In 2006, I wrote a book titled Make your Life a Masterpiece. It was to celebrate Canada Wide Media's 30th anniversary, and includes many stories from our staff who really are the masterpieces behind our success.
John Wooden, coach at the UCLA Recreational Sports Center passed away on June 4, 2010, just a few months before his 100th birthday. He led UCLA to an unprecedented 10 national championships, and had an 88-game winning streak.
Having read many of his books on leadership, and learning about one of his famous quotes, "Make each day your masterpiece" – which, incidentally, was the motivation to write Make Your Life a Masterpiece – John told a story about watching his players in practice, and realizing they were not giving a 100 percent. So one day he pulled them aside and said:
"I know you're tired, and perhaps didn't do well on an exam, or maybe, your girlfriend broke up with you. I see that you're only giving me about half today.
"I know you're thinking that tomorrow you'll give 150 percent; but you can't give 150 percent, you can only give 100 percent.
"What you leave on the table today, you leave for good."
That's good enough for me... to live every day as though it was your last. One day you'll be right, and you don't want to leave anything on the table.
You can Google books written by John Wooden - most of them are still available, and would be a great addition to your library.
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
"Never mistake activity for achievement."
"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."
"Be prepared and be honest."
"Be quick, but don't hurry."
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character."
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."
"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
"Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts."
