Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 194 - Keep Courtesy and Consideration of Others Foremost in Your Mind, at Home and Away


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 4	Issue 194
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
KEEP COURTESY AND CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS FOREMOST IN YOUR MIND, AT HOME AND AWAY This favorite quote of Coach Wooden’s was a reminder for his players to treat the fans they encountered on the road with the same courtesy and consideration they gave to their fans at home. One of the definitions of consideration is: thoughtfulness for other people. The idea of consideration for others was the central theme of Coach Wooden’s life. Two of Coach’s life heroes were Abraham Lincoln and Mother Teresa. When asked why, Coach replied simply: Because of their consideration for others. Coach was once asked: “When you look back on your life, how would you really like to be remembered?” He replied: I would like to be remembered as a normal person that was considerate of others. That would be enough for me. Coach did not view being considerate of others as a chore or a sacrifice. In his book with Steve Jamison, Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and Off the Court, Coach expanded on this idea: Being polite and courteous isn't paying a price any more than smiling or being happy is paying a price. You get more then you give when you are polite and courteous. People like to help, to be polite, to be considerate. I believe it's basic human nature. And it's a funny thing: when you start displaying courtesy, politeness and consideration, people start displaying them right back. We can apply this simple idea as a reminder to treat our families with the same cheerful attitude we often treat our coworkers with, even after a long day at work. Some folks create a structured transition between leaving work and arriving home to assure that when they open the front door at home, they do it with a happy face. Nell Wooden said that when her husband John came home from work she could never tell from his demeanor whether practice that day had been good or bad. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE ARE YOU A WINNER OR A LOSER? A Winner says, “Let’s find out;” A loser says, “Nobody knows.” When a winner makes a mistake, he says, “I was wrong;” when a loser makes a mistake, he says, It wasn’t my fault.” A winner credits his “good luck” for winning - even though it isn’t good luck; a loser blames his “bad luck” for losing - even though it isn’t bad luck. A winner knows how and when to say “Yes” and “No”; a loser says, “Yes, but” and “perhaps not” at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons. A winner isn’t nearly as afraid of losing as a loser is secretly afraid of winning. A winner works harder than a loser and has more time; a loser is always “too busy” to do what is necessary. A winner goes through a problem; a loser goes around it and never gets past it. A winner makes commitments; a loser makes promises. A winner shows he’s sorry by making up for it, a loser says “I’m sorry,” but does the same thing next time. A winner knows what to fight for and what to compromise on; a loser compromises on what he shouldn’t and fights for what isn’t worthwhile fighting about. Sydney Harris
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