LeBron James and I…
LeBron James and I have a few things in common. Yes, really we do.
We both grew up watching amazing dunks, nothin’-but-net-shots from the three point line and #23 smiling as he worked his magic for another Chicago Bulls victory. Michael Jordan was a superstar in the eyes of both of us.
We both love to read. I love seeing LeBron stoll into a game with a book in hand or sitting in the locker room immersed a great read.
We both understand the value of hard work. Nothing worth having comes without a lot of sweat and tears.
We both understand life doesn’t always give you what you dreamed about for a long time. I’m sorry for the NBA Final’s loss, LeBron. I know that was tough!
I’ve never met LeBron James in person, but what we can learn from him is a much longer list. He is business savvy off the court with a net worth of over $340 million dollars. Impressive to say the least!
Take for example, his salary this year is $30 million dollars, joining the league of highest payed player along side Michael Jordan and Bryant. Yet, his investments, business ventures and endorsements are estimated to be over $55 million dollars. Almost double his salary!
It’s easy to chalk such huge numbers up to “some people have all the luck” but I want to say, it’s more than that. And this is were I think we can learn some things that we can apply to our own place in life.
Money Mindset
“The first time I stepped on an NBA court I became a businessman.” LeBron James
In order to make money you need to be serious about your job, side hustle or idea. It doesn’t just fall into your lap over night. It takes focus, origination and systems.
Having a healthy money mindset means learning, reading great books and learning the mistakes from other people’s experiences. That way you save your bank account from being your teacher.
Eyes on the Top.
“I was a Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan fan growing up.” LeBron James
Over the years of watching the best man in basketball LeBron learned many things about the sport of basketball.
Who is the best in your industry, job or profession? Are you learning from them, reading their books and applying what years of experience has taught them?
None of us are “self made” in this sense. We all have teachers and when we strive to learn from the best, we will become better too.
Failing
“You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed – you’re not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.” LeBron James
Learning from our mistakes is actually an acquired skill I believe. More often than not we beat ourselves up over a failure or we ignore it and act like it never happen. But the best thing to do is to honestly spend some quite time reflecting on that failure. By asking yourself some questions you might see the areas where you must improve and that just could be your quantum leap forward. Some good questions to ask yourself might be these.
Could I have avoided this?
How so?
Did I communicate enough with the people involved?
Do I need to change my system?
Should I put a system in place so I can avoid this problem again?
If I had purchased advice from a more knowledgeable person, would I saved myself this headache? (I’m thinking in the form of books, seminars etc.)
I have even created a Failure Journal and written down past failures. Then I followed the problem up with lessons that I had learned and what I was going to do moving forward to ensure it wasn’t repeated. EVER.
Related Reading
Growing
“I like criticism. It makes you strong.” LeBron James
Most of us HATE to be criticized yet embracing it can propel you forward. A second pair of eyes on any situation will always result in a fresh perspective.
Focus
“I laugh and joke, but I don’t get distracted very easily.” LeBron James
Knowing what your “big hairy audacious goal” is, as Kevin Kruse likes to say makes a difference. Goals take time to set but once you set them, working backwards makes it much easier to accomplish them. But along the way you must stay focused in order to turn them into your reality.
Make
“I’m going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it.” LeBron James
We do create our own life in many, many ways with the choices we make each and every day. God has granted us each gifts and talents. We can learn tools to make us better in what we do but it’s our job to make it happen. We have to hustle, hustle, hustle to create something new. Being mediocre doesn’t take effort but being great does!
Adversity
“My father wasn’t around when I was a kid, and I used to always say, ‘Why me? Why don’t I have a father? Why isn’t he around? Why did he leave my mother?’ But as I got older I looked deeper and thought, ‘I don’t know what my father was going through, but if he was around all the time, would I be who I am today?'” LeBron James
Every adversity in our life molds us and impresses deeply into our souls. Maybe it was cutting words that still ring inside your head. Or the lack of comfort growing up. You might have suffered an injury physically that held you back.
But what have you done with it? Have you allowed it to hold you captive, to side line you from greatness? Friend, don’t allow it the privilege anymore.
Today, imagine a box. Take those stinging words you were told, your uncomfortable past, your injury or whatever it might be and mentally stick it in the box. Label that box in your mind Turning Point. Now from this point forward I want you to see that box as a turning point in your life, see it as something that you have overcome, that you are bigger than but don’t let it define who you are!
What are you going to apply today from LeBron?
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