Amazing Tales Of Michael Jordan Being A Hypercompetitive Weirdo

Legendary basketball player Michael Jordan

The Secret to Michael Jordan’s Success

Michael Jordan is the kind of celebrity that doesn’t need any introduction. His unparalleled accomplishments and hard work have turned him into one of the most impactful players to ever grace the court — he is a living legend.

He wasn’t born a champion nor had a raw talent for playing basketball. But he did have something that separates a champion from the average player: he’s relentless and has never, ever gave up once he set his mind to achieve something.

Whenever we fail, we get discouraged and afraid to try again. This is a common behavior for most of us, but not for the basketball star. So here are five life lessons you can learn from Michael Jordan, lessons that will change your perspective on failure.

Failure is the natural path to success

As previously stated, MJ is no stranger to failure. Perhaps the biggest failure that went on to define the person he is today, arrived when he was still in high school. He was cut from the varsity basketball team because he wasn’t good and tall enough.

This type of news would probably destroy any teenager’s dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Most would probably give up and try something different. Imagine if at that moment Jordan would’ve decided that basketball was simply not for him.

What did he do instead? He wiped his tears and practiced until he became good enough. He didn’t let his coach decide his future career. From a young age, he understood that failure doesn’t define a person, but the power to get up and try again.

If you want something badly enough, you’re going to get it

Jordan’s former head coach at the University of North Carolina shared a story about the player’s determination to become the best. He remembered him saying “I’m going to show you, nobody will ever work as hard as I work.” And he kept his promise.

When you want something, you have to understand that you have to dedicate yourself completely to get it. There will be obstacles but overcoming them is essential for your growth. If you want something badly enough, you’ll be willing to learn and invest time and effort. Maybe you won’t get it exactly when you want it, but you will eventually.

Live in the present

In The Last Dance, there’s a scene where MJ is celebrating another championship win and one of the reporters asked him “Is there another year in ya?” He replied: “It’s the moment, man. Get in the moment and stay here. Just stay in the moment till next October, then we’ll know where the hell we are.”

Be present in the here and now and allow yourself to truly celebrate your achievements. Don’t dwell on the past nor worry about the future. Set goals but enjoy what you have now and don’t worry about missing a shot you haven’t even taken yet.

Step up your game

In 1995, the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the NBA playoff by the Orlando Magic and this broke MJ’s heart. But instead of taking some time off after the season, he got back on the court the very next day to improve his game.

Sometimes you’re going to lose, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not good enough. It only means that the next time you should try harder. There’s always room for improvement and there are always other ways to achieve your goals. You just need to figure them out.

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