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

Joshua Wooden’s Definition of Success

My dad, Joshua, had great influence on my own personal definition of success, and it has little to do with fortune or fame. Although I probably didn’t really understand it at the time, one of the things he tried to get across to me was that I should never try to be better than someone else. Then he always added, “But Johnny, never cease trying to be the best you can be. That is under your control. The other isn’t.”

You have little say over how big or how strong or how smart or rich someone else may be. You do have, at least you should have, control of yourself and the effort you give toward bringing out your best in whatever you’re doing. This effort must be total, and when it is, I believe you have achieved ...