You never fail if you know in your heart that you did the best of which you are capable.
John WoodenWhile I made my living as a coach, I have lived my life to be a mentor-and to be mentored!-constantly.Everything in the world has been passed down. Every piece of knowledge is something that has been shared by someone else. If you understand it as I do, mentoring becomes your true legacy. It is the greatest inheritance you can give to others. It is why you get up every day-to teach and be taught.
John WoodenI think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.
John WoodenWhether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the rest of your life.
John WoodenI believe one of the requirements of good leadership is the ability to listen - really listen - to those in your organization. An effective leader is very good at listening, and it's difficult to listen when you are talking.
John WoodenAs a leader, you must be filled with energy and eagerness, joy and love for what you do. If you lack enthusiasm for your job, you cannot perform to the best of your ability. Industriousness is unattainable without Enthusiasm.
John WoodenLosing is only temporary and not encompassing. You must simply study it, learn from it, and try hard not to lose the same way again. Then you must have the self-control to forget about it.
John WoodenYou can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
John WoodenTeam spirit means you are willing to sacrifice personal considerations for the welfare of all. That defines a team player.
John WoodenDon't get discouraged: it is often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
John WoodenThe score will take care of itself when you take care of the effort that precedes the score.
John WoodenDon't think that you can make up for it by working twice as hard tomorrow. If you have it within your power to work twice as hard, why aren't you doing it now?
John WoodenIf you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.
John WoodenAbility may get you to the top, nut it takes chracter to keep you there - mental, moral, and physical.
John WoodenPeople ask me if I'd permit fancy things, like dunks. Well, if they did dunk, it was with no fancy flair. No behind-the-back dribbles or passes unless necessary. If it was for show, you were on the bench.
John WoodenNobody is defeated until he starts blaming somebody else. My advice to you is don't fix the blame. Fix the problem.
John WoodenMake no mistake, I always want to win, but I never fight with an opponent. My fight is within me it is the struggle to be the best I can be at whatever I do.
John WoodenUnderstand there is a price to be paid for achieving anything of significance. You must be willing to pay the price.
John WoodenPush yourself to keep improving or you'll stay as close to the bottom as you are to the top
John WoodenIt is normal to enjoy praise and dislike criticism. True character is when you prevent either from affecting you in a negative matter.
John WoodenOne of my constant reminders was, "End practice on a happy note." I wanted the boys to want to come out to practice, and I wanted them to get a certain amount of pleasure out of basketball. It's a game. It should be fun. So I always tried to counterbalance any criticism in practice with a bit of praise. I wanted my players to feel that the worst punishment I could give them was to deny them the privilege of practicing. If they did not want to practice, I did not want them there.
John Wooden