Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 698 - Micro Habits For Success


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 13	Issue 698
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MICRO HABITS FOR SUCCESS John Wooden Video Clip (77 sec.): Coach Wooden is asked: "Why were your instructions so specific and detailed?" The Pyramid of Success has 15 blocks. Each block has two or three great ideas. The ideas have great benefits if we can develop Micro (small) Habits that bring them to life. For example, the Enthusiasm block points out that Enthusiasm: "Brushes off upon those with whom you come in contact." Here are some habits that can bring that idea to life: I work at keeping my body language positive. I avoid deep sighs, subtle headshakes, downcast looks, and shoulder shrugs when I encounter difficulty. When disaster strikes, I look for the advantage in the disadvantage. I am enthusiastic about getting into the solutions department immediately. I don’t whine, complain, or make excuses. I am aware of my tone of voice. I work at not sounding impatient or condescending. I do my best to make sure the person I'm speaking to knows that I appreciate their point of view. I don’t want someone to feel like I think I am smarter than they are. I don't: "Tell a story about one of my great accomplishments." I do: "Tell a story about a situation in which I struggled." If somebody gives me a good idea sometimes, I just say, "I like that". I do not add in my improvement idea every time even though I have one. I let the other person get some wins. I don’t try to get a laugh at somebody else’s expense. I work at offering corrections without creating resentment. It is great to have somebody who loves you rate you on these behaviors. I had a highly successful executive who had her teenage daughter rate her. Her daughter said, "Mom you are the most enthusiastic person I know; but you do create resentment with the way you correct me." They talked about their communication and got it fixed. I love that story. As Coach Wooden always reminded us: "Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out." Click here for personal development exercise: Issue 698. Click here for Printable Poetry: Issue 698. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Follow @woodenswisdom	COACH'S FAVORITE POETRY AND PROSE His Example There are little eyes upon you, and they're watching night and day; There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say; There are little hands all eager to do everything you do, And a little boy that's dreaming of the day he'll be like you. You're the little fellow's idol, you're the wisest of the wise; In his little mind about you no suspicions ever rise; He believes in you devoutly, holds that all you say and do He will say and do in your way when he's grown up just like you. Oh, it sometimes makes me shudder when I hear my boy repeat Some careless phrase I've uttered in the language of the street; And it sets my heart to grieving when some little fault I see And I know beyond all doubting that he picked it up from me. There's a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you're always right, And his ears are always open and he watches day and night; You are setting an example every day in all you do For the little boy who's waiting to grow up to be like you. Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
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