Pyramid of Success
The Pyramid of Success
John Wooden
25 Blocks
1. Industriousness is to be diligent and to be active all the time and it means that you have to be wanting to do something with your life and not just that you will wait for something great that will happen but you have to be the one that is going to try to make that reality happen and you are going to try your best and that you are going to give it your all.
2. Enthusiasm
"It is the engine that powers all blocks of the Pyramid. It is why I chose Industriousness and Enthusiasm as the cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success. It is where everything begins." The two cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success, Industriousness and Enthusiasm, provide strength individually but much more strength when combined as one.I described Industriousness: very hard work. But hard work is not enough. It must be ignited, lit afire by something that will raise it to the extraordinary level required for success. That 'something' is your Enthusiasm which infuses hard work with inspired power that all great competitors have.Your heart must be in your work. Your energy and Enthusiasm stimulates those you work with. It is the ingredient that transforms Industriousness into something of great magnitude - the engine that powers all blocks of the Pyramid. It is why I chose Industriousness and Enthusiasm as the cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success. It is where everything begins.
3. Friendship
"Comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. Like marriage it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort." The two qualities of Friendship that are so important are respect and camaraderie. To me these are the most noteworthy characteristics of true Friendship as it pertains to leadership. Think how much you'll give when asked to do so by someone you respect and with whom you share camaraderie. You will give plenty, all you've got.Thus, I sought and valued these two particular qualities of Friendship in my relationship with individuals on the UCLA men's basketball team. I did not seek their affection nor wish to become buddies. Mutual respect and camaraderie strengthen your team. Affection, in fact, may weaken it by tempting you to play favorites.Where Friendship exists you will find the makings of a formidable organization. That is why it is in the foundation of my Pyramid.
4. Loyalty
"To yourself and to all depending upon you. Keep your self-respect" Loyalty is part of our higher nature and it is also part of the nature of leaders who achieve higher goals. The power of Loyalty is the reason I placed it in the center of the Pyramid's foundation.A leader who has Loyalty is the leader whose team I wish to be a part of. This is true almost everywhere. Most people, the overwhelming majority of us, wish to be in an organization or part of a team whose leadership cares about them, provides fairness and respect, dignity and consideration.
Loyalty from the top inspires Loyalty from below. It is a most precious and powerful commodity and it starts with the leader. loyal. If you are faithful and devoted to someone or something, you're loyal. ... Loyal comes from the Old French word loyal which means something like "legal," but if someone is only loyal to you because the law requires him to be, that's not true loyalty, which should come from the heart, not a contract.
5. Cooperation
"With all levels of your co-workers. Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way. " Meaning of cooperation is that its a process of working together to the same end. Sharing ideas, information, responsibilities, creativity and tasks is a priority of good leadership and great teams. This is Cooperation. (The only thing that is not shared is blame. A strong self-confident leader gives credit to others, when deserved, and takes blame. A weak leader takes credit and gives blame.)You are not the only person with good ideas. Others too have brains. In order to reach your organization's full potential there must be Cooperation.Two strong field horses could not pull an empty baby carriage if they work at cross purposes. The carriage will not budge unless there is Cooperation.
6. Ambition
(For noble goals) “Ambition is a feeling or a desire to achieve a goal. Usually that goal revolves around a person’s definition of success or greatness. I believe we are most likely to succeed when ambition is focused on noble and worthy purposes and outcomes rather than on goals set out of selfishness. If our ambition is to be highly publicized, receive a lot of recognition, attain a position of power or prestige, or make a lot of money, we do not have noble goals. If we are focused away from ourselves and on the team and others, we possess noble goals.”
7. Self-Control
"Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgement and common sense are essential." Getting to the top and staying there (somewhat different tasks) present unique and formidable challenges. To do either requires great Self-Control. This characteristic within the Pyramid of Success addresses the importance of controlling yourself in all areas - avoiding temptations, avoiding emotionalism, avoiding peaks and valleys of effort.I viewed Self-Control, both personal and by our team, as a sixth Bruin on the court during my years at UCLA. That invisible sixth player was as important as any of the visible players.I like to remind those under my supervision: "Control yourself so others won't have to do it for you." Ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.
8. Alertness
"Be observing constantly. Stay open-minded. Be eager to learn and improve." My favorite American hero is Abraham Lincoln. Abe had Alertness. Mr. Lincoln once said that he never met a person from whom he did not learn something although most of the time it was something not to do.There is activity going on around us at all times from which we can acquire knowledge if we have Alertness. Too often we get tunnel vision and don't see the full picture which precludes learning things that are available.Basketball is played as much between the ears - Alertness - as between the lines on the court. This is true in life and business. Alertness is that asset that keeps you awake and perceptive and increases Skill. The driver who's asleep at the wheel will crash. The same happens to organizations lacking Alertness: they will crash.
9. Initiative
"Cultivate the ability to make decisions and think alone. Do not be afraid of failure, but learn from it." Failure to act is often the biggest failure of all. Initiative is the ability to act. Simple as that. You must prepare thoroughly in all ways. If you have done that you must then summon the wherewithal to apply Initiative.Failure happens. None of us is perfect but you must train yourself not to fear failure. Fear instead inaction when it is time to act.This is true in all areas of life. Proper preparation must be followed with Initiative. As I reminded myself and others often: "Be quick, but don't hurry." That's a good motto for Initiative.
10. Intentness
"Set a realistic goal. Concentrate on its achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent." This personal quality may be as important as any within the Pyramid. It is the ability to stay the course even when that course is most difficult and the obstacles seem insurmountable. You do not quit: Intentness.Be persistent. Be determined. Be tenacious. Be unrelenting. The road to achievement is rocky, hard, and long. Things easily achieved are rarely long-lasting or significant.
If you have Intentness and your ability warrants it you will eventually reach the top of the Pyramid.
11. Sincerity
(keeps friends) In his book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, with Jay Carty, Coach Wooden defined sincerity and its importance in the following manner: “Friendship, loyalty, cooperation and team spirit each occupy building blocks in the Pyramid of Success. What do these blocks say about success? They tell us that we cannot become successful unless we interact with others. Sincerity is the mortar that binds together the blocks of friendship, loyalty, cooperation and team spirit. Therefore, sincerity is also necessary to reach the apex.“Sincerity may not make a friend, but it will keep one. It often takes a while to be validated, but once a person knows that our word, character and steadfastness have withstood the test of life, a firm friendship can be established and maintained.
“When we realize that a friend can be counted on during times of need, when we see that his or her values don’t blow around in the breeze, and when he or she stands up for us, we are far more apt to stand up for him or her and vice versa.”
12. Adaptability
(To any situation) On the left side of the Pyramid of Success, below faith, there are four additional pieces of mortar: ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness and fight. These are qualities that encompass the resolve, ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit.In his book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, with Jay, Coach Wooden defined adaptability and its importance in the following manner:“Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time.“In life, we all know that we can only be sure of a few things, specifically death and taxes. We can also count on change. We need to recognize change, grow with it and learn from it. Since change is inevitable, people who are inflexible, bullheaded or stubborn will never make it to the apex of the Pyramid. If we want to succeed, we must readily adapt to circumstances as they unfold—this includes both what we cannot change and what will take some time to change.“If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.”
13. Condition
"Mental-Moral-Physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated." What this means is that you have to get some rest during time because your body needs it. You must be in physical Condition, but you must also have mental and moral Condition. All three are components in this block of the Pyramid because you can't have one without the others. Weak mental or moral Condition precludes top physical Condition.Some observers felt that our players had top physical Condition. That was only part of it. They also had top mental and moral Condition.I reminded them, the players, of their responsibility to achieve Condition with this little rhyme:"There is a choice you have to make, In everything you do.
So keep in mind that in the end, The choice you make makes you."If you make the right choices you will achieve Condition.
14. Skill
"A knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared and cover every little detail." At the very center of the Pyramid of Success is Skill. You have to know your stuff and that includes a mastery of details.This is true whether you're an athlete, a surgeon, or a CEO. You'd better be able to execute properly and quickly and that requires Skill. As much as I value experience, and I value it greatly, I'd rather have a lot of Skill and less experience that the other way around.Mastery of the skills you need in your job requires learning and it is why leaders and those who are high achievers are lifelong learners. I had this motto tacked on my office wall for many years: "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."Skill is an ongoing and lifelong process.
15. Team Spirit
"A genuine consideration for others. An eagerness to sacrifice personal interests of glory for the welfare of all." This block of the Pyramid addresses a most important characteristic: selflessness which is the opposite of selfishness. I mean by this that you are eager to sacrifice personal glory or gain for the greater good, namely, the welfare and success of your organization, your team, your group.For me it meant I was constantly searching for that player who would make our team 'great' rather than a someone who was just a 'great player'. There is a big difference and that difference is what constitutes Team Spirit.I did not want a person on our team who was reluctant to sacrifice for the good of the team. I prized the individual who was eager to sacrifice for our common good.
16. Honesty
(in thought and action)
"Honesty is the best policy." (Ben Franklin) “Honesty is doing the things that we know are right and not giving in to the temptation to do the things that we know are wrong. Honesty must occur at all times, in both thought and action. Honest people stay on the narrow way, regardless of the consequences. If we are honest, our integrity will not allow us to compromise—ever.“A dishonest act is an attempt to deceive someone. It is possible to be so deceptive that we even deceive ourselves. We do this when we want to justify a lie because of circumstances or as payback when someone has been dishonest with us. Dishonesty—no matter the reason—destroys our credibility, ruins our reputation and costs us our self-respect.”
17. Resourcefulness
(proper judgment)
“Make the most out of what you have.” (Anonymous)"If you have a dream, if you have something you've always wanted to do, look within yourself because that is where resourcefulness resides; and go for it. (Jennifer Witterick) On the left side of the Pyramid of Success, below faith, there are four additional pieces of mortar: ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness and fight. These are qualities that encompass the resolve, ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit.“Resourcefulness is using our wits, proper judgment and common sense to solve problems and meet challenges. It is using initiative in difficult situations and involves inventing, creating, imagining, synthesizing, evaluating, classifying, observing and analyzing solutions to overcome the trials that life throws at us. Resourcefulness is dreaming up ways to meet our goals.”
18. Poise
"Just being yourself. Being at ease in any situation" Just be yourself. Don't pretend to be what you are not. Don't get rattled, thrown off or unbalanced regardless of the circumstance or situation. Leaders with Poise do not panic under pressure.Poise means holding fast to your principles and beliefs and acting in accordance with them regardless of how bad (or good) the situation may be. Know who you are and be true to yourself.Those with Poise have a brave heart in all circumstances. Poise is a powerful gift you give yourself when you acquire the qualities of the Pyramid in the supporting tiers beneath it.
2. Enthusiasm
"It is the engine that powers all blocks of the Pyramid. It is why I chose Industriousness and Enthusiasm as the cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success. It is where everything begins." The two cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success, Industriousness and Enthusiasm, provide strength individually but much more strength when combined as one.I described Industriousness: very hard work. But hard work is not enough. It must be ignited, lit afire by something that will raise it to the extraordinary level required for success. That 'something' is your Enthusiasm which infuses hard work with inspired power that all great competitors have.Your heart must be in your work. Your energy and Enthusiasm stimulates those you work with. It is the ingredient that transforms Industriousness into something of great magnitude - the engine that powers all blocks of the Pyramid. It is why I chose Industriousness and Enthusiasm as the cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success. It is where everything begins.
3. Friendship
"Comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. Like marriage it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort." The two qualities of Friendship that are so important are respect and camaraderie. To me these are the most noteworthy characteristics of true Friendship as it pertains to leadership. Think how much you'll give when asked to do so by someone you respect and with whom you share camaraderie. You will give plenty, all you've got.Thus, I sought and valued these two particular qualities of Friendship in my relationship with individuals on the UCLA men's basketball team. I did not seek their affection nor wish to become buddies. Mutual respect and camaraderie strengthen your team. Affection, in fact, may weaken it by tempting you to play favorites.Where Friendship exists you will find the makings of a formidable organization. That is why it is in the foundation of my Pyramid.
4. Loyalty
"To yourself and to all depending upon you. Keep your self-respect" Loyalty is part of our higher nature and it is also part of the nature of leaders who achieve higher goals. The power of Loyalty is the reason I placed it in the center of the Pyramid's foundation.A leader who has Loyalty is the leader whose team I wish to be a part of. This is true almost everywhere. Most people, the overwhelming majority of us, wish to be in an organization or part of a team whose leadership cares about them, provides fairness and respect, dignity and consideration.
Loyalty from the top inspires Loyalty from below. It is a most precious and powerful commodity and it starts with the leader. loyal. If you are faithful and devoted to someone or something, you're loyal. ... Loyal comes from the Old French word loyal which means something like "legal," but if someone is only loyal to you because the law requires him to be, that's not true loyalty, which should come from the heart, not a contract.
5. Cooperation
"With all levels of your co-workers. Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way. " Meaning of cooperation is that its a process of working together to the same end. Sharing ideas, information, responsibilities, creativity and tasks is a priority of good leadership and great teams. This is Cooperation. (The only thing that is not shared is blame. A strong self-confident leader gives credit to others, when deserved, and takes blame. A weak leader takes credit and gives blame.)You are not the only person with good ideas. Others too have brains. In order to reach your organization's full potential there must be Cooperation.Two strong field horses could not pull an empty baby carriage if they work at cross purposes. The carriage will not budge unless there is Cooperation.
6. Ambition
(For noble goals) “Ambition is a feeling or a desire to achieve a goal. Usually that goal revolves around a person’s definition of success or greatness. I believe we are most likely to succeed when ambition is focused on noble and worthy purposes and outcomes rather than on goals set out of selfishness. If our ambition is to be highly publicized, receive a lot of recognition, attain a position of power or prestige, or make a lot of money, we do not have noble goals. If we are focused away from ourselves and on the team and others, we possess noble goals.”
7. Self-Control
"Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgement and common sense are essential." Getting to the top and staying there (somewhat different tasks) present unique and formidable challenges. To do either requires great Self-Control. This characteristic within the Pyramid of Success addresses the importance of controlling yourself in all areas - avoiding temptations, avoiding emotionalism, avoiding peaks and valleys of effort.I viewed Self-Control, both personal and by our team, as a sixth Bruin on the court during my years at UCLA. That invisible sixth player was as important as any of the visible players.I like to remind those under my supervision: "Control yourself so others won't have to do it for you." Ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.
8. Alertness
"Be observing constantly. Stay open-minded. Be eager to learn and improve." My favorite American hero is Abraham Lincoln. Abe had Alertness. Mr. Lincoln once said that he never met a person from whom he did not learn something although most of the time it was something not to do.There is activity going on around us at all times from which we can acquire knowledge if we have Alertness. Too often we get tunnel vision and don't see the full picture which precludes learning things that are available.Basketball is played as much between the ears - Alertness - as between the lines on the court. This is true in life and business. Alertness is that asset that keeps you awake and perceptive and increases Skill. The driver who's asleep at the wheel will crash. The same happens to organizations lacking Alertness: they will crash.
9. Initiative
"Cultivate the ability to make decisions and think alone. Do not be afraid of failure, but learn from it." Failure to act is often the biggest failure of all. Initiative is the ability to act. Simple as that. You must prepare thoroughly in all ways. If you have done that you must then summon the wherewithal to apply Initiative.Failure happens. None of us is perfect but you must train yourself not to fear failure. Fear instead inaction when it is time to act.This is true in all areas of life. Proper preparation must be followed with Initiative. As I reminded myself and others often: "Be quick, but don't hurry." That's a good motto for Initiative.
10. Intentness"Set a realistic goal. Concentrate on its achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent." This personal quality may be as important as any within the Pyramid. It is the ability to stay the course even when that course is most difficult and the obstacles seem insurmountable. You do not quit: Intentness.Be persistent. Be determined. Be tenacious. Be unrelenting. The road to achievement is rocky, hard, and long. Things easily achieved are rarely long-lasting or significant.
If you have Intentness and your ability warrants it you will eventually reach the top of the Pyramid.
11. Sincerity(keeps friends) In his book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, with Jay Carty, Coach Wooden defined sincerity and its importance in the following manner: “Friendship, loyalty, cooperation and team spirit each occupy building blocks in the Pyramid of Success. What do these blocks say about success? They tell us that we cannot become successful unless we interact with others. Sincerity is the mortar that binds together the blocks of friendship, loyalty, cooperation and team spirit. Therefore, sincerity is also necessary to reach the apex.“Sincerity may not make a friend, but it will keep one. It often takes a while to be validated, but once a person knows that our word, character and steadfastness have withstood the test of life, a firm friendship can be established and maintained.
“When we realize that a friend can be counted on during times of need, when we see that his or her values don’t blow around in the breeze, and when he or she stands up for us, we are far more apt to stand up for him or her and vice versa.”
12. Adaptability
(To any situation) On the left side of the Pyramid of Success, below faith, there are four additional pieces of mortar: ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness and fight. These are qualities that encompass the resolve, ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit.In his book Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success, with Jay, Coach Wooden defined adaptability and its importance in the following manner:“Adaptability is being able to adjust to any situation at any given time.“In life, we all know that we can only be sure of a few things, specifically death and taxes. We can also count on change. We need to recognize change, grow with it and learn from it. Since change is inevitable, people who are inflexible, bullheaded or stubborn will never make it to the apex of the Pyramid. If we want to succeed, we must readily adapt to circumstances as they unfold—this includes both what we cannot change and what will take some time to change.“If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.”
13. Condition
"Mental-Moral-Physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated." What this means is that you have to get some rest during time because your body needs it. You must be in physical Condition, but you must also have mental and moral Condition. All three are components in this block of the Pyramid because you can't have one without the others. Weak mental or moral Condition precludes top physical Condition.Some observers felt that our players had top physical Condition. That was only part of it. They also had top mental and moral Condition.I reminded them, the players, of their responsibility to achieve Condition with this little rhyme:"There is a choice you have to make, In everything you do.
So keep in mind that in the end, The choice you make makes you."If you make the right choices you will achieve Condition.
14. Skill
"A knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared and cover every little detail." At the very center of the Pyramid of Success is Skill. You have to know your stuff and that includes a mastery of details.This is true whether you're an athlete, a surgeon, or a CEO. You'd better be able to execute properly and quickly and that requires Skill. As much as I value experience, and I value it greatly, I'd rather have a lot of Skill and less experience that the other way around.Mastery of the skills you need in your job requires learning and it is why leaders and those who are high achievers are lifelong learners. I had this motto tacked on my office wall for many years: "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."Skill is an ongoing and lifelong process.
15. Team Spirit
"A genuine consideration for others. An eagerness to sacrifice personal interests of glory for the welfare of all." This block of the Pyramid addresses a most important characteristic: selflessness which is the opposite of selfishness. I mean by this that you are eager to sacrifice personal glory or gain for the greater good, namely, the welfare and success of your organization, your team, your group.For me it meant I was constantly searching for that player who would make our team 'great' rather than a someone who was just a 'great player'. There is a big difference and that difference is what constitutes Team Spirit.I did not want a person on our team who was reluctant to sacrifice for the good of the team. I prized the individual who was eager to sacrifice for our common good.
16. Honesty
(in thought and action)
"Honesty is the best policy." (Ben Franklin) “Honesty is doing the things that we know are right and not giving in to the temptation to do the things that we know are wrong. Honesty must occur at all times, in both thought and action. Honest people stay on the narrow way, regardless of the consequences. If we are honest, our integrity will not allow us to compromise—ever.“A dishonest act is an attempt to deceive someone. It is possible to be so deceptive that we even deceive ourselves. We do this when we want to justify a lie because of circumstances or as payback when someone has been dishonest with us. Dishonesty—no matter the reason—destroys our credibility, ruins our reputation and costs us our self-respect.”
17. Resourcefulness
(proper judgment)
“Make the most out of what you have.” (Anonymous)"If you have a dream, if you have something you've always wanted to do, look within yourself because that is where resourcefulness resides; and go for it. (Jennifer Witterick) On the left side of the Pyramid of Success, below faith, there are four additional pieces of mortar: ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness and fight. These are qualities that encompass the resolve, ingenuity and resilience of the human spirit.“Resourcefulness is using our wits, proper judgment and common sense to solve problems and meet challenges. It is using initiative in difficult situations and involves inventing, creating, imagining, synthesizing, evaluating, classifying, observing and analyzing solutions to overcome the trials that life throws at us. Resourcefulness is dreaming up ways to meet our goals.”
18. Poise
"Just being yourself. Being at ease in any situation" Just be yourself. Don't pretend to be what you are not. Don't get rattled, thrown off or unbalanced regardless of the circumstance or situation. Leaders with Poise do not panic under pressure.Poise means holding fast to your principles and beliefs and acting in accordance with them regardless of how bad (or good) the situation may be. Know who you are and be true to yourself.Those with Poise have a brave heart in all circumstances. Poise is a powerful gift you give yourself when you acquire the qualities of the Pyramid in the supporting tiers beneath it.
19. Confidence
"Thorough preparation breeds confidence" Gerald Bell in
"The Carolina Way"There is no stronger steel than well-founded belief in yourself; the knowledge that your preparation is fully complete and that you are ready for the competition.Confidence cannot be grafted on artificially. True abiding confidence is earned through tenaciously pursuing and attaining those assets that allow you to reach your own level of competency; that is, excellence.
You must monitor Confidence because it can easily turn into arrogance which then can lead to the mistaken and destructive belief that previous achievement will be repeated without the same hard effort that brought it about in the first place.
20. Reliability
(creates respect) “When we are reliable, others know they can depend on us. They know we will make the effort to do our best, whatever the situation might be. They know we won’t run, cower or become paralyzed by fear. They have learned to count on our consistency and trustworthiness. We’ll still be there making the effort to do our best long after the weaker ones have faded. People can bet the farm on us and still be able to sleep at night. Reliability earns the respect of those around us.“Capability doesn’t have anything to do with reliability. Some people don’t have as much capability as others have, but they make up for their lack by being reliable.”
21. Fight
(Determined Effort) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.The phrase was commonly used in both the UK and the USA in the 19th century, when those using it would have been well versed in Biblical texts. In November 1843, the Gettysburg newspaper The Republican Compiler printed what it claimed to be a verbatim report of a speech made to Republican forces by the Reverend Joab Prout, on the eve of the Battle of Brandywine:"Soldiers - tomorrow morning we will go forth to battle ... your unworthy minister will march with you, invoking God's aid in the fight ... need I exhort you to fight the good fight for your homesteads, and for your wives and children!"Today few people could quote the original from the Bible. We know the line best because of the hymn Fight the good fight with all thy might - words and music by John S. B. Monsell and William Boyd, 1863
22. Competitive Greatness
" Be at your best when your best is needed. Enjoyment of a difficult challenge." Competitive Greatness is having a real love for the hard battle knowing it offers the opportunity to be at your best when your best is required.The great competitors I have played for and against, taught and admired all shared a joy in the struggle itself - the journey, the contest and competition. The tougher the battle the better.A leader must convey this to those you lead: a tough fight can bring forth Competitive Greatness. The hard battle inspires and motivates a great competitor to dig deep inside. That's why I relish the challenge a worthy competitor presents. You are tested. When properly prepared you will rise to your highest level and achieve Competitive Greatness.
23. Integrity
(purity of intention) “Integrity in its simplest form is purity of intention. It’s keeping a clean conscience. But it is also a composite of some of the other mortar qualities in the pyramid. To some extent, integrity contains a bit of reliability, a healthy helping of honesty and a portion of sincerity. However, I believe that the component of purity of intention is important enough to give integrity the status of mortar in its own right.
24. Faith (Through prayer)
Believe and Achieve. Positive belief.The mortar on the left side of the Pyramid is made up of ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness, fight and faith. The mortar on the right side is sincerity, honesty, reliability, integrity and patience.Coach Wooden explained his strategic placement of faith and patience by describing how they are “leading up from competitive greatness to the top, success—according to my definition—at the apex. On one side, I have patience, and on the other side, I have faith. You need those two things.”More than once, Coach said that faith and patience could have been placed at the very top or the very bottom of the Pyramid. He believed that these qualities are both the goals and the bedrock of what we need to maintain the other blocks on the Pyramid as we overcome obstacles on our journey to success.Just as Coach Wooden made enthusiasm and industriousness the cornerstones of his Pyramid and explained that poise and confidence are a result of the blocks below them, he ultimately chose purposely to have success resting on top of nothing other than faith and patience.Coach summed it up this way: “Distrust begets distrust; it takes trust, faith and patience to acquire peace of mind.
25. Patience
(Good things take time) Coach Wooden explained the importance of patience this way: “From this last block, competitive greatness, leading up to the apex on which success rests (according to my definition), on one side I have patience and on the other side I have faith.” He viewed patience as a trait that is essential in achieving success. “Good things take time,” he explained. He was quick to acknowledge the reality of life, however, that we rarely want to wait for the necessary progress to reach the end result. This impatience is something that is often tempered by maturity and wisdom. On the other hand, there is often a complacency that comes with age that can stifle potential growth. Coach remarked that young people “seem to want things to happen too quickly. They think all change is progress, but sometimes, as we get older, many of us are satisfied with the status quo. We forget that there is no progress without change. There is an even spot there somewhere. We must realize both. There is no progress without change, but not all change is progress.”
22. Competitive Greatness
" Be at your best when your best is needed. Enjoyment of a difficult challenge." Competitive Greatness is having a real love for the hard battle knowing it offers the opportunity to be at your best when your best is required.The great competitors I have played for and against, taught and admired all shared a joy in the struggle itself - the journey, the contest and competition. The tougher the battle the better.A leader must convey this to those you lead: a tough fight can bring forth Competitive Greatness. The hard battle inspires and motivates a great competitor to dig deep inside. That's why I relish the challenge a worthy competitor presents. You are tested. When properly prepared you will rise to your highest level and achieve Competitive Greatness.
23. Integrity
(purity of intention) “Integrity in its simplest form is purity of intention. It’s keeping a clean conscience. But it is also a composite of some of the other mortar qualities in the pyramid. To some extent, integrity contains a bit of reliability, a healthy helping of honesty and a portion of sincerity. However, I believe that the component of purity of intention is important enough to give integrity the status of mortar in its own right.
24. Faith (Through prayer)
Believe and Achieve. Positive belief.The mortar on the left side of the Pyramid is made up of ambition, adaptability, resourcefulness, fight and faith. The mortar on the right side is sincerity, honesty, reliability, integrity and patience.Coach Wooden explained his strategic placement of faith and patience by describing how they are “leading up from competitive greatness to the top, success—according to my definition—at the apex. On one side, I have patience, and on the other side, I have faith. You need those two things.”More than once, Coach said that faith and patience could have been placed at the very top or the very bottom of the Pyramid. He believed that these qualities are both the goals and the bedrock of what we need to maintain the other blocks on the Pyramid as we overcome obstacles on our journey to success.Just as Coach Wooden made enthusiasm and industriousness the cornerstones of his Pyramid and explained that poise and confidence are a result of the blocks below them, he ultimately chose purposely to have success resting on top of nothing other than faith and patience.Coach summed it up this way: “Distrust begets distrust; it takes trust, faith and patience to acquire peace of mind.
25. Patience
(Good things take time) Coach Wooden explained the importance of patience this way: “From this last block, competitive greatness, leading up to the apex on which success rests (according to my definition), on one side I have patience and on the other side I have faith.” He viewed patience as a trait that is essential in achieving success. “Good things take time,” he explained. He was quick to acknowledge the reality of life, however, that we rarely want to wait for the necessary progress to reach the end result. This impatience is something that is often tempered by maturity and wisdom. On the other hand, there is often a complacency that comes with age that can stifle potential growth. Coach remarked that young people “seem to want things to happen too quickly. They think all change is progress, but sometimes, as we get older, many of us are satisfied with the status quo. We forget that there is no progress without change. There is an even spot there somewhere. We must realize both. There is no progress without change, but not all change is progress.”
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