John Wooden was the men’s basketball coach at the University of California at Los Angeles. His teams won 10 NCAA National Championships in the space of 12 years, including 88 straight games. He was named the coach of the century by ESPN. John Wooden ended his UCLA coaching career with a 620–147 overall record and a winning percentage of .808.

After seeing other leadership thought leaders mention John Wooden and seeing Wooden’s Pyramid of Success on Ted Lasso’s wall, I decided to learn more about him. He has written 13 books on basketball, personal success, and organizational leadership. The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership written by John Wooden and Steve Jamison was fantastic. John Wooden had grit and coached teams that had grit. Here are five quotes I found compelling from the book.

Adversity usually accompanies achievement. There is a price to pay. Goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile or long-lasting.

The Four Laws of Learning:

1. Explanation

2. Demonstration

3. Imitation (correction when necessary)

4. Repetition

The individual or team with consistently applied effort and concentration—ongoing intensity—will defeat the emotional and inconsistent opponent.

Passion is unsustainable over the long term. Success is a long-term process even when it’s just 60 minutes on a clock on a basketball court… Passion is temporary.

Ten Team Tips:

1. Be thinking at all times.

2. If you do your best, never lose your temper, and never be out-fought or out-hustled, you’ll have nothing to worry about.

3. Without faith and courage, you are lost.

4. Have respect for, without fear of, every opponent, and confidence with cockiness in regard to yourself.

5. Never be a spectator. Be in the fight at all times.

6. Unselfish team play and team spirit are tow of the foremost essentials for our success.

7. We have tough battles ahead. Enjoy the thrill of being in a hard fight.

8. Never stoop to playing dirty—play hard and don’t complain.

9. Be sure to acknowledge and give credit to a teammate who hits you with a scoring pass or any fine play he may make.

10. Be a competitor. When the going gets tough, really get going.

Conclusion

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Use John Wooden’s quotes to grow your grit and inspire you to go on the offensive.