Success Building Blocks: Condition

John Wooden was arguably the best coach in the history of college basketball. He developed the Pyramid of Success, a wonderful tool to succeed BIGG in any endeavor you choose.

So far, we’ve discussed the bottom two rows of his Pyramid. Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, and Enthusiasm form the foundation. The second row consists of Self-control, Alertness, Initiative, and Intentness.

Now we’ll move to the three blocks that form the heart of the Pyramid, starting with the block on the far left of the third row.

Condition

This block sits on the left hand side of the middle row, on top of Self-Control and Alertness. Wooden emphasized to his athletes that physical conditioning wasn’t enough. They had to also prepare mentally and show moral restraint. So it is with us – we have to nourish our bodies, our minds, and our souls to be at the top of our game.

On the physical side, it’s a blend of proper rest with a regular exercise regimen and a healthy diet. On the mental side, seek to learn at least one new thing every day. Also learn how to be mentally tough so you can withstand the inevitable ups and downs.

Wooden told his young men that their condition depended on two things – how hard they worked at practice and how well they behaved when they weren’t practicing. Sounds like a great formula for all of us, doesn’t it?

Explore all of the success building blocks

Industriousness
Enthusiasm
Friendship
Cooperation
Loyalty
Self-control
Intentness
Alertness
Initiative
Condition
Team Spirit
Skill
Poise
Confidence
Competitive Greatness