“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, champion American basketball coach
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I was telling someone recently the story of basketball coach John Wooden, who was famous for his practical yet philosophical approach to the game.
In his first session with a new team, full of people who had played the game for years, he’d show them how he wanted them to put their socks on.
Imagine that!
Selected to a top team coached by a top coach, and then treated like a complete beginner, a child even.
When I joined the Peel Forest Outdoor Education team back in the day as my first gig, straight out of outdoor instructor school, the first thing they did was show me how to make sandwiches.
I was 24. I knew how to make sandwiches, damn good tasty sandwiches too.
Just like Daniel wanting to learn how to kick arse and being given a paint brush by Mr Miyagi, I was disappointed.
I wasn’t there to make sandwiches.
I was there to make an impression, I was there to gain respect, I was there to make a reputation.
And yet …
Character.
There was more in making sandwiches than I realised.
Sandwiches was really about how Peel Forest worked as a team — a “this is how we do things around here” type deal.
The ethos, the values, the “how we want to make everyone feel”, the spirit of a place and a group of people …
As well as a lesson in humility, in service and looking after others, in realising and thinking about how my actions would affect everyone else.
I still remember that time because the ethos of Peel Forest showed me that making the impression I wanted to make was way beyond what I’d picked up from our culture and the limited scope of what it teaches us that success is.
It showed me what success COULD be.
If there’s anything I’ve realised in this world, what you do is important, but how you do it is even more so.
And that development of character doesn’t happen by mistake.
I bang on about being present more – and how that leads to a deeper appreciation of, and centredness in, the combined presence of the moment and the presence of You.
Yet I know this leads to an appreciation not for the surface stuff of life – the consumer drive for more and more and more …
But for something deeper, something lasting and memorable – a Quality of life, and the Quality of You.
That’s what’s truly important.
The more you immerse yourself in mindfulness, the more you discover how to live life.
The instruction manual is right here, in the intersection between now and You.
It’ll take you deep into Quality, and true and worthy character, and lasting satisfaction.
It’ll free you from what other people may think of you, of worry and hesitation, and all those masks and roles we think we have to play.
It’ll give you a place where you live with nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
That’s how you make an impression.
So – go well!
Arjuna
PS.
If you want to know more, comment to this/send me a message and I’d be so happy to help.
I have some guided meditation audios that will help no end.
Again, let me know if you’re interested and I’ll send you the download link.
Talk soon!