Page 70 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Wooden on Leadership
52
Confidence must be monitored so that it does not spoil or rot
and turn to arrogance. Arrogance, or elitism, is the feeling of su-
periority that fosters the assumption that past success will be re-
peated without the same hard effort that brought it about in the
first place. Thus, I have never gone into a game assuming victory.
All opponents have been respected, none feared. I taught those
under my supervision to do the same. In fact, the quality of our op-
ponent had nothing to do with my own Confidence.
The other team was not part of my equation. Rather, I drew
strength, Confidence, from the sure knowledge that I had done all
things possible to prepare myself and our team to perform at our
highest level in competition. The opponent might perform at a
higher level—or not. I didn’t concern myself with the other team’s
preparation and potential; I just concentrated on ours.
Success requires Poise and Confidence. They come with proper
preparation. Acquiring the personal characteristics and values of
the Pyramid, I believe, constitutes proper preparation. When you
have made the effort to prepare to the fullest extent of your
ability—and do not underestimate the great challenge of proper
and complete preparation—you will reap the crowning block of
the Pyramid of Success.

COMPETITIVE GREATNESS
For more than half a century I have defined Competitive Greatness
as follows: “A real love for the hard battle, knowing it offers the op-
portunity to be at your best when your best
“A true competitor loves
is required.”
the battle.”
The great competitors I have played for,
coached, and admired have shared a joy derived from the struggle
itself—the journey, the contest. They have done so because only in
that supreme effort is there an opportunity to summon your best,