John Wooden considered enthusiasm a foundational, contagious passion that transforms hard work into exceptional performance. As a cornerstone of his Pyramid of Success, it fuels enjoyment in daily efforts, preventing tedium. He believed genuine love for the task inspires others and is necessary to reach one's full potential. 

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.

John Wooden defined loyalty as a core, central element of his Pyramid of Success, emphasizing it as a "cohesive force that forges individuals into a team". It consists of three key components: loyalty to oneself (acting on personal values), loyalty to those depending on you, and maintaining self-respect. It requires unwavering commitment, especially during tough times. 

Friendship, according to Coach Wooden, is the cornerstone upon which all success is built. It’s about building strong, positive relationships with others.

John Wooden defined Industriousness as one of the foundational cornerstones of his Pyramid of Success, emphasizing that "there is no substitute for work". It represents, in his view, consistent, hard work combined with careful planning to achieve worthwhile results. 

John Wooden's principle of Intentness is defined as the ability to resist temptation, stay focused on your goals, and be determined and persistent to achieve them, even when facing setbacks, making it a crucial part of his Pyramid of Success. It's about unwavering focus, continuous effort, and refusing to quit, viewing obstacles as setups for comebacks, embodying "patience with action". 

John Wooden's concept of Alertness within his Pyramid of Success emphasizes being constantly observant, open-minded, and eager to learn and improve from everything and everyone, avoiding tunnel vision and self-absorption to find opportunities for growth, even from mistakes

John Wooden viewed self-control as fundamental, emphasizing discipline, emotional mastery, and focusing on what you can control, rather than reacting to external events, to achieve success and maintain peak performance, famously stating, "Discipline yourself and others won't need to" and that losing it causes everything to "fall."

"This block of the Pyramid addresses a most important characteristic: selflessness which is the opposite of selfishness. I mean by this that you are eager to sacrifice personal glory or gain for the greater good, namely, the welfare and success of your organization, your team, your group. This is a player who would make our team 'great' rather than a someone who was just a 'great player'."