Principles from John Wooden
Why You Should Embrace Progress Over Perfection and Keep Moving Forward - Lessons from John Wooden
Estimated reading time (3 minutes)
Happy Friday, everyone.
Welcome to Principles Friday, where I share one principle that can help you in your life or business, one thought-provoking question, and one call to action toward that principle.
Principle of the Week
“Always Keep Moving.” by John Wooden.
John Wooden was an accomplished basketball player and coach, but what made him truly great was his philosophy of leadership and his commitment to character development. He believed in emphasizing the fundamentals, teamwork, and a positive attitude, and he emphasized the importance of personal integrity, self-discipline, and hard work.
During the 1963 NCAA tournament, in the championship game against Duke, UCLA was trailing by three points with just a few seconds left.
Rather than calling a timeout to draw up a last-second play, Wooden instructed his team to "be quick, but don't hurry" and to keep the ball moving quickly. The ball eventually found its way to senior guard Willie Naulls, who hit a game-tying shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, UCLA continued to keep the ball moving and ultimately won the game 98-83, securing their first NCAA championship under Wooden's leadership. Wooden's emphasis on always keeping the ball moving and being quick but not in a hurry was key to the team's success in that game and throughout his coaching career.
During his senior year, he dislocated his shoulder and was expected to miss several games. However, he was determined to keep moving and continue playing, so he developed a technique to play with his injured shoulder.
Wooden would position himself on the court so that his injured arm was facing away from the basket, which allowed him to shoot with only one arm. He also taught himself to catch and pass the ball with one hand and to dribble with his other arm pinned to his side. Despite his injury, Wooden led Purdue to a conference championship that year and was named an All-American.
These stories demonstrate how Wooden's determination and commitment to keep moving helped him overcome significant obstacles and succeed.
John Wooden passed away on June 4, 2010, at the age of 99
Question to Ponder
How can you cultivate a growth mindset and embrace continuous improvement in your personal and professional live, even when faced with obstacles or setbacks?
Call to Action
Take some time to reflect on areas of your life or business where you may have become stagnant or stuck. Then, brainstorm and take action on small steps you can take to keep moving forward, whether it's learning a new skill, reaching out to a potential collaborator, or simply setting a new goal to work towards. Remember, progress is made by consistently taking small steps in the right direction.
However, you need to overcome these three things that will prevent you from taking action:
Fear of failure: Fear of failure is a common barrier that can hold you back from taking action. Remember that failure is a part of the learning process, and every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. It's important to embrace failure as a natural part of the journey toward success.
Procrastination: Procrastination is another barrier that can prevent you from taking action. To overcome procrastination, break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks and set deadlines for yourself. Create a schedule and stick to it to hold yourself accountable.
Lack of motivation: Sometimes, lack of motivation can be a barrier to action. To overcome this, remind yourself of your why - why you want to take action in the first place. Focus on the benefits of taking action and how it will help you achieve your goals. You can also seek support from a mentor or accountability partner who can help keep you motivated and on track.
Here are some ideas to help you get started:
Set specific and measurable goals for your personal and professional development, and create a plan to achieve them.
Identify and challenge your limiting beliefs and self-talk by replacing them with positive and growth-oriented thoughts.
Seek out opportunities to learn and grow, such as attending workshops, conferences, or taking online courses.
Surround yourself with supportive and like-minded individuals who encourage and challenge you to grow.
Embrace failure as a natural and necessary part of the learning process, and use setbacks as opportunities for growth and reflection.
Video of the Week
Here is a video where John Wooden explains the difference between winning and succeeding.
If you want to learn more principles, I interview founders on my podcast, The First 100, where they share how they acquired their first 100 paying customers. This week:
Episode 61 - The First 100 with Christer Holloman, the Founder of Divido | BNPL | B2B Sales
Episode 60 - The First 100 with Paul and Lyth, the Founders of Huppa
Things I am Enjoying this Week
Check out Turtle’s Pace, a newsletter about making things that matter at a sustainable pace. On Tuesdays, Justin writes about clear thinking, creativity, and mental models for knowledge workers.
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