Building a System for Winning

There I was... standing on the balcony, staring at the same horizon, playing the same music, regretting the same mistakes, hating myself as usual, and wondering why nothing ever changes.

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems" - James Clear

I think most of us get stuck in the vicious circle of making the same mistakes every time on a daily basis, building a system ensuring failure.

Whether it be eating clean, working out, avoiding screen-time (sucking your time & energy), finishing that ever-pending report, ending that toxic relationship, changing the loser group of friends, or fixing anything that is not right, we say, "Tomorrow".

Why is it that we never get there? Why is the difference between us and the best? Why are they where they are? Of course there are inadequacies, but by what measure, how much, and how do we reduce the gap are the research questions.

The best way to understand the 'Why', is to study the 'Greats'. And the first person that came to mind was Kobe.

• 18-time All-Star
• Five-time NBA champion
• Two-time NBA Finals MVP
• Two-time Olympic gold medallistAre amongst only a few of his achievements on the court, and all the reasons to study him.

1. "Everything was done to become a better basketball player. Everything. With that point of view, the world becomes your library to help you become better at your craft. Because you know what you're looking for."- You must first really want what you think you want.- When you're seriously attempting a goal, everything you do is guided by that purpose.- The rest starts feeling more like a distraction. - Constantly check to ensure that every action is leading you closer to the goal.
2. "If I wanted to implement something new into my game, I'd see it and try incorporating it immediately. I wasn't scared of missing, looking bad, or being embarrassed. That's because I always kept the end result, the long game, in my mind. I always focused on the fact that I had to try something to get it, and once I got it, I'd have another tool in my arsenal. If the price was a lot of work and a few missed shots, I was OK with that."- You will look terrible as an amateur at anything. - The point is to embrace the embarrassment as the price of growth.- Always have the bigger picture in mind, when taking short-term decisions.
3. "My vertical was a 40, not 45 or 46. My hands are big but not massive. I was quick but not insanely quick. I was fast but not ridiculously fast. So I had rely on skill a lot more, I had to work on angles a lot more. For as long as I can remember I have studied the game.- Know thy self. (Strengths & Weakness Analysis)- Have an in-depth understanding of what are the requirements of your goal and where you stand.- Figure out the compensating factors to work on if you can't further work on your weakness. - There is no such thing as knowing enough, be a student always.
4. "Wasting your time doubting whether you're going to be successful or not is pointless. You put one in front of the other, you control what you can. If you win, Great! You gonna have get up and do the journey all over again. You lose. Sucks! you're gonna wake up the next day and do the journey all over again. "- Failure is often undervalued. The more you fail, the better you become by knowing what doesn't work or where you lack.- Success is often over-glorified. If you've had any accomplishments you would know, the high only lasts a few moments.- Regardless of failure or success. The path remains, and the journey, to be fulfilled.
5. " I went to Goat Mountain, talked to Magic, Michael, Bird, and others. They shared their insights, their obsessiveness for the game. Michael, in particular, became my big brother. Learning from their experiences, understanding their approach, it was like tapping into a wealth of basketball knowledge."- It is important to have mentors. Even more important is to have the right ones. - Approach, without hesitations the ones who are where you want to be. As the only ones who know how to get there are the one's who have been there. - Absorb like a sponge anything and everything you get from them.- Ask for help and guidance keeping your precious tiny ego aside.
6. At a low point (2003-04), facing personal and professional crisis, he created his alter-ego. "I went from a person who was at the top of his game, had everything coming, to a year later, having absolutely no idea where life is going or if you are even going to be a part of life as we all know it.I had to separate myself. It felt like there were so many things coming at once. It was just becoming very, very confusing. I had to organize things. So I created 'The Black Mamba'. "- Build an alter-ego or channel the 'Black Mamba', with a clear purpose in mind to just get it done. - Let it take over with tunnel vision to only focus on what is to be done, and be blind to the rest.
7. " If you want to be great in a particular area, you have to obsess over it. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they're not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. They have other concerns, whether important or not, and they spread themselves out."- Kobe is said to have once warmed up before a practice from 4:15 am to 11 am, refusing to leave until he made 800 shots. - Do not start wars on multiple fronts. Focus only and only one thing. - Obsession is what it takes. Obsession in thoughts, obsession in action, obsession in every step towards the goal. Greatness is often said to be the product of obsession.

Kobe is a perfect example of building the system that supported his goals. Which is why regardless of the failures, set-backs, the injuries he would always bounce back. I mean, after 20 years in the league, for the 6th time, he dropped 60 pts in his last game. What more is to be said...

It is never too late to start. Build your system. Do it now.

Aim. Obsess. Fail. Win. Fail. Win. Fail. Fail. Fail. Win. Fail. Achieve.