Coach John Wooden had his players feet measured “right and left” by his
trainer, ”to ensure that newly issued sneakers fit properly. He wanted no
slippage.” Coach began working with his players “from the ground up” “feet
first”. (“Wooden On leadership” by John Wooden & Steve Jamison)
Coach Wooden, the winning-est coach of all time in basketball said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
Coach’s First lesson: Putting on Your Socks
and Shoes to Avoid Blisters
Coach Wooden’s first lesson for his basketball
students was putting on their socks and shoes properly. Coach said, “You know
basketball is a game that’s played on a hardwood floor. And to be good, you
have to …change your direction, change your pace. That’s hard on your feet.
Your feet are very important. And if you don’t have every wrinkle out of your
sock… you get blisters, and those blisters are going to make you lose playing
time, and if you’re good enough, your loss of playing time might get the coach
fired.”
Coach would instruct his students by having a student sit down
in front of the group and Coach “took the athletic sock and started to put it
on” the students’ foot. Coach Wooden, “Now pull it up in the back, pull it up
real good, real strong. Now run your hand around the little toe area…make sure
there are no wrinkles and then pull it back up. Check the heel area. We don’t
want any sign of a wrinkle about it.” Don't neglect the little details.
Coach then took out an Athletic shoe. He said, “Now put it in
wide, now pull it up. Now don’t grab these lines up here, go down, eyelet by
eyelet.. each one, that’s it. Now pull it in there…Tie it like this… There’s
always a danger of becoming untied when you are playing. If they become untied,
I may have to take you out of the game-practice, I may have to take you out.
Miss practice, you’re going to miss playing time and not only that, it will
irritate me a little too.” Coach then talked him “through double –tying his
shoelaces so they wouldn’t come” untied. Don't neglect the little details.
From the Ground Up: Don't neglect the little details.
For your success in life you want your shoes to fit properly,
your socks or hose to be “smooth without wrinkles” without small rocks in them
to cause blisters. You want to move comfortably to do your best work.
Second lesson: First Impressions: Coach Wooden insisted on
“a neat clean appearance”.
He said, “I want players to practice with their shirttails in,
their socks pulled up and I want a neat, clean appearance. Some don’t think
that will make them better basketball players, I do. If they can discipline
themselves in this regard, they can do the same when we get down to the
fundamentals of basketball.”
First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions in Life & in Business
Coach Wooden said his players were representing the UCLA Bruins
and he wanted them to make a good first impression.
My Grandmother, Belle S. Frank, a women's clothes buyer for a
department store for over 20 years, said it best, "Look in the mirror;
what do you see?"
If she did not like the cloths you had chosen, she would help
you find other clothes to change into. If your hair wasn’t combed and you were
not standing up straight she would remind you. To Grandmother it was important
to dress and look your best at all times. She wanted you to be proud of your
appearance. Grandmother never neglected the little details. She knew they were "vital" to your success.
Before you leave your house take a look at yourself in the
mirror and make sure you look your best.
Third lesson: Coach’s Half Time Snacks:
Healthy Foods for Your Body
Coach Wooden made sure his students had healthy energy snacks to eat to improve their energy. Originally Coach gave his players small pieces of chocolate, but
this created phlegm in his players’ windpipes. So instead during half time at
games, Coach provided orange slices for energy and had his players put the
rinds in the wastebasket he provided.
During half time at basketball and football games, players today
are still given orange halves to keep them hydrated with vitamin C, as well as
other healthy snacks.
Eating healthy fruits and vegetables helps us to look and feel
our best and have the energy to do our best work.
In Business don't neglect the little details.
Experts say 96 percent of businesses
fail. Not managing your cash and not paying your
bills are major reasons why businesses fail. To increase your companies
probability for success cut your company expenses by 10%. Don't neglect the little details in your business.
Below are three little details to
remember for your success in your business and in your life: Don't neglect the little details.
1) Leader’s have to
keep a “discerning eye” on their businesses and look from the ground up to see
if something doesn’t look right whether it’s business cost over runs, morale
problems or something else. They have to be watching over their employees like
Coach Wooden does to be sure his student’s shoes are still tied. Leaders have
to fix the problem. Coach Wooden made sure “the sock is smooth without
wrinkles” like the balance line on a budget. In business look at your bottom
line to see if you need to trim excess costs down by 10% to improve your
business to keep it fine-tuned.
2) When hiring for your company team, make sure the person is a
“good fit” for your company. Just like Coach Wooden made sure from the ground
up, that his students feet, left and right, were measured properly as one foot
is usually a little bigger than the other. Coach wanted his students athletic
shoes to fit them properly. In business make sure that the person you hire is a
“good fit” for your company; he or she has the necessary qualifications,
training, attitude, and makes a good first impression.
3) Just like Coach Wooden had his students eating healthy foods
to be hydrated and energized during half time at the game it’s important for
you to keep your body energized with healthy fruits, vegetables, and other
foods to do your best work.
As Coach Wooden said, “It’s the little
details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
For a balanced life, don't neglect the little details. What one little detail can you change in your business to improve it?
Remember don't neglect the little details. They determine your success. Everyday
add a new Coach Wooden lesson or behavior to your tools for success!
Please
write and share your thoughts on this Coach Wooden article at
mfrankviola@gmail.com
Our next blog on Coach Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” will
feature his second tier of his Pyramid “Self-Control”,
“Alertness”, Initiative”, and “Intent.” Until next time “Make everyday your
masterpiece”.
Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an award winning teacher,
Amazon.com Best Selling Author, 2017 Coach Wooden Certificate of Excellence,
John Maxwell Team Member, Certified World Class Speaking Coach, sought after
speaker, business owner, and concert artist. She helps businesses and
organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations
show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business
successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly article
& Musical Tips Blog" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One
Minute Musical Radio Show". Her book "Leadership On A Shoestring
Budget" is available on Amazon or Kindle.