Doing Your Best

"Did I succeed? Yes, but only because I can look at myself in the mirror and honestly say, 'I did my best—near 100 percent—to become the best of which I was capable.' I am proud of my effort and derive the greatest satisfaction from it."

– John Wooden, legendary basketball coach

I’ve always admired advice from coaches who’ve stood the test of time. John Wooden coached basketball for 42 years, refining his approach to coaching into a fine art. His guidance—both in basketball and in life—was simple, actionable, and free of gimmicks or “hacks.”

At the core of Wooden’s philosophy was his definition of success. For him, success wasn’t determined by the scoreboard but by the quality of effort. His greatest satisfaction came not from the final score but from knowing his team gave their absolute best. When you prioritize effort, the outcome—win or lose—becomes secondary. As baseball player George Moriarty once said:

"Giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from victory."

If you prepare impeccably, give everything you have during the game (or race), and still come up short, that’s okay. There’s nothing to regret. You can hold your head high as you walk off the court or cross the finish line, knowing you gave it your all.

So, if success isn’t based on whether we win, when do we truly fail? Wooden had insight on that as well:

"You are not a failure until you start blaming others for your weaknesses and mistakes."

Well said, Coach Wooden.

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles