As an avid basketball sports fan, I have wondered how the UCLA basketball team went from being one of the weakest teams in the Pacific Conference to being THE BEST team with record wins that are still unmatched in the world of basketball today.
UCLA’s basketball program has the international reputation of being No. 1. The major reason for that success was head coach, John Rupert Wooden. As the Bruin’s head coach with the highest winning record in all of sport’s history and an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships, including seven consecutive wins from 1966-1973, he tells us the meaning of true success in his TED video with profound simplicity.
Why should we listen to him?
This speech is a road map for aiming higher, developing good character, setting standards, and tapping into inner strength. His legacy resonates through his students, athletes and faculty, and now thanks to TED, it has reached over 844,645 more people.
Coach Wooden redefined success and urges us all to pursue the best in ourselves. He states, "success is not about medals or career wins. It is more about peace of mind and knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of being."
He truly knew the difference between winning and success and profoundly explained that it is to never let others who did not see the outcome of the game be able to tell the results of the game from your behavior. He transformed the UCLA team into the most accomplished team in history by encouraging them to never try to be better than someone else. It is good to learn from others, but never cease being the best you can be because that’s under your control. This explains how he was able to rally the team to unprecedented successes and accomplishments.
I can truly relate to his passion for helping others to be the best they could be. It is one of the main focuses of our program. This speech has also helped me to have a deeper understanding of who he was and how he was able to accomplish these great feats. Additionally, it has inspired me to implement in my organization a few of the rules he lived by and used in both teaching in the classroom and in sports:
1. NEVER BE LATE ~ START & FINISH ON TIME
2. BE NEAT & CLEAN ~HYGIENICALLY & CLOTHES
3. NOT ONE WORD OF PROFANITY
4. NEVER CRITICIZE A TEAMMATE
5. DON’T WHINE
6. DON’T COMPLAIN
7. DON’T MAKE EXCUSES
8. GET OUT THERE, AND WHAT EVER YOU ARE DOING, DO IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY!!
At the age of 99, Coach Wooden passed away on June 4, 2010. I thank him for having lived such an inspiring life. He truly had ideas worth sharing.
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