Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 198 - The Person Who Usually Does What He Pleases is Seldom Pleased With What he Does


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 4	Issue 198
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
THE PERSON WHO USUALLY DOES WHAT HE PLEASES IS SELDOM PLEASED WITH WHAT HE DOES Coach grew up on a farm in Indiana and he rose early every morning before going to school, to help milk the cows and do other chores required around the farm. When he arrived home from school, there were always more chores to do as well as completing his homework. His father always required that the work got done first. Coach described it this way: You had to work hard. Dad felt there was time for play, but always after the chores and studies were done. Coach described how he applied this lesson he learned from his father as follows: There is no substitute for work. If you're looking for the easy way, the shortcut, the trick, you may get something done for a while but it will not be lasting and you will not be developing your ability. Coach was usually pleased with what he did, because he seldom just did what he pleased. As Coach Wooden’s grandson-in-law, I received numerous requests to get items signed by Coach Wooden. I would arrive at his condo for a visit, a little embarrassed, with bags of basketballs, books, posters and a stack of Pyramids to be signed. I would suggest we go relax in his den, visit and we could take care of the signature requests later. This suggestion was never accepted. Coach would take me directly to the dining room table and say let’s get these signatures taken care of first. This idea has been applied as a basic fundamental of almost all time-management strategies: When you have a list of tasks to do, choose the one that’s hardest and do that first. Mark Twain wisely said, “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning that will probably be the worst thing you do all day.” The key idea is that if you start the day out by doing the things you like least first, you’ll get them out of the way so you can enjoy your day more and be more productive and fulfilled. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE KNOWING Do not believe what you have heard. Do not believe in tradition because it is handed down many generations. Do not believe in anything that has been spoken of many times. Do not believe because the written statements come from some old sage. Do not believe in conjecture. Do not believe in authority or teachers or elders. But after careful observation and analysis, when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it. BUDDHA
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