Tie Your Shoe

When you joined John Wooden's basketball team, your first lesson wasn't about dribbling, shooting, or defensive stances. It was about putting on your shoes.

John Robert Wooden was an American basketball coach and player. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood," he won an unprecedented ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins, including a record seven in a row.

"First, put your socks on slowly with care, smoothing them over your toes," the coach instructed. The seniors followed diligently, hanging on his every word. "Now, move your socks up here...and here...smooth out all the wrinkles...nice and tight...take your time," Wooden intoned, like some far-out Zen master teaching the sacred art of making tea as a path to enlightenment. "Then lace your shoes from the bottom, carefully, slowly, getting each pass nice and tight...snug! snug! snug! snug!"

The lesson went beyond the act of tying a shoe. It was about creating habits of doing things right, with precision and attention to detail. This was Wooden's approach to all aspects of the game – methodical and meticulous, followed by repetition to ingrain habits into daily life.

Think about where you can apply this same approach in your life. Where can you improve your processes? Where do you feel you can create rituals and add structure so that your days flow more smoothly? What are the small things you can enhance in your day-to-day routine that will pay exponential dividends long-term?

The greatest heights are scaled one careful step at a time. Master the fundamentals through dedication to each minute detail. That's the path – will you lace up and follow it?