John R. Wooden's Pyramid of Success For John Robert Wooden,
'being at your best when your best was needed' was just as
important in the game of life as it was in the game of
basketball. Coach Wooden's 'Pyramid of Success' is his 15
building block initiative in the form of a pyramid. The
cornerstones were Industriousness and Enthusiasm, climbing to
such strived-for human traits as Intentness, Team Spirit, Poise
and Confidence, all leading to the top of the pyramid to reach
the ultimate goal of Competitive Greatness. Just as Coach Wooden
will forever be in the sports history books for leading UCLA's
men's basketball teams to 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years
(1964-75), his 'Pyramid of Success' has set the standard for
corporate leaders in the business world and for many of us in
the world of life. The Pyramid's Beginning Throughout his early
years, even in high school, Coach Wooden was unsure about the
definition of the word 'success'. What did it mean? In 1934, as
a 24 year-old high school coach in Dayton, KY,