Don’t Neglect the Little Details: Coach Wooden’s Fundamentals for Success by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

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. Don’t neglect the little details. They determine your success.

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.  Don’t neglect  the little Details.

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.

Contact Madeline Frank for your next speaking engagement at mfrankviola@gmail.com

Take Responsibility for Your Time by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

Coach John Wooden, the winning-est coach in basketball always started and ended his practices on time

Lesson one: Coach Wooden “Never be late”: Take responsibility for your time

Coach always arrived early to practice to make sure everything was set up properly. Practice was for 2 to 2 ½ hours and Coach planned every minute of practice. His practice plans were reduced to a 3×5 cards and afterwards his assistant coach copied every practice session plan putting it in a notebook with all the other practice sessions to keep a record of it.

Coach Wooden did not waste time. He said, “I would privately review my notebook from the previous year’s practice for that exact day, looking for clues as to what had been effective and what did not work as well. In fact I regularly reviewed notes from two or three years back-sometimes more.” (“Wooden On leadership” by John Wooden & Steve Jamison)

His meetings with his assistant Coaches were timed too. He would also ask for their suggestions and try them out during practice. When their suggestions worked, they would be added for future practices!

Lesson two: Toastmasters Meetings Run by the Clock, on Time: Take responsibility for your time

At Toastmasters they watch the time. Meetings begin and end on time. Every minute of the meeting is timed. Speeches are also timed! The first time I visited a Toastmasters Club they handed me an “Agenda” with the time the meeting was to start, how many minutes each portion of the meeting was to be, and what time the meeting would end. Toastmasters’ is an organization that helps “members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.” Toastmasters teaches you to “take responsibility for your time”. Visit a Toastmaster club near you to see a timed Toastmasters meeting.

Lesson three: Being on Time:

Businesses have to run on time to stay in business. Employees are being paid to be good team members who are dependable, disciplined; experts in their field, and must arrive at work on time. They also have a positive attitude, a respect for others, and an appreciation for their time too! Businesses and employees take responsibility for their time.

Tardy Employees Lose Money at a Business: You have heard the saying “Time is money”. At a company I was asked to consult with, employees were arriving late to work and leaving early. These employees were cheating the company each day of money and time. Work was not being completed and other employees could not depend on these delinquent team members. Moral was not good, Companies can go under because of this employee negligent behavior. Managers at the company had done performance reviews of these tardy employees separately and had asked questions to try to correct the situation. It was not working.

I read an article by Zig Ziglar, a motivational expert and mentor to Dr. John Maxwell, of how he had helped a company with similar problems correct the situation by having them announce to their employees that they would be installing “time clocks”. Zig Ziglar said after a month the new “time clocks” were working well and productivity, teamwork, and attitude had improved. After the time clocks were installed, Managers did evaluation reports on the tardy employees weekly, to make them accountable and charge their behavior.

Zig Ziglar “Changed the Picture”: Take responsibility for your time

Zig Ziglar had changed the picture at this company by helping them install time clocks in order for his employees to receive their paychecks. By doing this employees became productive, had an improved attitude, did better work, completed assignments on time, and became responsible and accountable for their time on the job.

After reading Zig Ziglar’s article I suggested to the company I was assisting that they announce at a meeting that they were installing “time clocks” and each employee was to sign in and sign out each day. After the time clocks were in operation and the company employees had been signing in and out for a month the employees were more productive, had a positive attitude, and became more responsible and accountable for their work. Managers were also doing evaluation reports on the tardy employees weekly as a reminder to them.

Concerts and Rehearsal Begin and End On Time:

As a musician playing the violin and viola, I have played concerts with Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls in concert and performed concerts as a soloist, with orchestra, playing in opera or ballet orchestras, and in chamber groups around the world. The timing in every piece is important. Concerts and rehearsals must begin and end on time. Each piece must be timed to the minute.

In fact as a musician I always arrive early to warm up and get ready before the rehearsal or concert begins. In running any business it is imperative that employees show up on time and leave on time each day. Time management is a must in every part of your life. Without managing your time there is no discipline. Take responsibility for your time.

What one thing can you do to “take responsibility for your time” every day?

Like Coach Wooden and Toastmasters, plan every minute of your workday and your family time in advance and put it on your schedule. Stick to your schedule and take responsibility for your time.

Rabbi Harold Kushner and Senator Paul Tsongas said, “Nobody on their death bed has ever said, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.” Let your legacy be that you spent quality-focused time with your family and made sure your business was successful too. Take responsibility for your time!

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. Contact Madeline Frank for your next speaking engagement at

mfrankviola@gmail.com