“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
Each semester in my business strategy class, we begin with a discussion of goals. Not just any goals. Lofty goals. Aspirational goals. Big, hairy audacious goals.
Because when it comes to strategy, the goal is never to maintain the status quo or to settle for some iterative change. It’s to alter the landscape decisively. To set in motion something momentous. To achieve something that leaves people talking about the accomplishments for years to come.
But before we dig into the heavy mental lifting of transforming business, we turn the lens on ourselves. Drawing a little inspiration from models like Kobe Bryant’s 10 Rules, we ask ourselves what it means to “be all you can be.” Using the same ends-ways-means framework that underpins a very basic approach to strategic formulation, we identify and define a personal vision, determine the goals (ends) that realize the vision, design the paths (ways) to get us there, and the resources (means) necessary to sustain those paths.
It’s not perfect, but it’s a way to personalize the approach so the core concepts stick a little better. When we finally turn the lens back onto the business world, the students have a much better understanding of strategy because they’ve practiced on themselves.
The Words of an Icon
Most of us remember Kobe Bryant as an icon among icons. A generational talent whose 20-year career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association produced five championships, 18 All-Star appearances, 15 selections to the All-NBA Team, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and one league MVP award. After his death in 2020, he was honored as one of the greatest players of all time and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
But he was also a successful entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist. He fueled his drive with an incredible commitment to greatness, a tireless dedication to becoming the best version of himself possible. If you listened closely to his words, he often shared that commitment and dedication, that otherworldly determination to be all he could be.
- The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. The greatest reward as a leader is seeing the people you lead achieve success in their own right.
- If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail. The road to success is going to have a few potholes. You can’t wait for someone to fix the road before you take your journey.
- Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success. Failure is just opportunity waiting to happen. Embrace it. Learn from it. Use it for fuel.
- The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win. Quitters never win. Winners never quit. Reach deep and find the determination to push through to the end.
- A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. You don’t become a great leader by playing it safe. You do it by embracing risk, leveraging failure, and having the courage to fight through the adversity.
Kobe’s 10 Rules
Kobe Bryant’s legacy extends beyond his contribution to the game of professional basketball. As a husband and father, as a friend, as a human being, he left behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come. The son of an NBA player, his life began in Philadelphia. And even though a remarkable high school career eventually led him away from his hometown, he never lost his love for the Philadelphia Eagles. Visit their practice facility today, and you’ll find a mural there honoring the iconic and tragically short life of someone whose presence will forever be felt.
His 10 rules are a treasured part of his legacy. Those rules – listed on the mural at the NovaCare Complex – serve as a reminder of how anyone can achieve greatness in life. You don’t have to be one of the best players in the history of the NBA to be great. You just have to be the very best version of yourself possible.
1. Get better every single day.
Each day offers an opportunity to do something special. Set a goal to leave your mark on each and every day.
2. Prove them wrong.
We all have our haters and naysayers. Don’t ignore them, use their negativity to fuel your drive.
3. Work on your weaknesses.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Don’t just work on your strengths, find ways to turn your weaknesses into strengths.
4. Execute what you practiced.
Once the lights come on, the time for preparation is over. Use that time wisely so you’re ready to go when the time comes.
5. Learn from greatness.
Draw lessons from the leaders you emulate and admire. Learn from them. But don’t be them, be the best you that you can be.
6. Learn from wins and losses.
Reflect on both the ups and downs. There are important lessons to be learned in each. Don’t take either for granted.
7. Practice mindfulness.
Greatness is a long journey. If you turn it into a grind, you’ll burn out before you reach the end. Take time to reset mentally as well as physically.
8. Be ambitious.
Set your goals high but be realistic. Don’t set the bar on someone else’s accomplishments or you limit yourself. Challenge yourself.
9. Believe in your team.
No one is an island. Your family, your friend, your confidants… each plays a role in your journey. Invest in them. Believe in them. And they’ll return both.
10. Learn storytelling.
Great leaders are usually great storytellers. If you intend to be one of them, learn to tell your story. Share that story. Start building that next generation. That will be your legacy.
In the early years of his career, Kobe Bryant looked forward to matching up against Michael Jordan. During that time, they built a connection within the rivalry, and Kobe saw the Chicago Bulls legend as a mentor. But when asked about their relationship, he was quick to put it in perspective. “I don’t want to be the next Michael Jordan,” he said. “I only want to be Kobe Bryant.”
And he was.
