"I'll prepare my best and perhaps I'll get my chance."

If that's the best that he could do, then who the heck am I to be making demands.

The he I'm referring to is UCLA's legendary basketball coach, John Wooden.

I often use that quote with my students as I try to emphasize this whole idea of doing your best without regard to outcome; without demanding any "up front" payment before committing.

In all honesty, I'm probably talking more to myself than to them.

It's like this: they'll say, "O.K., Mr. C, I'll do what you want in class if you'll guarantee that I'll get an 'A.'"

But according to Wooden's quote, and what I'm trying to get across to them (and me), that's backwards.