The Pyramid of Success

The Pyramid of Success

John Wooden 

Block 1: Industriousness 
"There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning."

  Block one is trying to tell you that working hard can lead to success. It takes time and patience to get what you want because there will always be obstacles in the way. You are actively engaged or occupied in the goals you're trying to achieve. The definition of industriousness means constantly, obsolete, skillful, diligent or ingenious. These are some examples that can lead you to do the best for yourself and motivate your energy by getting involved. This quote, which is by John Wooden is telling you how success depends on hard work and enthusiasm. The only way you can be the best is when you are actually enjoying what you do. For example I want to become an Orthodontics so I have to major in certain areas that will lead me to becoming one. But if I decide to take different classes, I'm not enjoying nor accomplishing my goal. You can never force yourself to do something you don't want. I will apply this block into my life because I will find things that make me happy and work hard towards them. I encourage you to do the same thing and open new doors each day. 

Block 2: Enthusiasm
"It is the engine that powers all blocks of the Pyramid. It is why I chose Industriousness and Enthusiasm as the cornerstones of my Pyramid of Success. It is where everything begins."
       What comes to your mind when you hear the word enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means to have intense and eager enjoyment. We should always be happy because this will motivate you to do better and achieve more goals. Enthusiasm is the start of everything because without it, you get lost. Anyone can motivate you whether it's a friend, family member, or even your pets. Don't be that dull person who can't have fun at certain times. It's important that you get to meet different kinds of people that are different from you because you get to interact with them. I can apply this block into my daily life by showing my other side when I go out with my friends. 
 

Block 3: Friendship
"Comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. Like marriage it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort."
      This new block is all about friendship and what does it really mean? Friendship is the state of being friends and that means that you should be able to trust them and build a bond together. In order to have a good friendship with someone you need to work your way up and be mature. Don't take it for granted because it's rare for someone to have trust/ faith in you. An example of friendship would be when you share ideas to each other so that you can make a better team. Like they always say, two brains are better than one. This quote is trying to tell us that a true friend would accept who you are, whether its being ugly, pretty, shy, rebellious etc. but they also come in so that they can help you become a better person by always doing the right thing. Having a strong friendship with a person isn't something you see everyday because it's getting harder everyday to trust someone due to the facts that people lie, cheat, or just don't care. Friendship comes when you have shown devotion, respect, courage,trustworthy, and loving. You support and motivate one another to do great things in life and become successful. Friendship is the key to mostly everything in life because you have to build yourself.  

Block 4: Loyalty
"To yourself and to all those depending upon you. Keep your self-respect."
      Block 4 is going to talk about loyalty, what does it really mean. Well to start off it is the quality of being faithful to someone or something. Being loyal is an important strategy in your life because it will help you become successful. Meaning that people will be able to trust you and believe in you. In order to be loyal to others you have to be true to yourself first. An example of loyalty would be when you're going to take a test and you decided to cheat. On the next day the teacher asks each individual student privately if they have cheated because she caught someone. When the teacher comes to you and asks if you cheated, what do you think you should say. If you decide not to say anything, then you're already being a liar which means you weren't loyal to the teacher or your grade. Having loyalty doesn't come easily you have to gain trust from others. Being loyal to your country means that you respect it and everyone else who was in it to make it better, for example all the presidents.  This quote is explaining to you how you get loyalty in return when you have been respectful, honest, and trustworthy. These are ways to make yourself better and understand that loyalty is an important role in all types of aspect. I can apply this key into my daily life by trying to gain more trust from others and be there for them because I want to show them, that I care. 

Block 5: Cooperation 
"With all levels of your co-workers. Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way. "

     Block 5 is telling you the importance of cooperation. Cooperation is the process of working together to the same end or helping each other out to achieve a common goal. An example of cooperation would be when you're doing a group project of three people for your science class and the teacher wants you to be cooperative with one another, so that you understand the assignment better. Being cooperative can lead to big things because you get a better understanding of what you are doing. Cooperation is involved in many jobs around the world because you work with other people to help you solve or create a problem. The quote is trying to explain how being united can strengthen the power you have when you work in teams and collaborate together to create and achieve wonderful things. It always better when you work together because most of the times it end with success and happiness. I can apply this block into my daily life because I will talk more with the students in my classes so that I'm able to understand them and be more cooperative when we have to do group projects. 

Block 6: Ambition (For noble goals)
     What does the word ambition mean? Well the definition of ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. An example of ambition would be when you want to join the basketball team, but in order for you to do that you need to work hard by practicing everyday. If you do this then eventually, you'll be part of the team. It takes time, dedication, compassion, and hard work to reach your goals. Sometimes there will be obstacles in the way but that shouldn't stop you from being successful. Only you get to decide whether you want to be better than others. The quote is trying to explain how being ambition can lead you to success and persistence will be the one that guides you there. Having ambition towards a goal will always be the best choice because you are giving it your all. I can apply this block into my daily life because I will strive for the better so that I can show my true self. Although it may take some time to adjust I will always be determine. 

Block 7: Self- Control
"Practice self-discipline and keep emotions under control. Good judgement and common sense are essential."
     Block 7 talks about self-control and this is the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires. I would emphasize that having self-control can be hard to do sometimes but with the help from others you can overcome it and have the ability to have good judgement and common sense. An example of self-control would be when you encounter a difficult problem on a test and you just need to have faith in yourself and do your very best. Practicing can be one way to improve on self-control. The quote explains how the main factor of being successful has to do with self-control, and I believe this is true because we need the ability to control our-self. Learn how to manage your time,balance,confidence and be organized so that you can go farther in the future. I will apply this block into my daily life by being more patience and trying to understand what i do wrong. It's important that I learn how o have self-control if I want to be successful. 

Block 8: Alertness

"Be observing constantly. Stay open-minded. Be eager to learn and improve."

      Block 8 talks about alertness which means the quality of being alert. But in this case it's telling you how to be open-minded, observe, and learn. You should be able to stay alert and achieve great things in life if you are constantly trying to do your best even when it gets rough. An example of alertness would be when you are trying to learn new things and you may think, why even try, but you need to remember to always have faith in yourself and be open minded.  The quote explains how you should constantly be aware and seek not only to improve yourself but the team as well. I can apply this block into my daily life by taking opportunities and being eager to learn something new everyday as I come to school. Being alert includes the function of your brain and how you treat it. 

Block 9: Initiative 
"Cultivate the ability to make decisions and think alone. Do not be afraid of failure, but learn from it."
Block 9 will talk about taking initiative and the definition of this word means to have the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. I think this block is very helpful because it can motivate you to be more open minded and make your own decisions without being afraid. Ways you can be initiative is by always being alert for new ways to make something work better or take it upon yourself and be the first to implement/ adopt new ideas. Don't be afraid to learn start doing something new, even if it means starting from scratch. This quote by Chris Evert explains how taking the initiative and playing your game with confidence will make a difference. I agree with her because without our confidence we wouldn't be able to think outside the box and come up with new ideas to help out the world. Instead we would be waiting until we are told. An example of initiative would be when you think one step ahead from the others without being afraid. I can apply this block into my daily life by learning and exploring new ways to become a leader and come up with ideas to make my learning faster and smarter. 

Block 10: Intentness
"Set a realistic goal. Concentrate on its achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent." 
     Intentness means to have the attention sharply focused or fixed on something. It's important that we know how to resist all temptations and focus on what is important like your future and becoming a successful person. My example of intentness would be when you're on a sports team and you want to win all your games, you'll need to take far measurements that will lead you there. You can start by going to practice everyday and learning/trying new techniques each day. Be better than yourself and rise above.  This quote by John Wooden explains to you how the best competition he ever had was against himself. This motivated him to become better each time. He was always determined and persistent on what he was doing. I can apply this block into my daily life by  becoming a determined person and always trying to excel towards new things. Don't let anyone bring you down because out in the world there will always be one person you doesn't want you to succeed. 

Block 11: Sincerity (keep friends) 
     This block talks about sincerity which is a mix of seriousness and honesty. Meaning that if you are able to do things with sincerity people will be able to trust you. An example of sincerity would be when you're in a relationship and you din't cheat on your spouse with another person. Don't lie to their face because it will just complicate things and you wouldn't want that . When you don't like something be honest with that person, even if it means that they'll get mad but at least you're being sincere. This quote by Confucius tells you how sincerity and truth are the main basis of life and virtue. It's not hard to have sincerity because all you have to do is show your integrity, dignity. compassion, honesty, respect etc, to gain friends. I can apply this new block into my life because I will try to be more honest with my family and always make sure to say the truth and gain their trust.   


Block 12: Adaptability (to any situation ) 
     What does the word adaptability mean, well to start off the definition is the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions. It's a feature of a system being or of a process. The word adaptability is used as a specialized term in different disciplines and in business operations. An example of adaptability would be when you think quickly to respond to sudden changes in circumstances or when you keeping calm during difficult times. The quote is telling you how adaptability is the key to survival and you need it in your life. You need to understand and learn what it takes to adapt to a new environment. I will apply this new block into my daily life because I can try to get used to new things around me. For example when I graduate high school, I will need to adapt to college campuses. It may be hard at first but eventually you'll get used to it. 

Block 13: Condition
 "Mental-Moral-Physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated."

     Now we have moved on to block 13 which is condition. Condition is the state of something especially with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order. It may also mean to have a significant influence on or determination like the manner or outcome of something. You can bring a good outcome to the world by just believing in yourself and knowing that you can be successful. The quote I chose tells you how morality is the key to define the human condition, so you're the only one who can drive their own life. It  will take effort and strength but eventually everything you do now will be worth it. Make a list of goals you want to accomplish and read them each day and then you'll realize you can accomplish them. I will apply this block into my life by asking myself each day, what i need to do, how can i be better, and why am i doing this? It's important for me to be someone successful in life and not just show my family but the world I did it. 

Block 14: Skill
"A knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared and cover every little detail." 

     Block 14 will talk about "skill" and that is the ability to do something well. Some examples of skill would be communication, decision making, leadership, self-motivation etc. You can develop many skills, as long as you are determine to accomplish them. The quote explains how you should always develop new skills in life because it can lead to success. For example, when you're applying for a new job, they want to see whether you are capable of performing their tasks and if possible bring skills with you. Having skills in you, shows your ability of thinking. Those you become engineers are always bringing new ideas to the table because they want to create something no one has ever seen. I can apply this new block into my life my working effectively with my classmates or helping the community. It's important to practice now because, once you head to college you're on your own and the professors expect greatness from you. 

Block 15: Team Spirit 

"A genuine consideration for others. An eagerness to sacrifice personal interests of glory for the welfare of all."  

      Block 15 will talk about team spirit which is the feeling of camaraderie among the members of a group, enabling them to cooperate and work well. In my own words team spirit means to work together, help each other, and motivate one another. A few examples of team spirit would be when you are doing group presentations and some of your friends will support yo to do good. There are skills toward team spirit and that would be respect, motivation, or cooperation. It's important that you develop some type of skill, so that you can be prepare. Just like when schools have spirit week, everyone works together to make it possible. The quote explains how having team spirit, you are willing to sacrifice your own need for the other member in your team. Like the saying says, "teamwork makes the dream work." I will apply this block into my daily life by working with my peers in a respectful manner and taking in consideration of others, so that they won't be left out. Two brains is better than one. 

Block 16: Honesty(in thought and action)
"Honesty is the best policy." (Ben Franklin)

     Block 16 will talk about honesty which the quality of being honest and not saying a lie about someone or something you did. When you are honest, it shows that you are trustworthy and truthful not only to yourself but everyone around you. An example of honesty would be when you admit to cheating on a test. It may look bad at first but later on you'll realizes it was for the best because you won't feel guilty anymore. Did you know hiding secrets from a friend or family is also a form of dishonesty because you should always be able to count on them for anything. Many ask why being honest is important. When yo are honest others will respect you and trust you. Honesty also gives you the peace of mind and fulfills a sense of justice within you. The quote explains that in order for you to become successful, you have to start with honesty. Honesty is the key to ways in life, just take it one step at a time. I will apply this new block into my life by figuring out methods I can improve my communication with my family and always be honest. If you commit to be honest all the time you have a bright future ahead of yourself. 

Block 17: Resourcefulness
“Make the most out of what you have.” (Anonymous)

"If you have a dream, if you have something you've always wanted to do, look within yourself because that is where resourcefulness resides; and go for it. (Jennifer Witterick)

   Block 17 talks about resourcefulness, which is the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. It's important you know how to overcome obstacles every time there's one thrown at you. An example of this block would be you have SAT coming up real soon and you're scared because maybe you won't pass it. What might be some good solutions in order for you to do well. Some ways that can help you, would study, get help from a teacher, always do your homework and lastly pay attention in class.  The quote explains how a person who is resourceful will always try to find opportunities that will bring the best out of them and fit their needs. You should always put your needs before someone else because they may not bring the best into your future and success. Dream big, set goals, and take action. I can apply this quote into my life because I'll take action by always doing my best in mt classes and receiving straight A's no matter how hard it gets. Since I want to get into a good university I need to make sacrifices that will be worth it. 

Block 18: Poise 
"Just being yourself. Being at ease in any situation."

       Poise can be define as self-assurance, calm, grace, and dignity. We take the steps toward our future with pride. An example of this block would be when you join a sport and allow everyone to see what you are capable of. When you did this, it makes you feel confidence about yourself, which will lead to wanting to do more in life. This quote explains how one can stand together and feel at ease. It takes effort and team work to accomplish a goal. Bring the best out of you, and you'll see that it will bring you a long way. I can apply this new block into my daily life by believing in myself every time I take a test, quiz, or presentation. 

Block 19: Confidence
"Thorough preparation breeds confidence" Gerald Bell in
"The Carolina Way"

Block 19 talks about confidence which is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. An example of confidence would be when your friend tells you a secret and she's trusting you to not say anything, but one day later you end up telling other people. Do you think she'll want to have confidence and trust in you after what you did. This saying explains how you should believe in yourself because only you will understand yourself. Don't let others bring you down. Even if you fall, you just have to keep going because there will be obstacles every time and at any place. There will be times where you just have to have to trust yourself and not the people around you. I will apply this block into my daily life by always doing things that I never done before and finding new methods to encourage myself and others as well.

Block 20: Reliability (creates respect)

Block 20 is reliability which is the quality of being trustworthy or consistently performing well. An example of this would be when your parents ask you to get good grades and you actually do it by doing your homework, asking questions, and always passing you test'quizzes. The quotes explains how reliability is the first step towards trust. You can be success when someone can trust you with something because you are a reliable person. I can apply this block into my daily life by always doing well in my studies and performing well in all the test I take. If I don't understand something, I will go to my teacher or stay during tutoring so that they can help me. It's important that I do the best and take my intelligence far.

Block 21: Fight (determined effort)
Block 21 talks about fight which can have two definitions. One of them is being in a violent fight that includes weapons and the other one is standing for what is right. Fighting can mean that you are are determined to accomplish a goal that will make you successful. We are warriors who don't give up nor back down, instead we pick up our sword to fight. There may be challenges but we can overcome them. The quote explains that we should fight for our dream because if we do our own dreams will do the same. You can get support from family, friends, or teacher. I will apply this goal into my life because I will fight for my dreams to come true no matter how long it takes, I will accomplish them one day and be proud of myself. Be a determined person because it will make you have confidence in yourself and boost your self-esteem up as well. Fight also means that you are reliable and can always keep your promises. When you are reliable there are more opportunities thrown at you.

Block 22: Competitive Greatness
" Be at your best when your best is needed. Enjoyment of a difficult challenge."
        From fight we have competitive greatness which is to always be your best even when you're facing challenges. The more competitive you are the more you'll rise and become successful. For example I want to get into a good university like UCLA. What should I do about this situation? Instead of just thinking about their requirements they want, I should just go out there and see what opportunities my school and the community have for me. The quote explains how having confidence in yourself will make you perform better because you are a competitive person. Don't get upset when you see challenges, just face them. I can apply this block into my daily life by thinking outside the box and not be surprise when something turns out to be difficult because eI will always have someone to help me. 







Block 23: Integrity (purity of intention)

       Block 23 will inform you about integrity and what it is. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Its important that you know how to have respect for others around you and value their morals. An example would be when you are true to yourself like if you see a person struggling with their groceries, what should you do. If your parents taught you to do the right thing, then you should help that person. The quote explains, that integrity means to always do the right thing even when no one is there to watch you. It just makes you feel better from the inside knowing that you are doing some good. Something my family constantly tells me is to follow my belief and don't let anything or anyone interfere. Always have a positive mind and believe in yourself to achieve anything you want. I can apply this goal into my life by always doing what is right to me. 

Block 24: Faith (through prayer)

Believe and Achieve. Positive belief

       Block 24 talks about faith which can have two definitions. One of them is having trust or confidence in someone or something. The other definition would be a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion. Faith can take you far because it will motivate you to believe in yourself just like you have faith in a religion or person. Having faith can make you feel like a new person because it will restore you into something new, For example, when you know you're going to pass you final math test it shows that you believe in yourself and have that positive belief within you. The quote explains how optimism is the key to faith and if you continue this way, it will lead you to achievements in life. There's only hope and confidence in this world and you have to take all the risks that are thrown at you. When you become a senior in high school, you start preparing yourself for college and that means you have to apply to as many colleges as you can because there are many students out in the world that are competing with you. Just have faith in yourself and everything will turn out as you plan. I can apply this new block into my life by trying to have confidence in myself and reach out to people who are willing to come along in my journey and watch me be successful in life.

Block 25: Patience (good things take time)

       When you hear the word patience, what does it remind you of. Patience means the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry. It's important that you know how to stay calm when obstacles are thrown at you because if you don't, then you're just making it hard on yourself. An example of this block would be when you see someone standing in a very long line peacefully. This shows how they can be patience even when they have to stand for hours or maybe the whole day. But when you have this positive energy in you life, you can do anything. At the moment I lack of patience because I want to get things done or when I don't understand something I may give up. If I keep going on like this there will be no success waiting for me. The quote explains how having patience and love within yourself nothing is impossible to accomplish.The more you practice patience the better. I can apply this goal into my daily life by trying new methods to help me become a patient person. 

Final Reflection:

       Throughout the 25 blocks, I have learned so much because some of these have been in my life already and others, I can start to add them. One of my favorite blocks were reliability, loyalty and skill. These are the ones that shape me into who I am now. Although each block has their own meaning, it doesn't mean that we can't incorporate them into our life. Make room for each block because they will become useful in the future as you start to become successful and discover yourself. It only takes a matter of time to make all your goals come true. Something I have learned while researching and writing my thoughts on these blocks were that, only you can determine whether you want something or someone in you life. There's no one holding your hand anymore because you have become an independent person. The block I use everyday would have to be skill because there's no day I stop using it. Every time I go to school I have to use skill in order to understand a subject or when I don't get it, the teacher can help me. There's at least 25 blocks you can choose from and take it with you. You may not be able to perform all at once but eventually you will. My final thoughts are don't let anyone change you and always make sure to follow your own dream and go be successful. Nothing is impossible.