How I admire his life's work and concept of what it really means to win!"
--Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
"Wooden On Leadership offers valuable lessons no matter what your endeavor. 'Competitive Greatness' is our goal and that of any successful organization. Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success is where it all starts."
--Jim Sinegal, president & CEO, Costco
A compelling look inside the mind and powerful leadership methods of America's coaching legend, John Wooden
"Team spirit, loyalty, enthusiasm, determination. . . . Acquire and keep these traits and success should follow."
--Coach John Wooden
John Wooden's goal in 41 years of coaching never changed; namely, to get maximum effort and peak performance from each of his players in the manner that best served the team. Wooden on Leadership explains step-by-step how he pursued and accomplished this goal. Focusing on Wooden's 12 Lessons in Leadership and his acclaimed Pyramid of Success, it outlines the mental, emotional, and physical qualities essential to building a winning organization, and shows you how to develop the skill, confidence, and competitive fire to "be at your best when your best is needed"--and teach your organization to do the same.
Praise for Wooden on Leadership
"What an all-encompassing Pyramid of Success for leadership! Coach Wooden's moral authority and brilliant definition of success encompass all of life. How I admire his life's work and concept of what it really means to win!"
--Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
"Wooden On Leadership offers valuable lessons no matter what your endeavor. 'Competitive Greatness' is our goal and that of any successful organization. Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success is where it all starts."
--Jim Sinegal, president & CEO, Costco
302 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
John Wooden
80 books340 followersJohn Robert Wooden is a retired American basketball coach. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (class of 1961) and as a coach (class of 1973). He was the first person ever enshrined in both categories; only Lenny Wilkens and Bill Sharman have since been so honored. His 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12 year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
October 12, 2009
I've heard of John Wooden most of my life, but hadn't really studied this remarkable man/coach until I read this autobiography. His midwestern modesty coupled with his drive for constant improvement set this teacher apart. Among the many lessons I gleaned from this book:
1) Those who weaken themselves physically often fall prey to an assortment of lapses in the area of good judgement. p.44
2) Managing egos--the over- and under-inflated, the forceful and the fragile--is one of the great challenges facing any leader. p.119
3) Sloppiness in tending to details is common in sports as well as other types of organizations. When it occurs, blame rests with you, the leader, not with your team . . . Carelessness, like sloppiness, is not a characteristic seen in successful organizations; tolerating either is the mark of an ineffective leader. p. 135, 139
4) Chapter 10--Make Each Day Your Masterpiece--is one of the best essays on time stewardship I've ever encountered. I probably ought to read this each day for a month! p. 153
5) At some point, later than I'd care to admit, it became clear to me that the most productive model for good leadership is a good parent. A coach, teacher, and leader, in my view, are all basic variations of being a parent. p. 80
6) Surround yourself with people strong enough to change your mind. p. 202
7) Good judgement, common sense, and reason all fly out the window when emotions kick down your door. Unfortunately, this usually happens in times of turmoil or crisis when you and your organization can least afford it . . . I am very leery of excess in most things--language, dress, haircuts, and much else. But I especially dislike emotional excess because it produces inconsistency. p. 108-109
1) Those who weaken themselves physically often fall prey to an assortment of lapses in the area of good judgement. p.44
2) Managing egos--the over- and under-inflated, the forceful and the fragile--is one of the great challenges facing any leader. p.119
3) Sloppiness in tending to details is common in sports as well as other types of organizations. When it occurs, blame rests with you, the leader, not with your team . . . Carelessness, like sloppiness, is not a characteristic seen in successful organizations; tolerating either is the mark of an ineffective leader. p. 135, 139
4) Chapter 10--Make Each Day Your Masterpiece--is one of the best essays on time stewardship I've ever encountered. I probably ought to read this each day for a month! p. 153
5) At some point, later than I'd care to admit, it became clear to me that the most productive model for good leadership is a good parent. A coach, teacher, and leader, in my view, are all basic variations of being a parent. p. 80
6) Surround yourself with people strong enough to change your mind. p. 202
7) Good judgement, common sense, and reason all fly out the window when emotions kick down your door. Unfortunately, this usually happens in times of turmoil or crisis when you and your organization can least afford it . . . I am very leery of excess in most things--language, dress, haircuts, and much else. But I especially dislike emotional excess because it produces inconsistency. p. 108-109
January 1, 2017
Wooden seems almost too good to be true, even Ghandi's and King's lives were tarnished with some human failings. Perhaps because it was a book about Leadership and not an autobiography, he paints himself as an icon of purity. Wooden's concepts helped me to teach the high school athletes under my guidance with his strict behavioral expectations, but I mix in a bit more leniency. Some of his phrases are fun to quote to the students and they respond well to the pyramid of success Wooden developed. I'm glad I read this book to assist in my role of leadership and I do recommend it to beginning teachers and coaches.
November 23, 2009
John Wooden is a college basketball coaching legend, so i was interested in his leadership methods. over his many years of coaching, he developed an extremely detailed system for molding young men into championship teams. clearly he put a lot of work and thought into the system, but in the end i did not sense that this approach was very applicable to business world situations. the coach's many examples of dealing with great players and outsized personalities were instructive as were his basic principles on how to be a good person...but, in the end i learned a lot about dealing with college kids, but not that much about leadership in complex business organizations.
October 21, 2012
This book is without equal - perhaps the best book on leadership I think I've ever read. I give it my highest recommendation.
From the pyramid of success to the lessons in leadership, the book is infused with the daily "blocking-and-tackling" necessary to transform principles into lifestyle practices.
It's hard for me to imagine a more comprehensive, practical guide to leading teams. It's brilliance is in it's simplicity and common sense. The definition of success offered in this book is refreshing and inspiring.
Don't miss the Seven Point Creed from dad in the epilogue. It's the icing on the cake.
I can't believe I've overlooked this book over the years. As a college basketball fan, it's almost inexcusable. As a developing leader, it's pure gold.
Read this book. Many times.
From the pyramid of success to the lessons in leadership, the book is infused with the daily "blocking-and-tackling" necessary to transform principles into lifestyle practices.
It's hard for me to imagine a more comprehensive, practical guide to leading teams. It's brilliance is in it's simplicity and common sense. The definition of success offered in this book is refreshing and inspiring.
Don't miss the Seven Point Creed from dad in the epilogue. It's the icing on the cake.
I can't believe I've overlooked this book over the years. As a college basketball fan, it's almost inexcusable. As a developing leader, it's pure gold.
Read this book. Many times.
April 25, 2017
An incredible book on Leadership. I absolutely relished it. "Wooden on Leadership" will become my go-to suggestion to answer the question "What is Leadership?". The only thing I was a little wary about is Pyramid of Success, it felt showy. But it's does not take away for me from the whole - an inspiring work by an incredible teacher.
March 24, 2017
Great book! It's pretty simple and straightforward, but a lot of gold in here. I've been coaching for about 6 years now, so some of it I had already learned/practiced, however he approaches coaching in a different way than most and undoubtedly taught me a lot.
August 23, 2022
Over the last 6 months I've been looking to articulate ways of leading and competing that are internally-driven. Rather than set big rar-rar goals, or end up in reactive spirals, how can we set clear personal standards and excel in competitive situations while focused on internal achievements?
One partial answer to that puzzle I found in Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself. Another critical piece, is 'Wooden on Leadership'. Both co-authored by Steve Jamison.
Wooden was coach of the UCLA Bruins and won 10 national college championships. Yet, he almost never spoke to his players about winning. Like Walsh, he saw the scoreboard as first and foremost a reflection of our own performance. In that mindset, success is not the final result, but rather 'Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming'.
To be clear, this isn't participation trophy language. Wooden was a strict teacher who coached from the 1940s to 1970s. But he realised focusing on results was often highly misleading "A good leader determines what occupies the team's attention, what they work on and worry about. This process begins with what you, the leader are preoccupied with. The scoreboard? Championships?...As goals, predictions, hopes or dreams to be sealed up and filed away, fine. But as a day-to-day preoccupation they're a waste of time, stealing attention and effort from the present and squandering it on the future. You control the former, not the latter".
Much of Wooden's views of leadership come from an earlier generation, crediting and often quoting his (greatest generation era) father's approach to life. His core principles and areas of emphasis would be familiar to those who have read their way into Stoicism. This is anything but about awarding participation trophies.
Instead, Wooden describes his approach as one of building 'competitive greatness', defined as 'A real love for the hard battle, knowing it offers the opportunity to be at your best when your best is required'. He wanted to win fiercely, but he knew the way to get there was by getting all the little details right and executing them as well as possible. Wooden's book details the meticulous notes he took, the extremely detailed planning of every session down to the minute, and the way he searched for advantage in all the little things, ever willing to update or adapt if there was a better way.
There's a fascinating tension in this book between the general homespun wisdom and a man who clearly worked to turn it into explicit frameworks and action whenever he could. He developed a 'pyramid of success' which sorts and organises themes such as Cooperation, Team Spirit and Poise. Words that are often meaningless motherhood statements in the hands of some, but which he defined specifically, and ordered in a hierarchy, thinking carefully about their relationship with other parts of the pyramid.
I found Walsh's book the more compelling, but together they speak to a very different way of thinking about both individual and organisational success. Not only what counts as success, but perhaps more importantly, how we get there, recognising it will always and forever be a journey.
Some legacies endure. It's easy to see why John Wooden's has.
One partial answer to that puzzle I found in Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself. Another critical piece, is 'Wooden on Leadership'. Both co-authored by Steve Jamison.
Wooden was coach of the UCLA Bruins and won 10 national college championships. Yet, he almost never spoke to his players about winning. Like Walsh, he saw the scoreboard as first and foremost a reflection of our own performance. In that mindset, success is not the final result, but rather 'Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming'.
To be clear, this isn't participation trophy language. Wooden was a strict teacher who coached from the 1940s to 1970s. But he realised focusing on results was often highly misleading "A good leader determines what occupies the team's attention, what they work on and worry about. This process begins with what you, the leader are preoccupied with. The scoreboard? Championships?...As goals, predictions, hopes or dreams to be sealed up and filed away, fine. But as a day-to-day preoccupation they're a waste of time, stealing attention and effort from the present and squandering it on the future. You control the former, not the latter".
Much of Wooden's views of leadership come from an earlier generation, crediting and often quoting his (greatest generation era) father's approach to life. His core principles and areas of emphasis would be familiar to those who have read their way into Stoicism. This is anything but about awarding participation trophies.
Instead, Wooden describes his approach as one of building 'competitive greatness', defined as 'A real love for the hard battle, knowing it offers the opportunity to be at your best when your best is required'. He wanted to win fiercely, but he knew the way to get there was by getting all the little details right and executing them as well as possible. Wooden's book details the meticulous notes he took, the extremely detailed planning of every session down to the minute, and the way he searched for advantage in all the little things, ever willing to update or adapt if there was a better way.
There's a fascinating tension in this book between the general homespun wisdom and a man who clearly worked to turn it into explicit frameworks and action whenever he could. He developed a 'pyramid of success' which sorts and organises themes such as Cooperation, Team Spirit and Poise. Words that are often meaningless motherhood statements in the hands of some, but which he defined specifically, and ordered in a hierarchy, thinking carefully about their relationship with other parts of the pyramid.
I found Walsh's book the more compelling, but together they speak to a very different way of thinking about both individual and organisational success. Not only what counts as success, but perhaps more importantly, how we get there, recognising it will always and forever be a journey.
Some legacies endure. It's easy to see why John Wooden's has.
November 10, 2012
In this book, coach John Wooden - one of the most successful basketball coaches of all times - shares with his readers the leadership framework that he has developed and used through the years. The books is divided intro three sections, the first presents and explains John's foundation of leadership, the pyramid of success. The framework, illustrated below, is composed of a number of qualities that build on each other and serve as reinforcement to achieve "competitive greatness". These include as a first tier: industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm. The second tier, consists of self-control, alertness, initiative, and intentness. The third tier: condition, skill, and team spirit. The fourth tier: poise and confidence. Finally at the top of the pyramid, the culmination: competitive greatness.
In the second section, John shares a number of personal lessons in leadership, that tie into the framework and help bring it to life. These include: Good values attract food people, call yourself a teacher, and seek significant change, to name a few. The last section is composed of extracts from John's personal notebook and ensuing lessons.
What sets Coach Wooden's philosophy and books apart is best highlighted in the book's preface: "Dr. Albert Einstein and Coach Wooden share a similar brilliance; specifically, both mastered the complicated art of keeping it simple. " In addition, the numerous stories shared, help the reader understand how to apply the framework and the impact it can have.
I highly recommend John's books to anyone looking at developing their personal leadership skills, at all levels.
Below are excerpts from the book that I found particularly insightful:
1- "The joy and great satisfaction I derived from leadership - working with and teaching others, helping them reach their full potential in contributing to the team's common goals - ultimately surpassed outscoring an opponent, the standings, even championships."
2- "I believe leadership itself is largely learned...Whatever coaching and leadership skills I possess were learned through listening, observation, study, then trial and error along the way."
3- "It's like character and reputation. Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and nobody truly knows that but you. But you are what matters most."
4- "Rules to lead by...Before you can lead others, you must be able to lead yourself...Don't hastily replace the old fashioned with the new fangled...Learn to master the four P's (planning, preparation, practice, and performance...Write down the tasks, initiatives, and actions that each member of your team needs to do to perform at his or her peak level."
5- "...Poise can be a most elusive quality in challenging times...Poise means holding fast to your beliefs and acting in accordance with them, regardless of how bad or good the situation may be. Poise means avoiding pose or pretense, comparing yourself to others, and acting like someone you're not. Poise means having a brave heart in all circumstances."
6- "Good values are like a magnet - they attract good people."
7- "A good leader creates belief - in the leader's philosophy, in the organization in the mission. Creating belief is difficult to do where a vacuum of values exists, where the only thing that matters is the end result, whether it's beating the competition on the court or increasing the profit margins in the books."
8- "...and while all these will make you a good leader, they will not make you a great leader. For that, one additional quality - perhaps the most important of all - is necessary. Although it may sound out of place in the rough-and-tumble context of sports or corporate competition, I believe you must have love in your heart for the people under your leadership...love is so important because it moves you to do the right things in all areas of life, including leadership."
9- "The coach must never forget that he is, first of all, a teacher. He must come (be present), see (diagnose), and conquer (correct). He must continuously be exploring for ways to improve himself in order that he may improve others and welcome every person and everything that maybe helpful to him. As has been said, he must remember, "Others, too, have brains."
10- "In business and other organizations, the "ball" that must be shared is knowledge, experience, information, contacts, new ideas, and much more. All these things must be freely exchanged with others throughout the organization if it is going to succeed - prevail - in these extremely competitive times."
11- "While the specifics may be small, it is no small task. Success, not the devil, is in the details."
12- "I came to the conclusion that when choosing between the carrot and the stick as a motivational tool, the well chosen carrot was almost always more powerful and longer lasting than the stick. In fact, simply withholding a properly selected carrot can become a most forceful punishment and powerful motivator. Its denial creates desire; the carrot becomes a stick."
13- "Make it clear to all that "promotions" depend on mastery of current roles and assignments. Never discourage ambition, but do let people know that they need to keep their eye on the ball in their current jobs. Their time may come, but only if they exercise patience and demonstrate continuous improvement."
14- "Getting off to a good start is important. It sets the tone for your team in many ways - expectations, values, attitude, behavior, rules, and much more. This is especially true with individuals who are new to your organization, but it also applies to the others under your leadership who may need a reminder from time to time of how you expect things to be done."
In the second section, John shares a number of personal lessons in leadership, that tie into the framework and help bring it to life. These include: Good values attract food people, call yourself a teacher, and seek significant change, to name a few. The last section is composed of extracts from John's personal notebook and ensuing lessons.
What sets Coach Wooden's philosophy and books apart is best highlighted in the book's preface: "Dr. Albert Einstein and Coach Wooden share a similar brilliance; specifically, both mastered the complicated art of keeping it simple. " In addition, the numerous stories shared, help the reader understand how to apply the framework and the impact it can have.
I highly recommend John's books to anyone looking at developing their personal leadership skills, at all levels.
Below are excerpts from the book that I found particularly insightful:
1- "The joy and great satisfaction I derived from leadership - working with and teaching others, helping them reach their full potential in contributing to the team's common goals - ultimately surpassed outscoring an opponent, the standings, even championships."
2- "I believe leadership itself is largely learned...Whatever coaching and leadership skills I possess were learned through listening, observation, study, then trial and error along the way."
3- "It's like character and reputation. Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and nobody truly knows that but you. But you are what matters most."
4- "Rules to lead by...Before you can lead others, you must be able to lead yourself...Don't hastily replace the old fashioned with the new fangled...Learn to master the four P's (planning, preparation, practice, and performance...Write down the tasks, initiatives, and actions that each member of your team needs to do to perform at his or her peak level."
5- "...Poise can be a most elusive quality in challenging times...Poise means holding fast to your beliefs and acting in accordance with them, regardless of how bad or good the situation may be. Poise means avoiding pose or pretense, comparing yourself to others, and acting like someone you're not. Poise means having a brave heart in all circumstances."
6- "Good values are like a magnet - they attract good people."
7- "A good leader creates belief - in the leader's philosophy, in the organization in the mission. Creating belief is difficult to do where a vacuum of values exists, where the only thing that matters is the end result, whether it's beating the competition on the court or increasing the profit margins in the books."
8- "...and while all these will make you a good leader, they will not make you a great leader. For that, one additional quality - perhaps the most important of all - is necessary. Although it may sound out of place in the rough-and-tumble context of sports or corporate competition, I believe you must have love in your heart for the people under your leadership...love is so important because it moves you to do the right things in all areas of life, including leadership."
9- "The coach must never forget that he is, first of all, a teacher. He must come (be present), see (diagnose), and conquer (correct). He must continuously be exploring for ways to improve himself in order that he may improve others and welcome every person and everything that maybe helpful to him. As has been said, he must remember, "Others, too, have brains."
10- "In business and other organizations, the "ball" that must be shared is knowledge, experience, information, contacts, new ideas, and much more. All these things must be freely exchanged with others throughout the organization if it is going to succeed - prevail - in these extremely competitive times."
11- "While the specifics may be small, it is no small task. Success, not the devil, is in the details."
12- "I came to the conclusion that when choosing between the carrot and the stick as a motivational tool, the well chosen carrot was almost always more powerful and longer lasting than the stick. In fact, simply withholding a properly selected carrot can become a most forceful punishment and powerful motivator. Its denial creates desire; the carrot becomes a stick."
13- "Make it clear to all that "promotions" depend on mastery of current roles and assignments. Never discourage ambition, but do let people know that they need to keep their eye on the ball in their current jobs. Their time may come, but only if they exercise patience and demonstrate continuous improvement."
14- "Getting off to a good start is important. It sets the tone for your team in many ways - expectations, values, attitude, behavior, rules, and much more. This is especially true with individuals who are new to your organization, but it also applies to the others under your leadership who may need a reminder from time to time of how you expect things to be done."
March 4, 2019
Phenomenal read! I'd recommend it for every leader to read. I'm not into basketball much -nor am I knowledgeable about the sport , but I am into great leaders, and thus I picked up this book. You don't have to be into basketball to get amazing value out of this book. You don't even have to be into sports. If you're into leadership and want to hear what works from the best leader any sport has ever seen , give this book a read! Coach Wooden is simply the best.
September 8, 2022
Was going to give a lower review, the book is a little repetitive and John Wooden is OCD. But after finishing it I feel myself energized and inspired. I've also noticed my habits changing for the better, which is what I look for from all my books.
December 10, 2022
This is a great read. Wooden is methodical (unsurprisingly) in describing how his pyramid of success works in coaching and life and demonstrates how living by core values and walking them out consistently is the path to success, whether that leads to the championship or not. By getting this glimpse into his mind, the reader can understand what propelled his UCLA teams to such heights.
August 10, 2022
A lifetime of leadership lessons from a legend. This book of wisdom is timeless.
John Wooden coached more NCAA championship basketball teams (10) than anyone else in history. He coached four teams that went undefeated. He coached teams that won 88 straight games. Yet, coach John Wooden never talked about winning; he preached success.
The second and more substantive part of this book offers lessons in leadership culled from a lifetime of on-court and off-court experiences. Here are just a few of John Wooden's leadership gems:
~ "When you start thinking about winning, you stop thinking about doing your job."
~ "Confidence must be monitored so that it does not spoil or rot and turn to arrogance."
~ "How you practice is how you play—in sports and in everything else."
~ "I believe effective leaders are, first and foremost, good teachers. We are in the education business."
~ "I believe in the laws of learning: explanation, demonstration, imitation, correction when necessary (and it usually is), then repetition."
~ "The are no big things, only a logical accumulation of little things done at a very high standard of performance."
~ "An organization—a team—that's always looking up at the scoreboard will find a worthy opponent stealing that ball right out from under you."
~ "In a competitive environment, there is never enough time. As such, a leader must be skillful—a master—in using time productively and teaching others to do the same."
~ "I had Intentness for 28 years as a coach at the high school and college level—intent on doing my best to help others do their best. In my twenty-ninth year of coaching, something remarkable occurred: UCLA won a national championship."
John Wooden lived 99 years. Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization is a masterwork of a century of success.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
John Wooden coached more NCAA championship basketball teams (10) than anyone else in history. He coached four teams that went undefeated. He coached teams that won 88 straight games. Yet, coach John Wooden never talked about winning; he preached success.
"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable."The first part of this book outlines Wooden's Pyramid of Success—15 principles that must be adhered to in order to achieve success.
The second and more substantive part of this book offers lessons in leadership culled from a lifetime of on-court and off-court experiences. Here are just a few of John Wooden's leadership gems:
~ "When you start thinking about winning, you stop thinking about doing your job."
~ "Confidence must be monitored so that it does not spoil or rot and turn to arrogance."
~ "How you practice is how you play—in sports and in everything else."
~ "I believe effective leaders are, first and foremost, good teachers. We are in the education business."
~ "I believe in the laws of learning: explanation, demonstration, imitation, correction when necessary (and it usually is), then repetition."
~ "The are no big things, only a logical accumulation of little things done at a very high standard of performance."
~ "An organization—a team—that's always looking up at the scoreboard will find a worthy opponent stealing that ball right out from under you."
~ "In a competitive environment, there is never enough time. As such, a leader must be skillful—a master—in using time productively and teaching others to do the same."
~ "I had Intentness for 28 years as a coach at the high school and college level—intent on doing my best to help others do their best. In my twenty-ninth year of coaching, something remarkable occurred: UCLA won a national championship."
John Wooden lived 99 years. Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization is a masterwork of a century of success.
Access Gene Babon's reviews of books on Business Leadership and Business Strategy at Pinterest.
May 23, 2018
I’ve long respected John Wooden for the values he brought to leadership as one of the greatest coaches of all time. For example, over a twelve-year period at UCLA, Wooden won an incredible ten NCAA national basketball championships, including a record seven in a row. I’ve rarely highlighted as many passages in a book as I did with this one.
The book is divided into three main sections:
Part 1: The Foundation for My Leadership. In this section he covers the 15 fundamental values that were the blocks for his Pyramid of Success. He writes that he believed that they are prerequisites for a leader and an organization whose goal is to perform at the highest level of which they are capable.
Part 2: Lessons in Leadership. This is the section that I most appreciated and where I highlighted a large number of leadership quotes. After each teaching by Wooden there would be a helpful “Suggestions to Lead By” and an “On Wooden” section by some of Wooden’s former players and coaches.
Part 3: Lessons from My Notebook. This section was my least favorite of the book, having the least application for general (non-basketball) leadership. What was most interesting to me was that this section included pages or excerpts of pages from notebooks he used through the years in his teaching—notes, observations, reminders, suggestions, and lists of relevant goals and how to achieve them.
• As I mentioned, I highlighted a large number of passages as I read the book. I’ve eliminated many of them to get down to 50 of my favorite quotes from the book:
• I believe that’s what leadership is all about: helping others to achieve their own greatness by helping the organization to succeed.
• I believe leadership itself is largely learned.
• Whatever coaching and leadership skills I possess were learned through listening, observation, study, and then trial and error along the way.
• It’s the quality of your effort that counts most and offers the greatest and most long-lasting satisfaction.
• The joy is in the journey of pushing yourself to the outward limits of your ability and teaching your organization to do the same.
• Effort is the ultimate measure of your success.
• I do not judge success based on championships; rather, I judge it on how close we came to realizing our potential.
• Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and nobody truly knows that but you. But you are what matters most.
• A strong leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak leader gives blame and accepts the credit.
• Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to stay there.
• Practice moderation and balance in all that you do.
• The best leaders understand that to successfully compete at any level requires continuous learning and improvement.
• The best leaders are lifelong learners; they take measures to create organizations that foster and inspire learning throughout.
• The most effective leaders are those who realize it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts most.
• Character—doing the right thing—is fundamental to successful leadership
• For me, a good explanation of character is simple: respect for yourself, respect for others, respect for the game, whether it’s basketball, business, or anything else.
• A leader with character attracts talent with the same.
• Who you are inside—what you believe—is important, but what you do means more, much more. Actions trump words, and your values must be visible if they are to have an impact on those you lead or hope to attract as part of your team.
• Character counts and values matter. And you, the leader, set the standard for both in your organization.
• For me, leadership is a sacred trust.
• I believe you must have love in your heart for the people under your leadership. I did.
• For a good leader, the team is nothing less than extended family.
• Team members wouldn’t be treated the same or alike; rather, each one would receive the treatment they earned and deserved.
• I believe effective leaders are, first and foremost, good teachers.
• Your own personal example is one of the most powerful leadership tools you possess. Put it to good use: Be what you want your team to become.
• A leader who is through learning is through.
• A leader who is ruled by emotions, whose temperament is mercurial, produces a team whose trademark is the roller coaster—ups and downs in performance; unpredictability and un-dependability in effort and concentration; one day good, the next day bad.
• Sharing credit is a surefire way of improving the performance results for any organization.
• Little things, done well, make big things happen for you and your organization.
• A casual approach to executing the details of a job ensures that the job will be done poorly.
• I fully understood that the success of my leadership was directly linked to using time wisely.
• I came to the conclusion that when choosing between the carrot and the stick as a motivational tool, the well-chosen carrot was almost always more powerful and longer lasting than the stick.
• Each member of your team has a potential for personal greatness; the leader’s job is to help them achieve it.
• I believe that personal greatness is measured against one’s own potential, not against that of someone else on the team or elsewhere.
• Personal greatness for any leader is measured by effectiveness in bringing out the greatness of those you lead.
• Don’t worry about being better than someone else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become.
• Are you holding your team back with misconceived notions and false limitations? Identify and then eliminate them. Seek solutions rather than excuses.
• I believe one of the requirements of good leadership is the ability to listen—really listen—to those in your organization.
• I believe that you must have people around you willing to ask questions and express opinions, people who seek improvement for the organization rather than merely gaining favor with the boss.
• Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
• The most productive leaders are usually those who are consistently willing to listen and learn.
• Success is more often attained by asking “how?” than by saying “no.”
• Contentment with past accomplishments or acceptance of the status quo can derail an organization quickly.
• Assume improvement is always possible and force yourself—and others—to find out how.
• New ideas and perspective from those under your leadership are essential for achieving and maintaining a competitive edge.
• If your word is nothing, you’re not much better.
• A leader whose promise means something is trusted. Trust counts for everything in leadership.
• Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.
• A good leader never stops learning. A great leader never stops teaching.
• Past achievements for any leader or organization will occur again in the future only with equal, or greater, effort.
The book is divided into three main sections:
Part 1: The Foundation for My Leadership. In this section he covers the 15 fundamental values that were the blocks for his Pyramid of Success. He writes that he believed that they are prerequisites for a leader and an organization whose goal is to perform at the highest level of which they are capable.
Part 2: Lessons in Leadership. This is the section that I most appreciated and where I highlighted a large number of leadership quotes. After each teaching by Wooden there would be a helpful “Suggestions to Lead By” and an “On Wooden” section by some of Wooden’s former players and coaches.
Part 3: Lessons from My Notebook. This section was my least favorite of the book, having the least application for general (non-basketball) leadership. What was most interesting to me was that this section included pages or excerpts of pages from notebooks he used through the years in his teaching—notes, observations, reminders, suggestions, and lists of relevant goals and how to achieve them.
• As I mentioned, I highlighted a large number of passages as I read the book. I’ve eliminated many of them to get down to 50 of my favorite quotes from the book:
• I believe that’s what leadership is all about: helping others to achieve their own greatness by helping the organization to succeed.
• I believe leadership itself is largely learned.
• Whatever coaching and leadership skills I possess were learned through listening, observation, study, and then trial and error along the way.
• It’s the quality of your effort that counts most and offers the greatest and most long-lasting satisfaction.
• The joy is in the journey of pushing yourself to the outward limits of your ability and teaching your organization to do the same.
• Effort is the ultimate measure of your success.
• I do not judge success based on championships; rather, I judge it on how close we came to realizing our potential.
• Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and nobody truly knows that but you. But you are what matters most.
• A strong leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak leader gives blame and accepts the credit.
• Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to stay there.
• Practice moderation and balance in all that you do.
• The best leaders understand that to successfully compete at any level requires continuous learning and improvement.
• The best leaders are lifelong learners; they take measures to create organizations that foster and inspire learning throughout.
• The most effective leaders are those who realize it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts most.
• Character—doing the right thing—is fundamental to successful leadership
• For me, a good explanation of character is simple: respect for yourself, respect for others, respect for the game, whether it’s basketball, business, or anything else.
• A leader with character attracts talent with the same.
• Who you are inside—what you believe—is important, but what you do means more, much more. Actions trump words, and your values must be visible if they are to have an impact on those you lead or hope to attract as part of your team.
• Character counts and values matter. And you, the leader, set the standard for both in your organization.
• For me, leadership is a sacred trust.
• I believe you must have love in your heart for the people under your leadership. I did.
• For a good leader, the team is nothing less than extended family.
• Team members wouldn’t be treated the same or alike; rather, each one would receive the treatment they earned and deserved.
• I believe effective leaders are, first and foremost, good teachers.
• Your own personal example is one of the most powerful leadership tools you possess. Put it to good use: Be what you want your team to become.
• A leader who is through learning is through.
• A leader who is ruled by emotions, whose temperament is mercurial, produces a team whose trademark is the roller coaster—ups and downs in performance; unpredictability and un-dependability in effort and concentration; one day good, the next day bad.
• Sharing credit is a surefire way of improving the performance results for any organization.
• Little things, done well, make big things happen for you and your organization.
• A casual approach to executing the details of a job ensures that the job will be done poorly.
• I fully understood that the success of my leadership was directly linked to using time wisely.
• I came to the conclusion that when choosing between the carrot and the stick as a motivational tool, the well-chosen carrot was almost always more powerful and longer lasting than the stick.
• Each member of your team has a potential for personal greatness; the leader’s job is to help them achieve it.
• I believe that personal greatness is measured against one’s own potential, not against that of someone else on the team or elsewhere.
• Personal greatness for any leader is measured by effectiveness in bringing out the greatness of those you lead.
• Don’t worry about being better than someone else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become.
• Are you holding your team back with misconceived notions and false limitations? Identify and then eliminate them. Seek solutions rather than excuses.
• I believe one of the requirements of good leadership is the ability to listen—really listen—to those in your organization.
• I believe that you must have people around you willing to ask questions and express opinions, people who seek improvement for the organization rather than merely gaining favor with the boss.
• Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.
• The most productive leaders are usually those who are consistently willing to listen and learn.
• Success is more often attained by asking “how?” than by saying “no.”
• Contentment with past accomplishments or acceptance of the status quo can derail an organization quickly.
• Assume improvement is always possible and force yourself—and others—to find out how.
• New ideas and perspective from those under your leadership are essential for achieving and maintaining a competitive edge.
• If your word is nothing, you’re not much better.
• A leader whose promise means something is trusted. Trust counts for everything in leadership.
• Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.
• A good leader never stops learning. A great leader never stops teaching.
• Past achievements for any leader or organization will occur again in the future only with equal, or greater, effort.
May 17, 2016
I'm a big admirer of Coach Wooden and his philosophy-that team trumps all, and greatest is measured in maximizing one's potential in service of something greater. He eschews the current idolatry of winning is everything and personal status is the measure of a persons worth. His Pyramid of Success is a powerful representation of how a person can lead a courageous and "successful" life. He stress the importance of fundamentals, contentiousness, humility, friendship, and striving for perfection. I'd give 5 stars for the ideas in this book and I'm sure that some readers will get 5-stars worth of enjoyment/instruction from this book. I just think it could have been much shorter, though repetition of key concepts is an important technique Wooden utilizes in coaching to reinforce learning. But many of the concepts I was already familiar with (possibly because his ideas have been dispersed and syncretized with similar ideas I've read) and the repetitive reinforcing style made it slow reading at times. Also I've always been wary of philosophy for life being shoehorned into philosophy for business. 3-stars overall for the book, 5-stars for the ideas he presents. Perhaps one of his many other books would be a better read, just explaining his coaching philosophy and allowing the reader to incorporate it into leadership / business, etc...
June 7, 2008
We live in a time where we, society, are acutely aware of the issues that confront human existence. Cancer, AIDS, war, global warming, getting the IT guy to fix my computer and more, are problems we face today, and, if not dealt with now, tomorrow.
It is not in haste to say that we cannot conquer these obstacles alone; it will require the input and work from people around the world. But who will lead these communities, local and global? Who will unite (wo)men of all stripes to act forcefully as one to achieve the common good of man?
Read today, Wooden's principles of leadership run contrary to what most would consider true leadership. True leadership is helping an organization reach its fullest potential regardless the outcome. To work each day to create your "masterpiece" and to inspire and encourage others to do the same effectively, whether "they have talent to spare or are spare on talent", is the mark of a true leader.
Wooden's framework is an elegant starting point for anyone eager to learn what it means to lead.
It is not in haste to say that we cannot conquer these obstacles alone; it will require the input and work from people around the world. But who will lead these communities, local and global? Who will unite (wo)men of all stripes to act forcefully as one to achieve the common good of man?
Read today, Wooden's principles of leadership run contrary to what most would consider true leadership. True leadership is helping an organization reach its fullest potential regardless the outcome. To work each day to create your "masterpiece" and to inspire and encourage others to do the same effectively, whether "they have talent to spare or are spare on talent", is the mark of a true leader.
Wooden's framework is an elegant starting point for anyone eager to learn what it means to lead.
April 23, 2016
It may seem corny, but...
Truer words were never spoken. I hate basketball, but relish this book. One word that is not mentioned in the book is mindfulness, but I think that is the essence of his program. Every moment treasured, every action intended. There is no shame in not achieving, simply a resolution to do better.
As I reflect on valued leaders in my past, the good ones were most like his teachings and the worst ones most unlike. This is a truly inspiring book.
Truer words were never spoken. I hate basketball, but relish this book. One word that is not mentioned in the book is mindfulness, but I think that is the essence of his program. Every moment treasured, every action intended. There is no shame in not achieving, simply a resolution to do better.
As I reflect on valued leaders in my past, the good ones were most like his teachings and the worst ones most unlike. This is a truly inspiring book.
April 3, 2019
It's been too long since I have read this book to give an in-depth review, but I know I loved it and I love Coach Wooden. He is just a wonderful man with great advice. I hope to reread it at least once more in my life. I highly recommend it to every coach or anyone else in a leadership position. Just wonderful!
October 5, 2013
An absolutely amazing book that combines memoir with self help. John Wooden uses his decades of leadership experience to show examples how to and how not to be a leader. An absolutely fantastic read for everyone and especially sports fans.
March 13, 2013
A very fine book on leadership. Really good.
Read
March 16, 2014my favorite quote from this book is "I believe that personal greatness is measured against one’s own potential, not against that of someone else on the team or elsewhere".Worth reading!
March 19, 2024
This book is PACKED (as in PACKED!) with life-changing Big Ideas
John Wooden is one of my all-time favorite Heroes.
As you know if you’re a sports fan, he’s considered THE greatest coach of the twentieth century. His UCLA Bruins won a staggering 10 NCAA National Championships in 12 years. They also had an 88-game winning streak and won 38 straight NCAA tournament games.
Wooden only had ONE losing season in his entire 41-year coaching career. And, that losing season came in his FIRST season coaching high school basketball.
I’ve read other books featuring the Wizard of Westwood — Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court and Be Quick - But Don't Hurry by Andrew Hill.
But... I somehow managed to go all this time without reading this book and my goodness am I glad my dear friend (and big Heroic Investor and Heroic Coach!) Jeff Everage reminded me that I hadn’t included it in my collection yet.
I read this book on my flights to and from Norfolk, Virginia (Feb 2024) where I was honored to spend time with Captain Dave Pollard and his leadership team on the USS GEORGE HW BUSH. To put it in perspective, CAPT Pollard and his crew helped defend Ukraine and our allies.
I had the privilege of leading a 3-hour workshop to help them roll out Heroic across the 20 departments of their carrier to serve the 5,000 sailors who are serving my family (and your family!) so profoundly.
As you’d expect, this book is PACKED (as in PACKED!) with Big Ideas. My copy of the book is absurdly marked up and we will only scratch the surface of all the wisdom in it so, if you feel so inspired, I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy today.
Some of my favorite big ideas are:
1. The Pyramid of Success - Here are the virtue-blocks.
2. Attainable Greatness - Yours, mine, all of us.
3. Does the Fight Continue? - CONSTANT, RELENTLESS pursuit.
4. The Ultimate Lesson? - Demonstration.
Lastly… I’ve added Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden and Steve Jamison to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
“What occurred in the practice is what gave me joy and satisfaction—teaching others how to bring forth the best of which they are capable. Ultimately, I believe that’s what leadership is all about: helping others to achieve their own personal greatness by helping the organization succeed.
How you accomplish that—at least, how I approached leadership—is the subject of this book.
It was a privilege to have been in a leadership position for 40 years. I miss the excitement of being on that practice court working hard with our team in pursuit of Competitive Greatness—‘being your best when your best is needed.’ To me, that is the most exciting part of being a leader: the journey to become the best of which you and your team are capable.
I miss the joys of that journey very much but take comfort in the fact that this book may provide some ideas useful in your own leadership journey. If it does, I’ll be very pleased. I offer you best wishes all along the way.”
~ John Wooden from Wooden on Leadership
John Wooden is one of my all-time favorite Heroes.
As you know if you’re a sports fan, he’s considered THE greatest coach of the twentieth century. His UCLA Bruins won a staggering 10 NCAA National Championships in 12 years. They also had an 88-game winning streak and won 38 straight NCAA tournament games.
Wooden only had ONE losing season in his entire 41-year coaching career. And, that losing season came in his FIRST season coaching high school basketball.
I’ve read other books featuring the Wizard of Westwood — Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court and Be Quick - But Don't Hurry by Andrew Hill.
But... I somehow managed to go all this time without reading this book and my goodness am I glad my dear friend (and big Heroic Investor and Heroic Coach!) Jeff Everage reminded me that I hadn’t included it in my collection yet.
I read this book on my flights to and from Norfolk, Virginia (Feb 2024) where I was honored to spend time with Captain Dave Pollard and his leadership team on the USS GEORGE HW BUSH. To put it in perspective, CAPT Pollard and his crew helped defend Ukraine and our allies.
I had the privilege of leading a 3-hour workshop to help them roll out Heroic across the 20 departments of their carrier to serve the 5,000 sailors who are serving my family (and your family!) so profoundly.
As you’d expect, this book is PACKED (as in PACKED!) with Big Ideas. My copy of the book is absurdly marked up and we will only scratch the surface of all the wisdom in it so, if you feel so inspired, I HIGHLY recommend you get a copy today.
Some of my favorite big ideas are:
1. The Pyramid of Success - Here are the virtue-blocks.
2. Attainable Greatness - Yours, mine, all of us.
3. Does the Fight Continue? - CONSTANT, RELENTLESS pursuit.
4. The Ultimate Lesson? - Demonstration.
Lastly… I’ve added Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden and Steve Jamison to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
November 30, 2023
"Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization" by John Wooden and Steve Jamison:
1. **Pyramid of Success:** The book introduces Wooden's Pyramid of Success, a framework for personal and organizational excellence. It consists of building blocks such as industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and competitive greatness.
2. **Leadership Qualities:** Wooden shares his insights on essential leadership qualities, including integrity, initiative, intentness, and self-control. He emphasizes the importance of character and values in effective leadership.
3. **Team Building:** Wooden discusses the principles of team building and the significance of creating a cohesive and supportive team culture. He provides guidance on fostering collaboration, communication, and camaraderie within an organization.
4. **Teaching and Coaching:** Wooden, known for his success as a basketball coach, shares his philosophy on teaching and coaching. He emphasizes the role of guidance, mentorship, and continuous learning in developing individuals and teams.
5. **Adaptability:** The book addresses the importance of adaptability in leadership. Wooden discusses the need for leaders to be flexible, open to change, and able to adjust strategies based on evolving circumstances.
6. **Attention to Detail:** Wooden's attention to detail is a key theme. He discusses how small details contribute to overall success and how meticulous planning and execution can make a significant difference.
7. **Balance in Life:** Wooden advocates for balance in life, including the integration of personal and professional aspects. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a well-rounded and fulfilling life beyond work.
8. **Success Beyond Winning:** While success is a central theme, Wooden expands the definition beyond winning. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth, effort, and the journey itself as integral components of success.
"Wooden on Leadership" combines the wisdom of legendary basketball coach John Wooden with insights from co-author Steve Jamison. The book offers a comprehensive guide to leadership principles and practices, drawing on Wooden's experiences and philosophy. It provides valuable lessons for leaders in various fields, emphasizing character, values, and a holistic approach to success.
1. **Pyramid of Success:** The book introduces Wooden's Pyramid of Success, a framework for personal and organizational excellence. It consists of building blocks such as industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and competitive greatness.
2. **Leadership Qualities:** Wooden shares his insights on essential leadership qualities, including integrity, initiative, intentness, and self-control. He emphasizes the importance of character and values in effective leadership.
3. **Team Building:** Wooden discusses the principles of team building and the significance of creating a cohesive and supportive team culture. He provides guidance on fostering collaboration, communication, and camaraderie within an organization.
4. **Teaching and Coaching:** Wooden, known for his success as a basketball coach, shares his philosophy on teaching and coaching. He emphasizes the role of guidance, mentorship, and continuous learning in developing individuals and teams.
5. **Adaptability:** The book addresses the importance of adaptability in leadership. Wooden discusses the need for leaders to be flexible, open to change, and able to adjust strategies based on evolving circumstances.
6. **Attention to Detail:** Wooden's attention to detail is a key theme. He discusses how small details contribute to overall success and how meticulous planning and execution can make a significant difference.
7. **Balance in Life:** Wooden advocates for balance in life, including the integration of personal and professional aspects. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a well-rounded and fulfilling life beyond work.
8. **Success Beyond Winning:** While success is a central theme, Wooden expands the definition beyond winning. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth, effort, and the journey itself as integral components of success.
"Wooden on Leadership" combines the wisdom of legendary basketball coach John Wooden with insights from co-author Steve Jamison. The book offers a comprehensive guide to leadership principles and practices, drawing on Wooden's experiences and philosophy. It provides valuable lessons for leaders in various fields, emphasizing character, values, and a holistic approach to success.
March 23, 2021
Wooden on Leadership is a fantastic read for anyone who wishes to better John Wooden's leadership framework. The biggest takeaway from Wooden on Leadership is the importance of process over outcome. Of course, Wooden won 10 NCAA championships at UCLA in his last 12 seasons, but Wooden's ultimate goal was a steady improvement for his team throughout the season. This book is a masterclass in how Wooden achieved that, and I came away with several new frameworks to apply to work and life. In sum, I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to construct better processes in their life.
In no particular order, here were the top 10 lessons I learned from Wooden on Leadership (these are primarily adopted quotes from the book):
1. Don’t worry about whether you’re better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become. You have control over that; the other you don’t.
2. You must never become satisfied with your ability or level of knowledge. After each season, Wooden would learn a particular aspect of basketball to study.
3. When success comes your way, you must work even harder and avoid the great temptation of believing that previous achievements will occur in the future without even greater effort than was required in the past.
4. Wooden demanded intensive effort—“positive aggression,” he called it—with the goal of producing ongoing improvement rather than trying to get everybody excited and fired up about some arbitrary peak in performance.
5. Wooden believed that winning is a result of process, and he was a master of the process, of getting the team to focus on what we were doing rather than the final score.
6. “Little things make big things happen” is the phrase Wooden used in pointing out the importance of correct selection and perfection of details.
7. “Activity—to produce real results—must be organized and executed meticulously. Otherwise, it’s no different from children running around the playground at recess.”
8. You “expand” time with proper organization and execution—an hour becomes longer than 60 minutes.
9. I believe that personal greatness is measured against one’s own potential, not against that of someone else on the team or elsewhere.
10. My preferred method of instruction was the whole-part system, which broke the “whole,” that is, playing basketball, down into small pieces that could be worked on selectively and perfected.
Also, here are some great stories to remember from the book: Wooden teaching his player's on the first day of practice how to put on socks and tie shoes (lesson: fundamentals always matter); 3x5 notecards when running practice (lesson: making the most of practice time); and reflecting on prior seasons in order to make adjustments and improve (i.e. using only 7 players and not overworking players when the tournament is near).
In no particular order, here were the top 10 lessons I learned from Wooden on Leadership (these are primarily adopted quotes from the book):
1. Don’t worry about whether you’re better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become. You have control over that; the other you don’t.
2. You must never become satisfied with your ability or level of knowledge. After each season, Wooden would learn a particular aspect of basketball to study.
3. When success comes your way, you must work even harder and avoid the great temptation of believing that previous achievements will occur in the future without even greater effort than was required in the past.
4. Wooden demanded intensive effort—“positive aggression,” he called it—with the goal of producing ongoing improvement rather than trying to get everybody excited and fired up about some arbitrary peak in performance.
5. Wooden believed that winning is a result of process, and he was a master of the process, of getting the team to focus on what we were doing rather than the final score.
6. “Little things make big things happen” is the phrase Wooden used in pointing out the importance of correct selection and perfection of details.
7. “Activity—to produce real results—must be organized and executed meticulously. Otherwise, it’s no different from children running around the playground at recess.”
8. You “expand” time with proper organization and execution—an hour becomes longer than 60 minutes.
9. I believe that personal greatness is measured against one’s own potential, not against that of someone else on the team or elsewhere.
10. My preferred method of instruction was the whole-part system, which broke the “whole,” that is, playing basketball, down into small pieces that could be worked on selectively and perfected.
Also, here are some great stories to remember from the book: Wooden teaching his player's on the first day of practice how to put on socks and tie shoes (lesson: fundamentals always matter); 3x5 notecards when running practice (lesson: making the most of practice time); and reflecting on prior seasons in order to make adjustments and improve (i.e. using only 7 players and not overworking players when the tournament is near).
September 11, 2019
Wooden had a great number of lessons that he shared throughout his book on leadership, but his attitude towards winning and losing was one of the biggest takeaways. Maintaining equanimity is key to always being able to continue forward with the true goal: to always be improving.
"Focus on improvement--now. Not tomorrow; not next week. Let's get it done today," Wooden coaches.
Find a way to make progress, however you can. The world of owning, training, and competing horses is one full of incredible disasters due to the rather fragile nature of horses. When things aren't going well, it can be very easy to get caught up that, and feeling like you can't improve because of the circumstances. Yet there's always a way to push forward. Wooden's book emphasized that if you can stay focused on improving, even when things are rough, that is that path that will lead to success.
"All leaders and organizations are blind-sided by bad luck and misfortune in various ways at various times. The best leaders understand this and are seldom thrown off stride when it occurs. They recognize the opportunity it presents, namely, that your response can separate you and your organization from the competition whose leader is stunned and then disheartened when fate frowns. Expect the rough patches and allow them to make you stronger."
"Focus on improvement--now. Not tomorrow; not next week. Let's get it done today," Wooden coaches.
Find a way to make progress, however you can. The world of owning, training, and competing horses is one full of incredible disasters due to the rather fragile nature of horses. When things aren't going well, it can be very easy to get caught up that, and feeling like you can't improve because of the circumstances. Yet there's always a way to push forward. Wooden's book emphasized that if you can stay focused on improving, even when things are rough, that is that path that will lead to success.
"All leaders and organizations are blind-sided by bad luck and misfortune in various ways at various times. The best leaders understand this and are seldom thrown off stride when it occurs. They recognize the opportunity it presents, namely, that your response can separate you and your organization from the competition whose leader is stunned and then disheartened when fate frowns. Expect the rough patches and allow them to make you stronger."
February 16, 2020
Being a part of Coach Wooden's team must have been a pretty special experience. He has so many of the strong moral messages that anyone would hope to see or hear about in a leader, only with actual evidence to back up that he both did indeed live those values, and that it paid off.
While it definitely struggles to shake off the basketball hat (every example of leadership is shown clearly in a basketball context and then shoehorned into a business context, usually in the uncomfortably added line "or in sales") there is so much to digest in the book. Personally, his approach to what success looks like and the importance of personal greatness is what I took away from it. The concept that every player has to strive for their own individual level of greatness and to constantly aim to improve. That a good day on the court wasnt a win, but when all players give their best. Its inspiring and, more importantly, it has a great degree of truth in it. I find it fascinating that he rarely talked about winning in his team talks or scores in practise.
If you're a basketball fan I'm sure this book is a 5*; for me, there were some stretches in logic and bits that I wasnt sure were needed but all in all it was a fascinating look at a great man's perspective on life, with loads of great advice and fascinating historical tidbits.
While it definitely struggles to shake off the basketball hat (every example of leadership is shown clearly in a basketball context and then shoehorned into a business context, usually in the uncomfortably added line "or in sales") there is so much to digest in the book. Personally, his approach to what success looks like and the importance of personal greatness is what I took away from it. The concept that every player has to strive for their own individual level of greatness and to constantly aim to improve. That a good day on the court wasnt a win, but when all players give their best. Its inspiring and, more importantly, it has a great degree of truth in it. I find it fascinating that he rarely talked about winning in his team talks or scores in practise.
If you're a basketball fan I'm sure this book is a 5*; for me, there were some stretches in logic and bits that I wasnt sure were needed but all in all it was a fascinating look at a great man's perspective on life, with loads of great advice and fascinating historical tidbits.
November 8, 2022
Coach Wooden's record of achievement coaching UCLA Men's Basketball really speaks for itself and this 2005 work with his long-time collaborator Steve Jamison is full of wisdom from the legendary career of the "Wizard of Westwood." This book is full of practical wisdom Coach Wooden developed of decades of coaching and his emphasis that "good values attract good people" resonates in our present moment with far too many examples of character shortfalls by those in positions of leadership in numerous fields. His Pyramid of Success culminates with "Competitive Excellence" and it provides an excellence point of reference for any leader shaping direction and building a team. Throughout the book he incorporates the perspectives of UCLA players who won numerous national championships and it is powerful to hear how these superstars bought into his approach to basketball (and life). The chapters include many inserts from his private notebooks and it is tremendous to see the level of detailed planning he approached every practice, keeping records and comparing notes from 10, 15, and 25 years of previous practice sessions. In the epilogue he cites his Father's Seven Point Creed which grounded him in practical wisdom, the middle one being "Drink deeply from good books including the Good Book."
February 10, 2020
Good lessons but a little dry
John Wooden is a legendary coach and has lots of great tips for finding success, whether you lead a sports team or team at your company. He stresses attention to detail, upholding high expectations, and being firm but fair, to name a few. The most counterintuitive suggestion, which now makes sense, is that you should not treat everyone the same. People are different inherently, but also, each member of the team has earned different levels of freedom. He even acknowledges that “superstars” may require some accommodations; it’s just a fact of life.
My main gripe is that it was a bit hard to get through the book. It reads like a text book and I was hoping to hear more in-depth stories about his teams at UCLA. Coming off of the Disney and Nike books, this was quite noticeable. The points are also strikingly similar to the Bill Walsh book, which isn’t a huge surprise given the author is the same. If I had read them in the opposite order I may have preferred this one, but probably not because I’m a 49ers fan and not a UCLA fan.
Ultimately, I’m glad Wooden took the time to share all this in the book and that I read it.
John Wooden is a legendary coach and has lots of great tips for finding success, whether you lead a sports team or team at your company. He stresses attention to detail, upholding high expectations, and being firm but fair, to name a few. The most counterintuitive suggestion, which now makes sense, is that you should not treat everyone the same. People are different inherently, but also, each member of the team has earned different levels of freedom. He even acknowledges that “superstars” may require some accommodations; it’s just a fact of life.
My main gripe is that it was a bit hard to get through the book. It reads like a text book and I was hoping to hear more in-depth stories about his teams at UCLA. Coming off of the Disney and Nike books, this was quite noticeable. The points are also strikingly similar to the Bill Walsh book, which isn’t a huge surprise given the author is the same. If I had read them in the opposite order I may have preferred this one, but probably not because I’m a 49ers fan and not a UCLA fan.
Ultimately, I’m glad Wooden took the time to share all this in the book and that I read it.
October 1, 2021
People who know me know that I don't know anything about sports.
I had no idea who John Wooden was prior to a few weeks before reading this book.
The book does a great job of (presumably) getting John Wooden's voice and philosophy through. There's very little pretense and everything about the man seems to have a gentlemanly charm to it. The content is interesting and useful. While John Wooden's leadership system is not extremely different from many other models, it's interesting to start from a foundation and be walked through his reasoning for each and every piece.
From what I read and hear about Wooden outside of this book, it all adds up very well and this book is very congruent with the stories and personality.
I believe that this man believes everything that he writes down and he likely did his best living up to it too. Because he's a coach and an athlete first, and not some scholar or businessman, he does discuss interesting concepts that are not usually in these types of books too.
Overall Impression: Authentic presentation, a good mix of new and classic concepts in content.
5/5
I had no idea who John Wooden was prior to a few weeks before reading this book.
The book does a great job of (presumably) getting John Wooden's voice and philosophy through. There's very little pretense and everything about the man seems to have a gentlemanly charm to it. The content is interesting and useful. While John Wooden's leadership system is not extremely different from many other models, it's interesting to start from a foundation and be walked through his reasoning for each and every piece.
From what I read and hear about Wooden outside of this book, it all adds up very well and this book is very congruent with the stories and personality.
I believe that this man believes everything that he writes down and he likely did his best living up to it too. Because he's a coach and an athlete first, and not some scholar or businessman, he does discuss interesting concepts that are not usually in these types of books too.
Overall Impression: Authentic presentation, a good mix of new and classic concepts in content.
5/5
October 20, 2017
Exceptional book on leadership. As a basketball coach, i could relate to alot of what coach Wooden talked about in this book. I enjoyed the tone of the book that was very much in his voice. I enjoyed the fact he included some of his mistakes and failures.
Some awesome points from the book:
1-When i am through learning, I am through
2-Condition your team to love the struggle
3-Competitive greatness is not defined in victory or denied in defeat. It exists in the effort that proceeded.
4-I love all my players the same, i just dont like them the same
5-There is no formula that applies to all. Some need a push, some you lead. Master coach knows the difference.
6-Do not equate professional expertise with your ability to teach it.
7-Remember that a good demonstration tops a good description
8-Focus on what i am teaching, not the score. Just do what you are suppose to do.
9-Sloppiness breeds sloppiness
10-Focus on improvement, not tomorrow, not next week-get it done now.
Some awesome points from the book:
1-When i am through learning, I am through
2-Condition your team to love the struggle
3-Competitive greatness is not defined in victory or denied in defeat. It exists in the effort that proceeded.
4-I love all my players the same, i just dont like them the same
5-There is no formula that applies to all. Some need a push, some you lead. Master coach knows the difference.
6-Do not equate professional expertise with your ability to teach it.
7-Remember that a good demonstration tops a good description
8-Focus on what i am teaching, not the score. Just do what you are suppose to do.
9-Sloppiness breeds sloppiness
10-Focus on improvement, not tomorrow, not next week-get it done now.
June 13, 2021
When it comes to coaching, John Wooden is probably the closest thing to the GOAT that we have in American sports. He single-handedly built UCLA men's basketball from a marginal program with no arena to the greatest dynasty in NCAAM history. The numbers speak for themselves: 10 titles in 12 years (including 7 in a row), an 88 game winning streak, and only one losing season in 40+ years of coaching.
While some of Wooden's coaching tips are a bit dated (only serving room-temperature water during pre-game meals and refusing to visit recruits?), his central philosophy has stood the test of time. Like Saban, Walsh, and Belichick, Wooden focuses on the process. He believes success is the result of maximizing our potential through hard work, not wins and losses. When we focus on the inputs of success (discipline, effort, unity, and fundamentals), the score takes care of itself. Ultimately, it is a philosophy of individual agency nested within community goals.
While some of Wooden's coaching tips are a bit dated (only serving room-temperature water during pre-game meals and refusing to visit recruits?), his central philosophy has stood the test of time. Like Saban, Walsh, and Belichick, Wooden focuses on the process. He believes success is the result of maximizing our potential through hard work, not wins and losses. When we focus on the inputs of success (discipline, effort, unity, and fundamentals), the score takes care of itself. Ultimately, it is a philosophy of individual agency nested within community goals.
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