John Wooden was known as the Wizard of Westwood. He coached UCLA to ten consecutive men’s college basketball titles and is one of the most renowned basketball coaches who ever lived.
But here’s something you may not know.
He never scouted an opponent. And he never gave a scouting report to his players. Never. Instead, he focused on his players and his team. He wanted his players focused on what THEY were doing, not on what the other team was doing.
His philosophy? If his players played to the best of their abilities, it wouldn’t matter what the other team threw at them.
He focused on little things, even down to how to put on socks and shoes so players wouldn’t get blisters during an important game.
Would you like to be prepared for everything that life throws at you? The good news is that Coach Wooden’s philosophy can work for you, regardless of your situation. Here are some thoughts to consider.
Be honest with yourself. Who are you? Who are you not? Where are you in life? Accept it. Don’t candy-coat it. You’ll never get to where you want to be if you don’t know where you are. You don’t have to stay where you are because it’s only a starting point.
Set boundaries. We can’t complain about what we allow. And we all allow too much garbage to infiltrate our lives. Sometimes, it’s “good” garbage, or so we think. But we aren’t doing ourselves any favors when we let people or circumstances take over our lives. What are you complaining about? Start there, set a firm, solid boundary — then stick to it!
Respect the game. Winning the game is not as important as how you play the game. Do the right things, and the right things happen. Here’s a true story of a college coach on the recruiting trail.
Don’t compare yourself with others. Part of being the best you can be (spouse, boss, employee, friend) is taking your eyes off the “competition,” which means everyone around you. If you’re always trying to keep up with the Joneses, you’ll always put yourself second. If you focus on improving yourself, others will soon be trying to keep up with you. Moreover, the Bible says (2 Corinthians 10:12) that we are foolish when we compare ourselves with others.
Put others first. First things first: Take care of yourself, then you can help your teammates. Yes, turn the spotlight off you and put it on someone else on your team or your circle of influence. Today. Right now. Who can you serve? Who needs you?
Double down on your passion. Many things will catch your eye. It’s the things that catch your heart that matter. Find what makes you come alive, and do more of that. After all, as John Mason says: “You were born an original, don’t die a copy.”
- What areas of your life can you focus more on that would benefit you?
- Where do you need to double down?
- How can you retrain your brain and reestablish your focus?
Focus on you. Stop blaming others and making excuses. Face it: You’ll either find a way or make an excuse. What do you need to change? How can you make yourself better? Who or what can help you improve? What is your wisest next step?
You can’t control when life shows up. But you can be prepared by learning to manage your response.