“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”
He led UCLA to 10 national championships.
The basketball teams he coached won 88 games in a row.
Colleges have been named after him, and the players who played under him cited him as a top influence in their lives. He’s been an in-demand speakers for many different prestigious organizations.
He’s worth paying attention to, not just as one of the most successful basketball coaches of all time, but as one of the most successful individuals of all time.
At age 99, coach John Wooden has passed recently passed on, but has left hundreds of lives changed by the mark of excellence he left on them.
His pyramid of success alone is worth printing out, viewing daily, and living by. Unfortunately, due to the constraints of this post, I am going to let you view that on your own. What I want to share with you is some of the success quotes and self help motivation maxims he has left for those of us who continue on the journey of success and personal excellence. (All success quotes shared in this article are directly from coach John Wooden)
Self Help Motivation Maxim #1: Be True To Yourself
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
Once you have determined your personal core values, it’s vital that you live in line with those values to the best of your ability. The more integrity you have, the more confidence you will eminate, and the more others will trust you and want to do business with you.
Self Help Motivation Maxim #2: Make Each Day Your Masterpiece
“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of being.”
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. ”
Dedicate yourself to the practice of CANI, as Tony Robbins terms it. Constant and never-ending improvement. It’s so true that the little things make the biggest difference over the long haul. There is no such thing as overnight success. You may not think that your personal circle of influence is that significant, but it makes all the difference. By making each day a masterpiece, you are increasing your chances of getting lucky.
Self Help Motivation Maxim #3: Help Others
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
Some of the greatest leaders in business and in life are the ones who value and respect those around them. What are your beliefs and attitudes toward people? Do you understand that there are good and bad qualities in everyone, but do you aspire to believe the best about them? The more that you can practice true service toward others, the more you will be setting yourself apart from masses of others who only care about what’s in life for themselves.
Self Help Motivation Maxim #4: Drink Deeply From Good Books, Especially the Bible
“Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.”
What are you feeding your brain? (By the way, feel free to stop by my own Feed the Brain, where I have put together some of my best reading from across the internet). Are you reading some of the classic self-help books of all time?Here are some favorite books of mine that have taken me to where I am: today:
The Psychology of Achievement: Develop the Top Achiever’s Mindset
Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!
How to Find Your Mission in Life
What are you currently reading? Do you have a personal development plan in place for consistent reading and studying?
Self Help Motivation Maxim #5: Make Friendship A Fine Art
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
“Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.”
You can achieve all sorts of material success, but it’s the relationships you nurture that go way beyond success to significance. For some more tips on making friends, check out this article at my other personal development blog, written by Celestine Chua. And for maintaining those friendships, I recommend that you stop by Mike King’s blog, Learn This, for more great relationship tips.
Self Help Motivation Maxim #6: Build A Shelter Against A Rainy Day
“Ability is a poor man’s wealth.”
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”
Your natural talents, strengths, and abilities are your best resources. If you don’t believe me, check out Jay Abraham’s book, Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got: 21 Ways You Can Out-Think, Out-Perform, and Out-Earn the Competition
Self Help Motivation Maxim #7: Pray For Guidance And Give Thanks For Your Blessings Every Day
“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.”
“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.”