One of my idols when growing up was John Wooden, head basketball coach at UCLA. During his tenure, his teams won 10 college basketball championships in 12 years; at one time they won 89 straight games. This from the LA Times on Father's Day (in the USA):

In 1924, when John Wooden finished eighth grade, his father gave him a card. On one side was an inspirational verse by Rev. Henry van Dyke. On the other was a seven-point creed that included "Make each day your masterpiece," which Wooden later used in coaching