5 Takeaways I Had from "The Last Dance"(Parts V and VI)... and How We Can Apply Them to Life, Sales and Leadership (Chapter 3).

If there's one thing I've learned in life, there's nothing more important than a strong introduction. Whether it's a first date, your initial outreach to a new lead, or meeting a client in person for the first time, first impressions are everything. It's important to ask yourself, "How do you want to be remembered?" The same could be said with "The Last Dance." Even though we've been hooked since the jump, each opening scene of every episode is crucial as it sets the tone from the start and needs to leave you wanting more for the remainder of the episode.

With that being said, there's no better introduction than the opening of Part V. It kicks off with the following six words "In Loving Memory of Kobe Bryant." Something so short, yet impactful enough to bring tears to the viewer's eyes. It dives right into the '98 All-Star Game, taking place at Michael Jordan's favorite venue, Madison Square Garden. It showcases never before seen locker room footage, including playful jabs among two of his closest friends in the game, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Most importantly, it includes archive footage of Jordan and 19-year old phenom and future legend, Kobe Bryant. Jordan highlights the killer instinct he already sees from Kobe at his young age. It proceeds with clip after clip of the two battling it out during the All-Star Game. And lastly, it ends with the two shaking hands and Jordan saying to Kobe, "I'll see you down the road." Now that's what you call a strong intro.

The quality of content from Part V and VI follow in suit, continuing to let the story unfold. The Bulls continue their dominance in the early '90s and go on to finish their first 3-peat. On top of that, Jordan and Scottie Pippen experience one of the ultimate highs in sports, capturing an NBA Championship and Olympic Gold Medal in the same year. It's a feat as rare as they come as only 5 people have done it in NBA History (I'm able to relate as I won the Super Bowl followed by a victory in the 2003 Plano Football League All-Star Game). If you're wondering, yes I'm running out of old photos from my glory years...

As mentioned in the previous articles, some of these takeaways could and should be considered a stretch. "The Last Dance" continues to teach me more about life, sales and leadership than one would think. If you haven't checked out my previous takeaways from Parts III and IV, click here. Here are 5 takeaways from Parts V and VI in no particular order:

1. "What you get from me, is from him. I don't get 5 championships here without him." - Kobe Bryant: In your profession, life and everywhere in between, find a mentor. Plain and simple. I wouldn't have gotten my start in the sports industry without a mentor providing insight on what sports teams look to hire. I wouldn't have found nearly as much success as a seller without mentors on the sales end showing me the ropes. And I guarantee I wouldn't have been able to make the jump into leadership without mentors showing me first hand what it truly means to be a leader. Finding a mentor can seem daunting, but it's one of the easiest things you can do. Simply find someone you respect/admire and ask to pick their brain. When you've done it once, ask to do it again. And again. Be proactive and continue to keep in touch. We've all been in your shoes at one point before and we're always happy to give back and pay it forward.
2. Jordan choosing Nike as his official shoe endorsement (Part 1): Jordan wanted to sign with Adidas or Converse. He didn't even want to get on the plane to meet with Nike. After speaking with his agent and his mom, he decided to at least hear them out, changing the shoe landscape and future of sports for the better. Trust your support system. We tend to think that since people don't know what's going on in our own heads, they don't know what's best for us. I tend to disagree. Being too close to a situation can at times be a detriment. Even if you don't fully agree with them or end up going with their advice, at least take the time to hear them out. Your support system is there for a reason. Use them as a sounding board to bounce different ideas or feelings that occur.
3. Jordan choosing Nike as his official shoe endorsement (Part 2): Jordan was the first non-track and field athlete to sign with Nike. Look how things turned out! The popular option isn't the only option. Often, the best things come from taking the road less traveled. I found my stride in sales by being one of the first people on my team to sell through Twitter. By being the first at something, it gave me the added confidence boost I needed. It's important to look at your business and ask yourself how can you approach it differently. How are you going to find a way to stand out? Whether it's trying a new sales process, asking your clients a different question, or finding a unique way to creatively engage prospects, find a way to be the first at something. Once you do that, continue to refine it and become an expert of the craft.
4. "When you get to the top, it’s great to be admired and respected...but every time I would get by myself, I would think about the end of the season and the ultimate goal, holding up that championship trophy and being recognized as the best team in the world." - Michael Jordan: Even at Jordan's peak, he knew that at the end of the day, it's still a team game. Being a top seller is satisfying. But being a top seller who finds a way to help lift their teammates to reach that next level provides an entirely different level of satisfaction. It can be lonely at the top of the mountain with no one to celebrate with. That's why the best athletes considered for MVP awards state that they don't care about individual accolades, but their only goal is to win a championship. Be the person who leads by example by hitting their yearly goal, but more so the person who rallies their teammates to hit their respective yearly goals, and most importantly contributes to hitting the department goal as a whole.
5. The intensity of the 1992 Dream Team scrimmage: Have you ever heard the saying "you are the average of the 5 closest people you surround yourself with"? Or a similar iteration of it? I certainly have and I'm a firm believer in that statement. It's crucial to surround your inner circle with people who don't let you settle for anything less than greatness. When you watched that Dream Team scrimmage, that's exactly what you saw. Each person competed against one another like it was the last game of basketball they may ever play. That was the standard, nothing else. In your personal life, focus your quality time on those who encourage you, lift you up and challenge you to be a better person. In your professional life, surround yourself with teammates who are going to compete against you the second you walk through the office doors and once the day comes to a close they will also be there to celebrate with you.

It's crazy to think we're already over halfway done with "The Last Dance." Be present and enjoy the journey!

(To read my takeaways from Parts VII and VIII, click here.)