"It isn't what you do, but how you do it." —John Wooden.

Every now and then there comes a person who transcends labels, boundaries, and even time itself.

It’s a special quality—transcendence—that very few people ever actually attain.

John Wooden was such a man. He was just that—a man, but he had a special gift.

I’m not referring to his ability to draw up plays, win games, or motivate players; he had a gift for touching peoples’ lives.

No doubt, there will be countless articles filled with the records and accomplishments Coach Wooden achieved in his unparalleled coaching career. Those things are all impressive without question, but what set John Wooden apart was not what he accomplished but how he did it.

At the center of everything Coach Wooden did was the Pyramid of Success. It was the code by which he lived his life, and it’s the code he taught his players to live by.

The Pyramid of Success is comprised of 15 character qualities.  On one side of the pyramid is faith, and on the other side is patience. Using the pyramid as a guide, Wooden believed anyone could achieve success in life.

John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.

Those 15 qualities: industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, enthusiasm, self-control, alertness, initiative, intentness, condition, skill, team spirit, poise, confidence, and competitive greatness (along with faith and patience) guided John Wooden for 99 years.

They allowed him to transcend the game of basketball to become a beloved figure to people of every age, race, gender, and social class.

His books hold keys that have guided everyday people and world leaders alike.

How did he remain relevant, not only in sports, but also as a social figure, long after he retired from coaching?

It's simple. He did it the right way—it was never as much about the ends as it was about the means.

John Wooden’s life may have come to an end, but his legacy lives on in the thousands of people he touched.

  “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” —John Wooden.