Building Your Own Pyramid of Success, Part 1

In the world of sports, John Robert Wooden is considered one of the greatest NCAA basketball head coaches of all time. Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood”, he won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins, including a record seven in a row. No other team has won more than four in a row in Division I college men’s or women’s basketball. During that period, his teams won an NCAA men’s basketball record 88 consecutive games. Wooden won the prestigious Henry Iba Award as national coach of the year a record seven times and won the AP award five times. Wooden, who had also been a basketball player before he was a coach, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1960 and as a coach in 1973, the first person ever to be chosen in both categories.

In his sports career, Wooden built teams, an elite athletic program and a legacy that was cheered in the sports world.  But it was Wooden’s teachings – which extended far beyond the realm of sports – that made him a success guru.  Wooden, a master teacher, created his now renowned Pyramid of Success, which is still valid today. 

Pre-dating his Pyramid, Wooden’s father gave him a “Seven Point Creed” that he lived by and eventually expanded upon.  Those seven points were:

1. Be true to yourself.
2. Make each day your masterpiece.
3. Help others.
4. Drink deeply from good books, especially spiritual ones.
5. Make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day

These served as the foundation for what eventually became his Pyramid for Success.  It consists of 15 core and 10 secondary value positions that he considered key to success for any individual or organization.  And, their organization was symbolic.

Level 1 – The bottom level of the pyramid featured the following propositions from left to right:

1. Be industrious.  There is no substitute for work… do the work.  Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning. 
2. Offer friendship.  That comes from mutual respect, esteem and devotion.  Like in a marriage, it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort.
3. Be loyal.  Be steadfast and dedicated to yourself and all depending on you.  Keep your self-respect and integrity.
4. Offer cooperation.  Be cooperative with all levels of coworkers.  Listen if you want to be heard.  Be interested in finding the best way, not just having your way.  Display a servant attitude.
5. Show enthusiasm.  Truly enjoy what you are doing.  Your attitude is not random.  It is a conscious choice.  It brushes off on those with whom you come into contact.  In fact, it is contagious.

Note, the cornerstones — those that hold the weight of the pyramid — are enthusiasm and industriousness. Basically, hard work and attitude/excitement are the cornerstones of success. From there, the rest of the foundational level is about working with, supporting and being loyal to others.  For anyone leading a company, department or team, these five foundational stones show how important it is for every person on a team to be persistent, present, positive and personable.

Level 2 – Building upon a solid foundation, the next building blocks are the cornerstone of developing momentum towards a successful life.

• Self-control.  Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control.  Good judgment and common sense are essential.  You have to be able to avoid temptations that lure you away from your path, have the self-discipline to become a better person, and remain committed to taking action.
• Alertness.  Be observing constantly.  Stay open minded.  Be eager to learn and improve.  This is the opposite of tunnel vision, it’s the ability to remain tuned-in to your environment, and respond with good judgment. Successful people don’t isolate themselves, but are constantly aware and absorbing information around them.
• Initiative.  Cultivate the ability to make decisions and think alone.  Do not be afraid of failure, but learn from it.  Success isn’t handed to anyone. Sure, you will get help and support along the way, but you must be willing to take matters into your own hands, through discernment and careful planning.
• Intentness.  Set a realistic goal.  Concentrate on its achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent.  Keep going when times are tough. Having intent means persevering even when things are working against you.

Level 3 – These building blocks bridge the foundation and the higher levels.

1. Condition.  This is made of three components — mental, moral and physical condition. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered.  Moderation must be practiced.  Overindulgence must be eliminated.  Considering Wooden’s background as a basketball coach, this holistic approach is common sense. You have to have your mind, body, and heart aligned and cared for.
2. Skill.  A knowledge of and the ability to properly execute the fundamentals.  Be prepared and cover every little detail.  Ask yourself, what are your gifts? What can you learn to improve? Skill is the process of mastering different abilities, and knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
3. Team spirit.   Have a genuine consideration for others.  An eagerness to sacrifice the personal interests of glory for the welfare of all.  This goes one step further than cooperation. This is the willingness to sacrifice self-interests in order to benefit a greater cause — be it someone else, a team, company or even a transcendent form of service.

Level 4 – These two building blocks are near the peak of the pyramid:

1. Poise.  Just be yourself.  Be at ease in any situation.  Never fight yourself.  This is the ability to stay true to your values and your commitment when faced with challenging circumstances. It can also be described as self-respect or composure.
2. Confidence.  Have respect without fear.  This comes from being prepared and keeping all things in proper perspective.  This is the point of becoming certain of your abilities from relentless study, application, and development. This is a stage of excellence where true, abiding confidence becomes a natural byproduct. 

The Peak – The building block sitting at the top of the pyramid of success, is…

1. Competitive greatness.  Be at your best when your best is needed.  Enjoy a difficult challenge.  This form of greatness means being willing to take your place on the stage, and challenge yourself to become the greatest version of yourself.

Why are Core Values Important?

These are the values that Wooden felt were key to success.  But they don’t have to be the ones you espouse for yourself or your team.  But you should identify the core values you do champion.  Why?

Wooden understood that the people in any and every organization need to have foundational core values that help guide the mission, vision and purpose.  Having core values helps ensure each member of the organization, company or team — from the entry-level staffers to top executive — is working towards the same goals, functioning from the same standards and focused on the same bigger purpose.

Purpose and core values are undeniably critical for employee satisfaction.  In fact, a survey conducted by Nielsen found that 73% of purpose-oriented employees are satisfied in their jobs, compared to 64% who are not purpose-oriented.  And, purpose and core values don’t just improve employee satisfaction – they also increase the bottom line.  The same study found that 58% of companies with clearly articulated and understood purpose and core values experienced growth of +10%, compared to just 42% of companies that didn’t prioritize purpose and core values.  Ultimately, core values are critical for creating a long-lasting, successful, and motivating place to work.

Next week, we’ll look at Wooden’s additional 10 blocks by the sides of each layer.  These are what Wooden called “the mortar” of the pyramid. These inner values contribute to a successful person in any kind of organization.  The blocks on the left side are “The Force of the Human Spirit,” and the ones on the right side are “The Strength of Human Character.” At the top is what is known as “The Pinnacle”. If success is important to you, don’t miss it.

Quote of the Week

“Many companies claim they have core values, but typically what they’re referring to are generic beliefs: having integrity, making a profit, responding to customers and so on. These values only have meaning when they’re defined in terms of how people behave and are ranked to set priorities.” Ken Blanchard

© 2022, Keren Peters-Atkinson. All rights reserved.

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