Pyramid of Success

Life takes its twists and turns. We have ups and downs and our character is built through adversity.
One of the greatest men to live in the past 100 years was John Wooden. A coach at UCLA showed what a true coach, leader was embodied by with his pyramid of success.
In order to live an effective life you must build your way up. It begins with industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation and enthusiasm.
Industriousness is the ability to go to work and work hard.  Hard work will produce the best results.  I'd take a hard worker with no talent over someone with lots of talent but no work ethic. The potential that exists with hard work is phenomenal.
Friendship. We all know what this is, having people we can talk to about anything, trust with anything and go to in the good and bad times.  Building connections with whoever you meet is a must in order to succeed.
Loyalty is being true to the people around and yourself.  If you aren't what you say you are, then there will be no one who can back you 100% and help make the initiative to advance in life.
Cooperation is doing what is needed to help the group advance and doing it with a smile. This does not mean to give in, but to accomplish what is best for the whole and not your self.
Enthusiasm is contagious. In whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm and a passion. It will catch on with whoever is around you and make believers in you.

This is the first level of John Wooden's pyramid of success.  It is incredibly accurate. I am taking a self-look at this pyramid as I was denied a head coaching job that I really wanted.  I do not want to deter from the path of success because of pride, but rather take this as motivation to improve my life and re-focus on teaching and my relationship with God.