Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 131 - Don't Count the Days, Make the Day Count


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 3	Issue 131
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
DON'T COUNT THE DAYS, MAKE THE DAY COUNT This favorite quote of Coach Wooden's was also a favorite and popularized by Muhammad Ali. The message is clear: don’t worry about all the “what if” things that might happen. Concentrate on what you're doing right now. For Coach Wooden, the focus was on the practice at hand, not the possible outcome of an upcoming game. For Ali, the focus was on the grueling training session today, not the possible outcome of an upcoming bout. When Coach was in high school, his father gave him this humorous essay he had come across on the subject of worry: There are really only two things to worry about: whether you are a success or whether you are a failure. If you are a success, there is no cause for worry, and if you are a failure - There are only two things to worry about: whether you have your health or whether you do not have your health. If you are healthy, a healthy person certainly should not worry, and if you do not have your health - There are only two things to worry about: whether you regain your health and get well or whether you fail to regain your health and pass on. If you regain your health, there is no cause for worry, and if you fail to regain your health and pass on - There are only two things to worry about: whether you will go to the place where we all hope to go or whether you go to that other place. If you go to the place where we all hope to go, you should not have worried, and if you go to that other place - You are going to be with all your friends and the people here. So why worry? Coach enjoyed sharing this essay. As he put it : Even though it's tounge in cheek, when things seem to be piling up against you, it's worth a glance. In his book with Steve Jamison, The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership, Coach commented on the difference between worry and concern: "Worry" is fretting about the future. "Concern" is figuring out future solutions. When you are "concerned," you're going to analyze and determine where and how to improve. If you are "worried," you're just fretting that things won't turn out right regardless of what you do - wringing your hands and imagining bad things. "Concern" leads to results; "worry" results in losing a good night's sleep. I lost very little sleep fretting; I didn't mind losing sleep figuring out solutions. Pleasant dreams……..here’s hoping we can: stay in the solutions department and make the day count. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE Solitude Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone. For the sad old earth must borrow it's mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air. The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from voicing care. Rejoice, and men will seek you; Grieve, and they turn and go. They want full measure of all your pleasure, But they do not need your woe. Be glad, and your friends are many; Be sad, and you lose them all. There are none to decline your nectared wine, But alone you must drink life's gall. Feast, and your halls are crowded; Fast, and the world goes by. Succeed and give, and it helps you live, But no man can help you die. There is room in the halls of pleasure For a long and lordly train, But one by one we must all file on Through the narrow aisles of pain Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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