As the Tour de France came to an end in Paris last week, Lance Armstrong’s gritty performance was overshadowed by allegations of doping during his remarkable 7 year run as champion.  The Tour is itself a test of character; a 3100 mile trek across the Alps and Pyrenees, amongst the wind, rain, crashes and dramatic climbs of 3000 feet or more. Allegations aside (the man has never tested positive for use of any substance), his sports achievement is amongst the greatest of our lifetime, rivaling those of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. It is easy to forget that at this point, Lance Armstrong doesn’t ride to win bike races; he rides to win the race against cancer.

Livestrong, the brand conceived by the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fund cancer initiatives and supported by Nike, Amgen and others, raises over $40 Million dollars a year and is growing quickly. Livestrong is the ultimate social enterprise, a business/non-profit created to achieve a higher purpose.  Its powerful imagery connects with us in a way that few brands can. Whether your business is for-profit or non-profit there are lessons to be learned from Livestrong.

Some CEO’s I work with trivialize mission and values as mushy and soft. We must not forget that people need to be connected to something bigger than they are.  Achievement in the fight for a cure for cancer and other diseases is not just a goal; it is an all consuming commitment to excellence, because failure is not an option.

We have a responsibility as business people to serve the greater good. But beyond our social consciousness we must also be responsible for providing vision, in the form of tangible outcomes that people can feel and touch.  That is, if we expect others to give their complete, unbridled commitment, then we must deliver a purpose that resonates with them.  The clearer we are about our ideology, values, and determination to succeed, the better chance we have of delivering product and services that support our mission.

As a sign said in the final stage on Sunday: “Merci Lance; you have been an inspiration”.

I lost my idol on Friday night.

John Wooden was perhaps the only person I have ever met for which I was in complete awe. His teachings left an indelible mark on my life. John Wooden was one of those rare people who instantly made you want to be a better human being. He made us more humble, more gracious, more caring and more willing to serve others.

Coach was larger than life, and the business and leadership lessons survived by his legacy are many. His Pyramid of Success is as likely to be found in a corporate board room as a high school gym. The man had an undeniable, unwavering commitment to quality. When new players showed up for freshman camp, they were taken aback by his extraordinary level of detail; starting with how to put on their socks and lace up their shoes as not to get blisters.

Coach Wooden’s innovations were legendary and his words insipring. “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” Every off season, Coach Wooden would seek out the best coaches in the country in a particular discipline (such as zone full court press) and would spend that year learning everything there was to know about it. The man did not accept mediocrity. “If you don’t have time to do it right, when you will have time to do it over?”

The most important thing I learned from studying Coach Wooden is that we all need to be more thoughtful about the affect we have on others. We can choose to lead, to inspire, to demand more of others; or we can be wrapped up in what is best for us. We must be committed to teaching (as he was) and creating leaders who are lifelong learners. “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

In announcing the passing of the greatest coach of all time, Vin Scully quoted Shakespeare on air Friday night “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all of the world; this was a man.”

John Wooden 1910-2010

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

“Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”

“Never mistake activity for achievement.”

“Be quick, but don’t be in a hurry.”

“The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.”

“Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you.”

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

“Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.”

“Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do.”

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

“It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.”

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”

“A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.”

“The team that makes the most mistakes usually wins, because doers make mistakes.”

“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts. ”

“What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player. ”

“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer. ”

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”