My Name is Bergy, and This is My 3rd Post

1. Reactions to the latest pages you have read. What have you found interesting so far? What do you agree/disagree with?

2. What leadership traits has the subject of your book shown? Or what leadership traits has your author talked about being important? Use specific examples from the book including page number.

3. Talk about a specific quote or passage that has stood out to you so far. What is it? Why do you feel it is important?

4. Give me an example of a time that you had to make an ethical decision. What was the situation? Who (no names necessary) was involved? What was the ethical dilemma? Ultimately what did you decide to do and why?

My most recent pages that I have read in my book deal with something called the "Pyramid of Success" which John Wooden created when he was the head basketball coach at UCLA. It is a series of blocks or chunks that make up the pyramid, each having a different quality that is needed to have success. Also, it was interesting to note that John Wooden talked about how the pyramid became less stable when even one block was taken away from the pyramid. I completely agree with Wooden because if one trait or characteristic of a good leader is missing, it rubs off on the other parts that are key to success. (pg. 86)

This pyramid can also be related to leadership. A good leader needs all of the qualities listed in the pyramid to be successful. Traits that are listen in the Pyramid of Success include - Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, Enthusiasm, Ambition, Self-Control, Alertness, Initiative, Intentness, Sincerity, Adaptability, Condition, Skill, Team Spirit, Honesty, Resourcefulness, Poise, Confidence, Integrity, Fight, Competitive Greatness, Reliability, Faith, and Patience. John Wooden believed that all of these qualities were essential to a great leader and he tried to follow the Pyramid of Success throughout his career as a head coach and a person (pg. 88-90).

One quote that sticks out to me on pg. 98 is a quote from John Wooden about believing in others and giving them a chance - "Before casually discounting the potential of any individual or team, give them a chance to succeed - give them your sincere belief and full support". This quote not only applies to sports in general, but to the real world as well. In sports it is important that you don't doubt that someone can improve and become great because if you give them your support it will keep their confidence and help them out. In life the same thing is true; it is important to give people chances because without a chance in life that person will not be able to reach their full potential.

One time where I had to make an ethical decision was when I was with a group of friends hanging out, an older student in college came to the house we were at with alcohol and was smoking cigars. Some of the younger kids at the house wanted to try the cigars, but others were completely against this kid being there in the first place. I left the house with some of the others and convinced some people that this was wrong. I decided that I did not want to partake in any of the activities and also told the girl whose house we were at that she should probably tell the kid to go home. She eventually kicked the kid out of the house and joined up with us later. It wasn't exactly what the cool kids these days would do, but I'm not a kid who likes to drink or do other illegal things so I decided that I shouldn't be seen with this other kid.