What’s Your Michael Jordan Story?
This blog post is about RELENTLESSLY filtering out everything, except your vocation. The Michael Jordan Story. This movie came out some years ago. It chronicles the stunningly incredible accomplishments of ...
This blog post is about RELENTLESSLY filtering out everything, except your vocation.
The Michael Jordan Story.
This movie came out some years ago. It chronicles the stunningly incredible accomplishments of Michael Jordan.
While we’re all familiar with probably the most famous athlete in history…
when I watched this again the details of his journey amazed me.
Did you know:
- Michael Jordan was an unremarkable athlete in high school
- He was actually cut from his high school basketball team after his freshman year
- Even in college, he was regarded as average. Until one game-winning shot sky-rocketed his confidence.
The Michael Jordan Story. Part 1 of 6: Rejection, determination, and breakthrough.
There are many lessons you can learn from the Michael Jordan story.
The lesson I choose to draw in this blog post is simple.
Michael became the best in history at his vocation
Because he chose his vocation
And filtered out everything else.
He was OBSESSIVE about becoming the best. His slow start indicated that he wasn’t the most talented.
But no one will dispute that he was the most focused, and most hardworking, and most relentless.
Even when he tried, and failed… he tried and tried again.
The Michael Jordan Story. Part 2 of 6. Success, and Failure.
THE CHALLENGE: What are you willing to be relentless for?
Look at your list of talents.
your list of knowledge areas that you’re passionate for.
And then look at the mile-long to-do list that you drag along with you every day.
Your exercise is this: I want you to aggressively and proactively but blinders on.
Filter out EVERYTHING except what you want to want to be THE MICHAEL JORDAN of.
I’m going to ask you to BURN your to-do list.
And rewrite it with a hyper-focus only on the things that fit into your very narrow view of what you need to focus on.
What your personal brand needs to be about.
Part 3 of 6: King of the Hill.
Take the Personal Brand Formula Challenge!
- Personal Brand Formula Challenge #5: How to Rank Your Super Powers.
. - Personal Brand Formula Challenge #4: What’s Your Michael Jordan Story?
. - Personal Brand Formula Challenge # 3: Do You Love What You Know?
. - Personal Brand Formula Challenge # 2: What Are Your Top 10 Talents?
. - Personal Brand Formula Challenge # 1: What’s Your Superhero Elevator Pitch?
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Bolaji O, known as "The Nocrastinator", is an expert in goal getting for digital entrepreneurs.
12 Responses to this article
Wassup Bolaji!
Hey very nice article man! I watched Jordan during the 90′s when I was about 8yrs old and seen how great of an athlete he was, and then Space Jam came out which made him even cooler.
But this article definitely reminds me to keep finding my strengths and to polish those strengths.
Rich Schefren always talks about this too.
Its pretty easy getting lost online trying to do everything, and I still get lost sometimes too.
I need to keep learning and finding what my true strengths are and keep at it till I reach my goals!
Always enjoy reading your posts!
Yoichi
YOIICHIIIIII!
What’s up, brother? Thanks for the comment, man!
So you were a Jordan fan as a kid too? LOL!
The craze hit my high school in Nigeria when I was a teenager.
Immediately, all the guys abandoned soccer, and went to basketball!
I did the same… although my basketball skills never matched up to the moves I could do in my head. (Oh, I lived “above the rim” in my head.)
LOL!
I love how this movie reveals that Jordan was “nothing special” in high school. And was dropped from the team freshman year.
Some would have quit. He became more determined. And rejoined the team a year later.
Then in college, most thought he would be a benchwarmer.
Until he hit a game-winning shot. And that skyrocketed his confidence.
Most would have enjoyed the fame, and just gotten by on their talent.
But he still outworked everyone else.
In the pros, he became an instant superstar.
But his team couldn’t beat the Detroit Pistons.
For 3 years straight.
Most would have enjoyed being an individual star in the league.
But he again outworked everyone else.
All the time, obsessively focusing on his basketball skills.
If we can focus and filter out everything else like he did… our success is inevitable.
Thanks for commenting, Yo!
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..Do You Love What You Know Challenge 3- Personal Brand Formula
Dear Bolaji,
Micheal Jordan miss more winning goals than he made winning goals. Who cares how many he missed anyway ? He focused on those he scored and he scored more. The point is he made more attempts than anybody else. Successful people fails all the time but they have the attitude of getting up one more time than they fall. That’s why they’re successful. Unsuccessful people doesn’t even have the courage to fail. So they choose a mediocre life living in their shell not attempting anything.
You can never get any score in without attempting to score. Just focus on your strong points and get your first score in. More will come.
Cheers,
Cheekeong Tan´s last [type] ..5 Tips To Make Your JV Giveaway Stand Out
What’s up, Cheekeong!
Ha ha – I see you know the Jordan legacy well!
He’s missed more shots than most players have ever taken.
And missed more shots than he’s made.
Great quote!
And I appreciate you saying:
“Just focus on your strong points and get your first score in.
More will come.”
Very wise words.
This can be hard to do, of course.
I myself struggled over the past 3 years to really define my “Michael Jordan story”. To really refine how I was going to add value, in a way that is uniquely me.
The only way to figure it out has been to take action.
To try,
fail,
learn from that failure,
tweak my approach,
work harder,
work smarter…
all the while staying true to who I am.
And what I love.
The patience to stick with one thing is hard.
But it’s also worth it.
Thanks for your comment, Cheekeong!
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..What Are Your Top 10 Talents Challenge 2- The Personal Brand Formula
Hey Bolaji,
I enjoyed watching all the videos of Michael Jordan’s story. What a great athlete.
What you say in the post about focusing only on one thing is a good advice for success I think.
I subscribed to get your ebook to see what you have to say there.
Cheers,
Vance
Vance Sova´s last [type] ..John Chow Networking At Vancouver Dot Com Pho With Local Bloggers
What’s up, Vance?
Thanks for your comment. I hope you enjoy the eBook!
I’m enjoying keeping up with your journey @ VanceSova.com.
I’m learning a lot, and laughing quite a bit, too.
Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Bolaji.
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..Do You Love What You Know Challenge 3- Personal Brand Formula
Hello again!! .Miss me? ..hehehehe…Hope you are doing good and dandy!! Videos were great.. thou I am no longer a basketball nut-fan as sometime ago..I do recall he worked very hard to get where he did and deserves recognition in spite of..the many spite of´s…he had a great smile..believe that when one really focuses on what you work upon, the universe opens a widen infinite stage for you to make true what you believe is for the highest good for yourself as for others and those near you who stand by your side..in spite of….
What’s up, Jessica!
yeah – I missed you – it’s been ages!
I had to LOL @ your “in spite ofs”…
I feel you on that! I’m not a fan of his off the court. But in his domain, his excellence was unmatched.
Have a great weekend!
Bolaji.
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..Story Your Life As An EPIC- The MacGuffin- Episode 4
Great post and Micheal Jordans story is a true inspiration. Will stay tuned in
What’s up, Janet, aka cFreshE, aka CoolFreshEyes.com!
Thanks for your comment. Yeah – Michael did his THING in his day.
I’m not a fan of some of his off-court antics (although compared to a lot of other pro athletes, he’s probably tamer than most. Youch.)
BUT, in his arena, on the basketball court, the legacy he built is UNPRECEDENTED.
Particularly because it’s not all talent.
Maybe even not mostly talent.
His work ethic was unparalleled.
His focus, legendary.
His drive, frightening. LOL!
There’s a lot to learn from Mike.
In many ways, I wanna be like Mike.
Thanks for your comment, Janet!
I’m loving http://www.CoolFreshEyes.com, by the way.
Just left you a comment over there – I encourage others to pop on over, too.
Here’s what I love about Michael’s story;
After he was named NBA Rookie of the Year he went home, took apart his game and rebuilt it, even though everyone said;
“Hey relax, you’re rookie of the Year!”
When he took time out from basketball to play baseball he brought the same level of commitment, even though he didn’t have baseball skills. In his absence from the Bulls, Scotty Pippen grew in leadership and when Michael came back the team was even stronger than before.
I’ve read that Muhammed Ali, even today with Parkinson’s brings a level of intensity and concentration to everything he does, even just putting a key in the car door.
Hey Barbara –
Wow – that’s great additional insight on the man behind the myth. The only thing that eclipsed his raw talent was his work ethic, and determination to win.
After the first several seasons in which he explored the depths of his individual talent, he then learned to make his teammates, and team, better. Not by berating them, but by coaching,mentoring, and giving them opportunities.
No matter how good you are, there’s always room to be better.
Thanks, Barbara!
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..Answering The Call