In his concept, Pyramid of Success, basketball's coaching legend John Wooden titled one of the building blocks 'Intentness.' Coach Wooden's definition involves the setting of realistic goals and the determination and persistence to strive to achieve those goals. Being intent means to stay focused, to resist diversion and distraction and to not give up. Being intent also involves having determination and patience to go the distance.
One reason that so many today lack intentness is a mindset of immediate gratification. People are not willing to work long and hard to achieve a goal. They are impatient and lack determination and persistence. They want reward without work.
Another reason for a lack of intentness is that people experience obstacles and problems as they pursue the achieving of their goals and just give up. What many fail to realize is that it is in the midst of adversity and roadblocks that we grow. Life is full of obstacles that present us with problems and discouragements, but it is when we overcome in spite of these that we grow and learn. There are no
'free rides' in this life.
Coach Wooden sums up this point with a great quote:
"In every way - physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually - we increase our
strength when life is hard; therefore, we must not dread adversity, nor can we allow
it to stop us from becoming the best we can be through the steadfast pursuit of our
goals...Without intentness we can't possibly become all we can be."
This concept is by no means one of recent promotion. Read what our thirtieth president said back in the 1920's.
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is
more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius
is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
--Calvin Coolidge
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