Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Pride as a Motivator

Pride is a better motivator than fear. I never wanted to teach through fear, punishment, or intimidation.

Fear may work in the short term to get people to do something, but over the long run I believe personal pride is a much greater motivator. It produces far better results that last for a much longer time.

Who would I prefer to work with, an individual who has great personal pride or one who is fearful of punishment? That’s an easy choice for me.

Remember, pride comes when you give respect.