Help Others | John Wooden

All credit of this article goes to Pat Williams and his book, Coach Wooden.  He breaks down Coach Wooden’s seven-point creed that was given to him by his father when he graduated from elementary school.  Many attribute a large part of his success to this creed and his ability to live it out daily.

The 2^nd creed is ‘Help Other.’  Below are quotes and passages from that 2^nd chapter.

- You can read about the 1st creed, 'be true to yourself,' here.

One, make sure you always have better players than the team you play.  Two, make sure that your players put the team above themselves.  Three – and this is a very important point – always practice simplicity with constant repetition, and you will be successful.’
- Advice given to coach Dale Brown from Coach John Wooden

If one cannot be used, it only means that one is useless.’
- Maya Angelou

‘Coach Wooden believes he was born to influence and serve young people.  That’s why Coach has such a purpose and meaning in his life.  He fulfills it every day.’

- Frank Arnold

The Dirty Shoulders Principle
In a figurative sense, all great people have dirty shoulders.  People of true greatness are always lifting others up and letting them stand tall on their own shoulders.  They don’t care who gets the credit.  They don’t mind if their own shoulders get dirty.  They just want to life other people up.
- Gil McGregor

‘Find some dirty windows and wash them.  Find a neighbor’s lawn and mow it.  Clen up the mess, even if you didn’t make it.  Read to a child.  Find some people to help, and serve them.’
- Gil McGregor