Best Success Advice I’ve Ever Heard - Coach John Wooden

Last month, I wrote an editorial in my monthly newsetter at Tom Venuto.Com about the best “motivational one-liners” of all time. It turned out to be quite popular as I was overwhelmed with the amount of positive emails I received in response, as well as subscribers sending me more of their own favorite “one liners” that I didn’t include on last month’s list.

Since last month’s “one liners” were so well received, I decided to stay on that theme and write another list of “one liners” sharing some of the greatest wit, wisdom and success advice I have ever heard, from a great man named John Wooden…

For those of you who aren’t familiar with John Wooden yet, he is considered by many as the greatest basketball coach of all time.

The former coach of the UCLA record setting basketball team, he lead his team to an incredible 10 national championships in 12 years.

His “one liners,” are among the most profound you will ever hear, not just on the court or in the sporting arena, but in life.

Bill Walsh, former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers said,

“John Wooden is a “philosopher-coach” in the truest sense: a man whose beliefs, teachings, and wisdom go far beyond sports, and ultimately address how to bring out the very best in yourself and others in all areas of life…

“He is a master teacher who understands motivation, organization and psychology. Coach Wooden is able to successfully share his wisdom because he has a gift for expressing his philosophy directly and simply, in a manner accessible and applicable to everyone…

John Wooden is an American legend who would be as comfortable among the ancient sages as he is welcomed and respected by today’s citizens and leaders.”

I hope you enjoy every one of these gems. I’m sure you will find that many of them resonate deeply within you.

Sincerely,

Tom Venuto

John Wooden’s All-Time Best One-Liners

There are no shortcuts
Always be progressing
Give it away to get it back
If you wish to be heard, listen
Laugh with others, never at them
Never mistake activity for achievement
Nothing is stronger than gentleness
Persistence is stronger than failure
There is no substitute for hard work
We get stronger when we test ourselves
Happiness begins where selfishness ends
You are more influential than you think
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Discipline yourself and others won’t need to
Learn from the past, dont live in the past
Fear no opponent but respect every opponent
Hard work is the difference. Very hard work
Take what’s available and make the most of it
You never fail if you know you did your best
When you are through learning, you are through
What is right is more important than who is right
The time to make friends is before you need them
The worthy opponent brings out the very best in you
There is a price to be paid for achieving anything
You can do more good by being good than any other way
The difficult challenge provides the best opportunity
Once the opportunity arises, its too late to prepare
Greatness is being your best when your best is needed
Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating
The smallest good deed is better than the best intention
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation
Tell the truth, that way you dont have to remember a story
Everybody has a suggestion, not everybody has a decision
For every artificial peak you create, there is a valley
Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way
Time spent getting even would be better spent trying to get ahead
Being average means you’re as close to the bottom as you are to the top
Ability can get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there
You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you react
Much can be accomplished when no one is concerned about who gets the credit
Spend too much time learning tricks of the trade and you may never learn the trade

03 June, 2007 posted in Mind & Motivation