Leadership is a life-changing skill. Master it, and you can do nearly anything. Here are 15 timeless lessons from John Wooden, one of history’s greatest leaders: 1. Big talkers and little doers Don’t tell people what you can do. Instead, show them what you can do. Too many people are “big talkers” and “littler doers.” If you want to be your best, be the opposite. 2. Your Ford vs. their Chevy Let’s say you’re building a Ford. Don’t compare it to someone else’s Chevy. All you can do is build the best Ford possible. Comparison impedes competency. Focus all your time and attention on building your best “Ford” and be proud of that effort. 3. How to change the world Many people say they want to “change the world.” If you want to make a difference in the world, start by changing yourself. Good role models are difference-makers. The best way to do good is to be good. 4. Character creates longevity Ability may get you to the top of your field, but character is required to stay there. It’s easy to relax after reaching a goal. Avoid this complacency at all costs. Have the self-discipline to stay the course. 5. Learn forever, die tomorrow Learn like you’ll live forever, seek wisdom each day. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow, relishing every minute of your life and taking nothing for granted. 6. Preparation is the prize Satisfaction comes from preparation, not an outcome. The process is the prize, not a score or trophy. Prepare well and execute to the best of your ability — that’s all you control. 7. Failures vs. mistakes Failures are different from mistakes. Mistakes are mishaps you make along the path of doing something. Failure is not giving your full effort. Only you can judge if you failed. You can fool everyone else. 8. The infection of success Your past doesn’t guarantee your future. Some people believe success will just repeat itself, but that’s not true. If you believe this, you are “infected” with success. The truth is, success must be continuously earned. Learn from the past, but don’t live in the past. 9. Never live in hindsight Second guessing is wasted effort. Look back to learn, not to dwell. Your decisions won’t always work out — that’s life. Complaining about it wastes your time. Complaining to others wastes their time. 10. Be a realistic optimist Your goals should be difficult but attainable. Easy goals give little personal satisfaction. Idealistic goals end up discouraging people. The balance is being a realistic optimist. Set difficult goals still within reach. 11. Winners make the most mistakes Mistakes come from doing things. Success also comes from doing things. If you want to live mistake-free, do nothing. If you want to win, go out and make mistakes. 12. Learn the trade, not the tricks Some people chase “tricks of the trade.” If you spend all your time doing this, you’ll never master the trade itself. If you’re looking for a shortcut, there isn’t one. Shortcuts may work for a while, but not for long. 13. Failure to change is fatal Failure to change is stubbornness. It comes from an unwillingness to learn. There cannot be progress without change. One failure probably won’t be fatal, but failure to realize you must evolve will be. 14. Determine your own final score You determine the “final score.” Not some arbitrary scoreboard. Focus on improving not comparing, then accept the results that come after that. 15. The guaranteed dividend Hard work pays dividends. The dividend is not outscoring an opponent. The dividend is knowing you did everything you could to bring forth your potential. This is the only dividend in life that’s guaranteed. --- Wooden won 10 championships as UCLA’s men’s basketball coach and shares an award with Mother Teresa. His Pyramid of Success has impacted teams and organizations around the world. Wooden passed away in 2010, but through his books and interviews, he's left a lifetime of wisdom we can study. --- Thanks for reading. I hope you found this valuable. Follow @TMitrosilis for more content like this.