#340 Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Key takeaways

Michael Jordan's and Kobe Bryant's competition mindset focuses on relentless improvement and a refusal to settle.
Mental dominance and the ability to shut out distractions are crucial elements for achieving excellence.
Mastery of fundamentals and consistency in training are key factors in sustaining success.
Self-doubt is normal, but managing it can turn fear into a powerful motivation.
Relentless reinvention and adaptation are essential to maintain greatness over time.

Summary

The Journey of Michael Jordan's Comeback and Mindset

The podcast begins by recounting a pivotal moment from the night the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the 1995 NBA playoffs and Michael Jordan's struggles after his return to basketball. His trainer Tim Grover shares insights from his books 'Relentless' and 'Winning,' which detail that Michael's true end is defined only by him. Tim emphasizes Jordan's obsession with challenging himself to a relentless pursuit of greatness, contrasting how he never cared about mere success but sought to be the absolute best, a mantra he shared with Kobe Bryant.

Mental Dominance and the Dark Side of Competition

Tim Grover discusses the extreme mentality of elite competitors like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He highlights the importance of mental dominance and the drive to elevate oneself above others without compromising on excellence. Both athletes have been known for their unforgiving nature towards themselves and their teammates, demanding the highest standards. The consequences of such mentality are examined, including personal sacrifices and causing discomfort among peers, all in the name of relentless ambition.

The Importance of Mastery and Consistency in the Craft

In this section, the conversation pivots to mastery and the necessity of consistent practice and dedication to the fundamentals. Tim recounts the tales of both Jordan and Bryant crafting their journeys through repetition of basic skills and relentless training. He emphasizes that true greatness comes from a commitment to improvement and a refusal to become complacent. The extreme focus and attention to detail exhibited by these athletes is underscored, detailing their morning routines and training regimens.

Fearlessness and the Management of Self-Doubt

Jordan and Bryant's ability to manage fear and self-doubt is a significant theme discussed in the podcast. According to Tim, both athletes embraced their insecurities and transformed them into fuel for their performance. The understanding that self-doubt is a natural part of competing at high levels is emphasized, reflecting on how they chose to 'play through' their fears, ultimately managing to channel them towards success.

Relentless Reinvention and Adaptation

Tim closes the discussion by exploring how both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant exemplified relentless reinvention. Both athletes were found to be non-complacent, always striving for more whether in their athletic endeavors or their business interests. The stories shared show a constant effort to learn from every experience and adapt to remain the best within changing circumstances. This drive for continuous growth is what fundamentally separated them from their competitors, as they refused to settle or stop improving.

Show notes

What I learned from reading Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover and Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness by Tim Grover.
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----(3:00) What I am giving you is insight into the mentality of those who have found unparalleled success by trusting their own instincts.
(3:00) Mozart: A Life by Paul Johnson. (Founders #240)
(6:00) Michael was the best because he was relentless about winning. No matter how many times he won he always wanted more and he was always willing to do whatever it took to get it.
(6:00) Michael never cared about achieving mere greatness. He cared about being the best ever.
(7:00) These are the most driven individuals you'll ever know, with an unmatched genius for what they do: they don't just perform a job, they reinvent it.
(8:00) Alex Rodriguez interviews Kobe Bryant
(11:00) The most important thing, the one thing that defines and separates him from any other competitor: He's addicted to the exquisite rush of success and he'll alter his entire life to get it.
(11:00) The mind will play tricks on you. The mind was telling you that you couldn't go any further. The mind was telling you how much it hurt. The mind was telling you these things to keep you from reaching your goal. But you have to see past that, turn it all off if you are going to get where you want to be. —
—Driven From Within by Michael Jordan and Mark Vancil. (Founders #213)
(12:30) If one thing separated Michael from every other player, it was his stunning ability to block out everything and everyone else. He was able to shut out everything except his mission.
(14:00) At some point you made something simple into something complicated.
(16:00) Being at the extreme in your craft is very important in the age of leverage. The best person in the world at anything gets to do it for everyone.
(20:00) A 600 page biography of Kobe Bryant: The Life of Kobe Bryant by Roland Lazenby. (Founders #272)
(21:00) This could be an ad for FOUNDERS NOTES
The greats never stop learning.
All the hours of work have created an unstoppable internal resource you can draw on in any situation.
(22:00) Mostly he tested himself. It seemed that he discovered the secret quite early in his competitive life: the more pressure he heaped on himself the greater his ability to rise to the occasion.
— Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby. (Founders #212)
(23:00) Kobe and Ahmad Rashad interview
(23:00) Be indifferent to the opinions of other people. Michael does not care what you think. Kobe does not care what you think. There is no one that can hold them to a higher standard than themselves.
(34:00) How Kobe Bryant knew he was going to win a lot of championships:
It was easy to size other players up in the NBA. I found that a lot of guys played for financial stability. Once they got that financial stability the passion, the work ethic, and the obsessiveness was gone. Once I saw that I thought, “This is going to be like taking candy from a baby. No wonder Michael Jordan wins all these fucking championships.”
(35:00) Michael Jordan worked on consistency, relentlessly.
(49:00) A good competitor always evaluates his oppenent. And you understand him for what he really is. You never try to give him confidence you try to take it at all times. — Michael Jordan video
(53:00) Everyone wanted to be like Mike. Mike did not want to be like anyone else.
(1:07:00) Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs by Ken Kocienda. (Founders #281)
(1:07:00) Stop adding. Start deleting. Winning demands total focus.
(1:11:00) It started with hope.
It started with hope.
We went from a shitty team to one of the all time greatest dynasties.
All you needed was one little match to start that whole fire.
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“I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth
Be like Gareth. Buy a book: All the books featured on Founders Podcast