Bill Walton's Philosophy of Joy
Why does the death of NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton this week shock me more than the deaths of most celebrities I've never met? I think he so clearly sought joy in his life, and giving that to others, including me, one of his many fans, as a player and especially as a broadcaster, was a source of great joy for him. It has been a joy to me and countless others to see and hear what Bill Walton calls the game. He tapped into and fed some of the best aspects of the human experience.
Bill Walton's joy, passion, and quirky intellect influenced me as a viewer and fan. He made me happier for a few minutes. Reading and hearing about his memorable phone call yesterday made me happy once again and at the same time sad that in the future there will be no more such Waltonism. Fortunately, there are many things to remember, such as:
- “John Stockton is one of the true wonders not only of basketball or of America, but of the history of Western civilization!”
- “When I think of Boris Diau, I think of Beethoven from the Romantic era.”
Or, to put it more reflectively and seriously:
- “Success at the highest level comes down to one question: Can you decide that your happiness can come from someone else’s success?”
These are the words of a man who won his second NBA title while playing as a sixth man, or as Walton puts it, “Larry Bird’s manservant” with the Boston Celtics.
How Walton Influenced Others
As I read the many tributes to Walton this morning (and there are many), I was struck by how consistent the feelings of many who knew him well were.
- “He wasn’t happy unless he did his best to make everyone around him happy. He was the best of us.” – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- “A legendary figure who always made me laugh.” – His broadcast partner Dave Pasch
- “He spent every moment of his life challenging himself and competing to be the best.” – Indiana Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle
- “He called himself the luckiest man in the world. But I was lucky to know him.” – Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart (Bill attended more than 1,000 Dead concerts)
- “His amazing energy, passion, love and zest for life never quenched.” – Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr
What do you want your eulogy to be?
There's an old observation that no one ever gives a eulogy praising someone's skills in a PowerPoint presentation or quarterly earnings call. The best eulogies that touch the heart as well as the head share stories about the impact the deceased had on others. I don't know about you, but I want my eulogy to touch on what people say about Bill Walton and the impact of the way he lived his life. The really good news for me and everyone who shares my goals is that you can do it without having to be a famous Hall of Fame center or broadcaster. You should follow Bill's example in spreading the power of human connection by sharing genuine joy.
What kind of person do you want to be, not only as a leader but also as a human being? What do you want people to say about you in your eulogy? You could do a lot worse than looking to the life of Bill Walton for inspiration.
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