Alvin M. Keeling 
AAbout 50 years ago my father accepted a teaching position at UCLA and my family packed their bags and moved from Michigan to Southern California. It was the late 1960s, and most successful college basketball coach of all time, John Wooden, was coaching the Bruins nationally after nationally.
Coach Wooden is one of my heroes. Coincidentally, he and I share the same birthday. Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood,” he won seven straight and ten National College Basketball Championships over a twelve-year span. On one stretch, his team won 88 consecutive games.
John Wooden passed away in 2010 at the age of 99, but his wisdom and legacy lives on. Through his role as a coach, he endowed those he led with the tools for a life of success. Her life lesson arena has just popped up from the basketball court.
I came across an article called “10 Lessons from John Wooden”. The article extended basketball lessons to life lessons. In honor of Coach Wooden and his lasting legacy, I will share his wisdom with you.
Lesson number one is to “Be True to Yourself”. This is the first creed that was passed on to Coach Wooden by his father. To have an impact on others in the life we live, we must first look at ourselves. Our ability to impact others begins from within. We need to understand ourselves and the gifts, talents, and weaknesses that each of us has received. Stick to what works best for you and don’t compromise your values.
Lesson number two is “Always keep moving”. Whether it’s on the basketball court or in life, we each need to “move, move, move!” We must be people of action. Whether it is success or failure, stopping is not an option. Regardless of what happened yesterday, we must act today. We cannot influence the world without taking action. Coach Wooden would say, “Be quick, but not in a rush. “
The third lesson is “Make Every Day Your Masterpiece”. Carpe Diem. Seize the day. If we measure our lives one day at a time, we will recognize that every day has a value. Coach Wooden said, “Give your best when your best is needed, and your best is needed every day. When you go to bed tonight, has your day today been a masterpiece?
The fourth lesson is “Help others”. We often live our lives being selfish rather than maximizing our giving for the benefit of others. Live with a heart that is compassionate and understanding for others. Living only for yourself will lead to a solitary and unique existence. What you receive dies with you, what you give lives after you leave.
Lesson Five is “Winning, Not Right.” I think this is a major problem with the world we live in today. If we live life with the “entitlement” mentality, we live disappointed because of what we don’t get. If we live our life with a “deserved” mindset, we will appreciate what we work hard for and what we receive in return. It is the difference between an “other-centered world” and a selfish “I have a right to” existence. To truly get far in life, realize that you don’t owe anything and if you want anything, work incredibly hard for it.
Lesson six is ”Drink plenty of good books, especially the Bible.” The concept here is to be careful what you put into your head. The formula is simple, junk in equals junk out. What do you allow yourself to influence yourself? Coach Wooden would say to carefully filter and analyze the content and motivations of your news sources. Read well to live well.
Lesson Seven is “Making Friendship Beautiful”. Choose wisely with whom you surround yourself. Every friend you keep has an influence on you, good or bad. Cherish close relationships and work on them the same way you work on family relationships. End a bad relationship if necessary.
Lesson Eight is “Build Shelter Against a Rainy Day”. Too often, life is lived unprepared for the storm to come. Rainy days will come to each of us, understand and accept this. There is a saying that our lives are always lived in one of three arenas: going into a storm, into a storm or out of a storm. Whether it’s a financial crisis, the loss of a loved one, or some other unforeseen event, be prepared in advance, before the storm hits.
The ninth lesson is “Gratitude”. Live life with an attitude of gratitude. Coach Wooden has taught his players to point at the player who passed the ball to them after scoring a basket. What we can accomplish is always based on the contribution of others. Create a daily habit of taking a moment of solitude to humbly express your gratitude for the many blessings in this life. Let others know that you are grateful to them. Be the most grateful person you know.
Lesson Ten is “Character Matters.” The heart of Coach Wooden’s message was the life he led. Your actions and actions have spread far and wide. None of us will ever know how far our influence over others extends. Some influences extend into countless lifetimes and down to the generations that follow. Live a life of good character, a life worth following by others.
Ten lessons that extend beyond the basketball court of a coach who has made a difference one life at a time, and in so doing, influenced millions of people.
My challenge for you today is to take the gifts God has given you and put them into action to make each day of your life a masterpiece. Help others while you earn what you receive without a right mindset. Choose good influences in your life as you develop friendships while preparing for the storm to come. Live a life of gratitude with a character worth capturing by others.
Collect these ten lessons and get out there and be a winner on the basketball court of life that would make Coach Wooden proud of you. One that has a positive impact on those you interact with.
Just a thought …
Rick kraft is a motivational speaker, union columnist, published author and lawyer. To submit comments, contributions, or ideas, email rkraft@kraftlawfirm.org or write to PO Box 850, Roswell, New Mexico, 88202-0850.
