Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 690 - "Don’t let a negative result discourage you from focusing on daily improvements."


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 13	Issue 690
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"DON’T LET A NEGATIVE RESULT DISCOURAGE YOU FROM FOCUSING ON DAILY IMPROVEMENTS." John Wooden Video Clip (1 min. 17 sec.): Coach Wooden is asked: "Tell us about the poem: “A Little Fellow Follows Me.?" Listen very carefully to the last two words Coach Wooden says. Coach Wooden did not allow outside distractions, temporary setbacks, long term goals or negative results to distract or discourage him from his laser focus on daily improvement. Coach Wooden’s approach ("Don’t worry about things outside of your control.") was shared by many famous philosophers: "Make the best use of what is in your power and take the rest as it happens." - Epictetus (c. 50–135 CE):" "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE):" "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." – The Buddha "Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace." - Dalai Lama Successful modern athletes take the same approach: "I don't think about records or pressure; I focus on my stride—one step at a time." - Usain Bolt (8 Olympic gold medals) "I always focus on my process, my practice, my fitness, my game plan—and I leave the uncontrollable factors aside." - Tiger Woods "I focus on perfecting my routines and my skills, letting go of the worries about what I can’t control." – Simone Biles "I focus on my process and my performance, trusting that the results will follow without worrying about what I can’t control." – Novak Djokovic (21 Grand Slam singles titles) "I focus on my preparation and my shot; I don’t let external pressures or distractions affect my game." – Stephen Curry "I focus on my training and my execution on the slopes. I don't worry about the weather or other conditions beyond my control." - Lindsey Vonn ( 4 x World Champion) "I focus on my game and my preparation, not on the pressure or distractions I can’t control." - Martina Navratilova (18 Grand Slam singles titles) What do you focus on? Click here for personal development exercise: Issue 690. Click here for Printable Poetry: Issue 690. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Follow @woodenswisdom	COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE The Average Man Mine is a song of the average man Who has been on earth since the world began! You'll find him kind and you'll find him true, You'll find him cheerful and happy, too. He's never proud and he's never mean, He walks the earth with a conscience clean, The squarest fellow that God could plan On earth today is the average man. He loves his wife and he loves his home, He isn't the fellow who likes to roam; He keeps his love for his fellow man And bears his burden as best he can; He's a gentle neighbor, a faithful friend, And will fight for him to the bitter end; The decentness fellow that God could plan On earth today is the average man. The average man doesn't cheat or lie Or wrong his brothers. He doesn't try To climb to glory and gain the crown By pulling a weaker brother down. He's always found on the side of right, His creed is always a spotless white; And oft as the wrongs of the world I scan, I thank the Lord for the average man. Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
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