Last updated on October 1st, 2019 at 11:55 pm
Saturday afternoon PBS aired a program titled, “John Wooden: Values, Victory and Peace of Mind.”
Luckily for me, the program saved me the trouble of having to go to Borders and find a new inspirational book.
I am a fan of John Wooden, UCLA’s most famous past basketball coach because I remember those amazing basketball years when he was at UCLA. If you ask any sports fanatic, they will tell you that John Wooden is the greatest coach who ever lived.
Back then I was dating a cute, basketball player too.
He didn’t live by John Wooden’s pyramid of success. But, neither did I. If you ask UCLA basketball players what coach Wooden taught them, they will say that he taught them to put on their socks correctly and to be a success.
He felt socks were the most important thing. Looking at my teenage son’s dirty socks strewn about our place I am inclined to agree.
John Wooden is a depression-era baby just like my mother. While watching him on PBS, I realized we are slowly losing our greatest generation. The generation who fought in WWI and WWII–the generation who made the 1960’s possible. They are the generation who sparked our generation to change. We still have much to learn from them.
Coach Wooden is a little old fashioned, and I say this endearingly because I would say this about my 80++ mother. As much as I might want to lament about taking care of an aging parent, I do need “old-fashioned” feedback in my life.
They are like the arguing counsel in a lawsuit: they force us to look at our intentions.
Coach Wooden spent his life teaching his pyramid of success that he taught to all of his basketball players. He believed that if you build a solid foundation in life, then the rest (the top of the pyramid) will naturally happen.
John Wooden’s Pyramid for Success
He emphasizes that the bottom floor of the pyramid is the most important part: the foundation.
I notice here how friendship is one of the building blocks at the bottom of the pyramid, which makes me think about each of the women who contribute their big dream stories to 8WomenDream. The contributors are the building blocks, or really, the foundation blocks of what brings visitors to 8WomenDream and helps push people toward dream success.
The Dreamer’s Success Pyramid
John Wooden’s 7 Point Creed
1. Be true to yourself.
2. Make each day your masterpiece.
3. Help others.
4. Drink deeply from good books.
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Dreamers 7-point Creed
1. Be true to yourself and your big dream.
2. Make each day a part of your dream masterpiece.
3. Help others achieve their dreams.
4. Drink deeply from good books, especially books about dream achievement.
5. Make friendships and cherish your dream like a fine piece of art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day. Or don’t give up your regular job until your dream is achieved.
7. Meditate for guidance to help you with your dream, and give thanks for your blessings every day.
Catherine Hughes
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Catherine Hughes is the founder, content director and editor-at-large of 8WomenDream. She is passionate about helping women step out of their own way and strike out into a world waiting for their special talents. She’s a published author and a former award-winning mom blogger. Catherine has helped companies both large and small create engaging web content, social media narratives, and unique blogging platforms. She claims to be a redhead, but don’t hold that against her.
Note: Articles by Catherine may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.
