100 Ways to Motivate Others

84. Hold on to Principle

In matters of style, swim with the current;

In matters of principle, stand like a rock.

—Thomas Jefferson

“Discipline yourself, and others won’t need to,” Coach John Wooden would tell his players. “Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal,” and “Earn the right to be proud and confident.”

We’re starting to learn why John Wooden was the most successful college basketball coach of all time. No one has ever even come close. No one has ever motivated his athletes so superbly as Wooden.

Rick Reilly, the talented sportswriter, recalls:

If you played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity, and you’re done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect. Coach Wooden believed ...