Book Review of Wooden on Leadership
Book Review: “Wooden on Leadership”
John Wooden is a legendary basketball coach, best known for his UCLA dynasty, which won an unprecedented and unthinkable 10 national championships in 12 years. That stretch included an 88-game win streak and four perfect seasons. But Wooden’s proudest accomplishments are not those of which are collected in the annals of sports history. And they have little to do with winning or losing.
In his book “Wooden on Leadership,” the coach reveals that he never focused on his teams’ records or gauged success or failure on wins versus losses. Rather, he defined success as “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.” Wooden told his players that there would always be someone who is faster, stronger or jumps higher, so they should focus their collective energy and attention toward something they could control: maximizing their potential. This lesson, along with other teachings revealed in the book, are applicable to all of us, not just jocks.
While many of Wooden’s theories and techniques were refined through the years via trial and error, critical thinking and constant analysis, many of his philosophies are based on messages passed down by his father, Joshua Wooden, who is referenced quite a few times in the book. Wooden seemed most proud of his dad’s ability to endure terrible setbacks, from the loss of daughters to the family’s beloved farm, and remain optimistic and blame-free throughout. This is a trait I personally appreciate most in people. In fact, Wooden’s way of articulating it, “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turns out,” is very similar to my favorite saying: “The best things happen to those who make the best of the things that happen to them.”
Wooden tackles a variety of character traits and values in the book that he sees as essential to the pursuit of perfection as an individual as well
John Wooden is a legendary basketball coach, best known for his UCLA dynasty, which won an unprecedented and unthinkable 10 national championships in 12 years. That stretch included an 88-game win streak and four perfect seasons. But Wooden’s proudest accomplishments are not those of which are collected in the annals of sports history. And they have little to do with winning or losing.
In his book “Wooden on Leadership,” the coach reveals that he never focused on his teams’ records or gauged success or failure on wins versus losses. Rather, he defined success as “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.” Wooden told his players that there would always be someone who is faster, stronger or jumps higher, so they should focus their collective energy and attention toward something they could control: maximizing their potential. This lesson, along with other teachings revealed in the book, are applicable to all of us, not just jocks.
While many of Wooden’s theories and techniques were refined through the years via trial and error, critical thinking and constant analysis, many of his philosophies are based on messages passed down by his father, Joshua Wooden, who is referenced quite a few times in the book. Wooden seemed most proud of his dad’s ability to endure terrible setbacks, from the loss of daughters to the family’s beloved farm, and remain optimistic and blame-free throughout. This is a trait I personally appreciate most in people. In fact, Wooden’s way of articulating it, “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turns out,” is very similar to my favorite saying: “The best things happen to those who make the best of the things that happen to them.”
Wooden tackles a variety of character traits and values in the book that he sees as essential to the pursuit of perfection as an individual as well