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

Coach Wooden’s Response to Adversity by Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM

No matter how difficult the circumstances, Coach Wooden endured to earn the title of the "Winning-est" basketball coach of all time.

Lesson #1: Who said life was fair; I will still make it great.

Lessons on adversity:

While Coach Wooden was growing up, his family endured the loss of two sisters. Wooden's parents placed their faith in God, and they “persevered”. 

Later, Wooden's father lost the family farm due to an illness that wiped out his hogs, and drought that killed the crops. His dad, Hugh Wooden, never winced. He understood that “blaming, cursing, hating doesn’t help you. It hurts you.” 

John Wooden understood that “whining; complaining, and excuses didn't accomplish anything.” No matter what happens on the court or off, “what you do is more important than what you say you’ll do.”

No matter what happens make the best of it:

When Coach Wooden accepted the Coaching position in 1948 for the UCLA’s Bruins the Men’s Gym was used by all the schools other teams and was small and inadequate.

Coach Wooden did not “whine or complain” about it. He did the very best he could with the situation he was handed. He held practices at the Men’s Gym. For the Bruins games, Coach moved them to larger facilities in Los Angeles - the Pan Pacific Auditorium, the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, and to other facilities.

UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion was built 17 years later in 1965.

Lesson #2: Carefully select your words.

The words you choose to live with are an extension of your integrity.

When John and his older brother Maurice were in the barn messing around, “Maurice grabbed a pitchfork and flipped a pile of manure at John’s face. John lunged at Maurice in anger and cursed at him. Their father, had been standing nearby, but instead of reproaching Maurice for instigating the fight, he came down on John for his foul language.”

In the Wooden household profanity was forbidden. Hugh never swore and “made sure John understood the severity of his transgression. Hugh whipped” John “with a switch.”  Coach said, “It was the only time I remember him using it.” (“Wooden: A Coaches Life" by Seth Davis)

After that lesson John never used profanity, and he was fond of reminding other coaches that you don’t need to use profanity to motivate players.

So what did Coach Wooden say when he was really angry? “Goodness gracious, sakes alive!”

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Lesson #3: When something goes right leaders give others the credit. Leaders accept the blame when something goes wrong!  

Coach Wooden modeled how great leadership is “the sharing of ideas, information, creativity, responsibilities, and tasks.” He listened carefully during his meetings with assistant coaches for new ideas on how do something better during practice. If the idea worked he would implement it and give the assistant coach credit for it.

When one of Coach Wooden’s basketball players made a suggestion in private and Coach used the idea, and it was a success, Coach would give the player credit for it.

Coach said, “The only thing not to be shared is blame.” Leaders that are strong “accept blame, and give credit, when deserved to others.”

In 1974 during the NCAA semifinals, the UCLA Bruins were favored to win, but lost to North Carolina State. Coach Wooden accepted “full responsibility for that game, saying that his failure to call a timeout and make adjustments was the reason for the loss.” 

(“Be Quick-But Don’t Hurry” by Andrew Hill and John Wooden)

“When a player scored in a game, Coach encouraged him to give a nod to the teammate who had given him the pass or set a pick for him.” (“A Game Plan for Life” by John Wooden and Don Yaeger)

Coach Wooden modeled on a daily basis how to handle adversity to his students, coaches, family members and friends for over 70 years. He knew life would always throw obstacles in your path. He never “whined, complained, blamed or used profanity”. Coach made the best of what he had, accepted blame when things went wrong and gave the credit to others.

By following Coach Wooden’s 3 lessons for responding to adversity, you too will be able to handle any adversity thrown your way! 

Our next blog in our series on Coach Wooden’s philosophies and teachings will focus on his foundations for success.

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