Core Values: Part Two, The Foundations

In the last posting, we talked about the importance of core values in not only our daily lives but also in our commitment to our health and fitness. As I mentioned, one cannot really enjoy the quality of their career or relationships without having a long, healthy life.


Therefore, a strong set of core values with not only give us a successful life, but, though this commitment to our healthy, the key to enjoy it. One of UCLA’s greatest coaches, John Wooden, gave his players the Pyramid of Success to help them consider their core values.


Industriousness: There are two aspect of this core value, Hard Work and Planning. Hard work will also pay off in success. When we are younger, we may think that we want to be better than all the competition. As we get older, this can often mature to the idea that we want to be the best that we can be. In sports and fitness, as well just about everything in life, we may have to accept that there are certain physical limitations to being “the best” but there are never limits to being the best that we can be. However, you cannot really be industrious without proper planning. No matter how hard you work, if you haven’t planned it out, you could end up being inefficient.


Enthusiasm: If we consider our work drudgery we will not be truly successful, no matter how much effort we put into it. Peaks and valleys in our enthusiasm should also be avoided. Quiet enthusiasm will gain the respect of others.


Friendship: We can accomplish so much more when we work together. Coach Wooden believed that friendship is doing for others as they do for us. Friends help each other, not use each other.


Cooperation: Cooperation is working with others for the benefit of all. If our actions don’t benefit everyone, including ourselves, then we are not truly cooperating. Working as a team makes us all stronger.


Loyalty: Loyalty is knowing that those we are working with will help us out when we hit a tight spot. It will give us the confidence to try something more challenging without fear of failure.


These five values make up the foundation of the Pyramid of Success. They provide a strong base to the higher level values with move one toward accomplishment. BOOTCAMP 619 promotes these ideas in our fitness plans. Check out the next posting for more on Coach Wooden’s highest levels of success.