"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
- John Wooden
POINT TO PONDER: Looking to be successful. Take heed of the advice from a legendary basketball coach, John Wooden. Why listen to Wooden's simple words; maybe because he's proven to be a winner. John Wooden was the first person to be enshrined in the basketball hall of fame as both player and a coach. His collegiate winning percentage stands at .802 (664-162). His 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12 year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.
Why was John Wooden so successful? He understood what was truly important in life and sought to live a balanced life. Wooden once said, "I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior."
Wooden advises that one is to be humble with success, because talent is a gift from God, not from one's own creation or choosing. Wooden also admonishes that one's fame is subject to the approval of his fellow men and women. Since fame is bestowed upon someone from others, one must be thankful for the gifts that God has given to them and for the recognition of their gifts by others. Wooden counsels that conceit comes from within. Conceit will eventually erode the fame and cripple the talent that was once bestowed upon a successful person. Since a conceited person fails to recognize that talent is God given and fame is man-given, they begin to turn their back on the sources (God and others) which created and fostered their success.
Today, look within and identify the talents that God has bestowed upon you. Recognize that these gifts are from God. Be thankful for your unique gifts! Your gift back to God is the perfection of the gifts (talents) he has given to you.
In closing, I want to share with you John Wooden's Seven Point Creed for living, which was given to him by his father when he was young. It is quite apparent that John Wooden has lived this creed both on and off the court.
- John Wooden
POINT TO PONDER: Looking to be successful. Take heed of the advice from a legendary basketball coach, John Wooden. Why listen to Wooden's simple words; maybe because he's proven to be a winner. John Wooden was the first person to be enshrined in the basketball hall of fame as both player and a coach. His collegiate winning percentage stands at .802 (664-162). His 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12 year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.
Why was John Wooden so successful? He understood what was truly important in life and sought to live a balanced life. Wooden once said, "I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior."
Wooden advises that one is to be humble with success, because talent is a gift from God, not from one's own creation or choosing. Wooden also admonishes that one's fame is subject to the approval of his fellow men and women. Since fame is bestowed upon someone from others, one must be thankful for the gifts that God has given to them and for the recognition of their gifts by others. Wooden counsels that conceit comes from within. Conceit will eventually erode the fame and cripple the talent that was once bestowed upon a successful person. Since a conceited person fails to recognize that talent is God given and fame is man-given, they begin to turn their back on the sources (God and others) which created and fostered their success.
Today, look within and identify the talents that God has bestowed upon you. Recognize that these gifts are from God. Be thankful for your unique gifts! Your gift back to God is the perfection of the gifts (talents) he has given to you.
In closing, I want to share with you John Wooden's Seven Point Creed for living, which was given to him by his father when he was young. It is quite apparent that John Wooden has lived this creed both on and off the court.
You want to become a winner in the game of life, listen to what Coach Wooden has to say and follow his game plan!
SEVEN POINT CREED FOR LIVING:
Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
It's your life: Live it, Love it, & Celebrate it!
MJD
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