John Wooden, one of my personal heroes, is about to turn 99. Yes, I said 99.

I feel extraordinarily blessed to have had the occasional honor and privilege to work with him in the past decade, and the power of his character continues to enlighten and inspire me.

I spent seven years at UCLA (from 1960-1967) admiring the enormously successful basketball teams Coach Wooden taught (that’s the phrase he likes to use). He was an authentic legend and a personal idol when I finally had a chance to meet him 30 years later and, frankly, I feared I’d be disappointed.

My fears were unfounded. In fact, he exceeded my expectations.

I’d read a lot about him, but it didn’t prepare me for the experience of being with him. John Wooden exudes an inner dignity, moral strength, and wisdom that are inspiring, and his personal humility actually enhances the impression that you are in the presence of a great man.

He has a way of making everyone he talks with feel important.

During our first few meetings, he was embarrassingly respectful and deferential, calling me “Mr. Josephson” despite my requests that he use my first name. On my 60th birthday, he wrote me a handwritten letter that’s one of my most cherished mementos. The letter was written in a strong, clear handwriting one would not expect from a 92-year-old, yet it was emblematic of this impeccable man.

Everything he says is imbued with integrity, respect, and kindness made so much more powerful because it’s genuine and effortless.

This is particularly humbling.

For me, striving to be a person of character involves a daily struggle. In comparison to Coach Wooden’s graceful authenticity, it sometimes feels as if I’m acting the part of a good person rather than really being one. It’s disconcerting, but I’m so glad I have such an incredible role model to encourage higher aspirations.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.