Happy Birthday John Wooden
Posted by Tom Humbarger on October 14, 2009
John Wooden on his 96th Birthday - from Wikipedia
Today is Coach John Wooden’s 99th birthday.
John Wooden is well-known as the UCLA basketball coach from 1948 to 1975, and for the basketball dynasty he created by winning 10 NCAA titles during a 12-year stretch from 1963 to 1975. He has written several books, and his latest one – “A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring with John Wooden” – is being released today.
In the LA Times today, writer Mike Penner wrote 99 things you may or may not know about John Wooden. This article is like a mini-biography and provides highlights of his life.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Mike’s article:
“Learn as if you were to live forever; live as if you were to die tomorrow.”
“Talent is God given; be humble. Fame is man given; be thankful. Conceit is self given; be careful.”
“Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.”
John Wooden is also famous for his Pyramid of Success which lists John’s 15 qualities of personal success. It took Coach Wooden over 15 years to fill in the boxes on his pyramid, and he views it as a ‘personal roadmap to pursuing, and at times, achieving Competitive Greatness.’ Wooden freely shares his pyramid, his wisdom and his approach to success. You can learn more about the Pyramid of Success and download a printable copy along with other resources from CoachWooden.com.
John Wooden Pyramid of Success from CoachWooden.com
Coach Wooden shared his philosophy on the difference between winning and success in this TED video in 2001.
You can send birthday wishes to Coach Wooden through this website. The goal is to have 9,999 people wish him happy birthday and they are just shy of 3,000 currently. Take minute today to reflect on Coach Wooden’s Pyramid and to learn just a little more about this great man.
6/5/10 Update – please see my tribute blog post to Coach John Wooden who passed away on June 4th, 2010 for more information on John Wooden.
John P. Lizarraga said
A Happy Birthday to the grearest coach ever. I remember you when I attended UCLA in 1949. many happy returns. John
Coach John Wooden Passes Away At Age 99 « Social Media Musings by Tom Humbarger said
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Coach John Wooden Passes Away At Age 99 : Today Topics said
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John Wooden's Pyramid of Success : Today Topics said
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My Blogging Scorecard for 2010 « Social Media Musings by Tom Humbarger said
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uk coaching said
A toast to you Mr Wooden