In flight: The essential relationship between confidence and ownership

It was senior night in the biggest rivalry in college basketball: Carolina vs. Duke. The stage was set. Michael Jordan stood at half court while cameras clumsily clamored to capture his greatness.

No stranger to the electricity of the Dean Dome, his royal “airness,” the greatest of all time (“GOAT”), was greeted with a thunderous applause.

Gliding on the hardwood as he had many times before, Jordan spoke with a simple eloquence that makes you reconsider the need for gaudy syllables. Everything was going according to plan. Jordan was putting on a verbal clinic – that was, until in an attempt to highlight the great promise that lay ahead for the football program, he said, “The ceiling is the roof for UNC football.”

Like an unexpected punch to the gut, the camera jerked through the crowd to identify fan reactions. To no one’s surprise, the Carolina Faithful roared with admiration as if unaware that MJ just missed an uncontested dunk at slamming home an old adage.

UNC would go on to beat Duke 90-83, but MJ’s misstatement was the exclamation point on the end of the victory.

Instantly, social media was on fire with memes and Twitter posts poking fun at Jordan for his inability to command the English language. In the midst of the backlash, Michael Jordan did something that solidified his moniker as GOAT; he took ownership by creating shirts that simply stated: ‘Ceiling. Roof. GOAT.’

And just like that, the larger than life basketball superhero known for defying gravity brought himself back to Earth by demonstrating his humanness.

It would be easy, but extremely na?ve, to write off or dismiss Jordan’s ownership. If you’ve always dreamed of being like Mike, but can’t slam from the free-throw line or swish a foul shot with your eyes closed, you can be like Mike by taking ownership like him.

1.    Confidence is cooler than the other side of the pillow.

Confidence is like a magnet, it draws people closer to you. It will attract the right kind of people and help you grow a strong team of doers. The secret? Truly great people make everyone else feel that they can be great as well. They share the ball and make everyone around them better, stronger, and more confident in their abilities—even if their abilities aren’t noteworthy. Don’t believe me? Jordan and Pippen were the perennial all-stars on a team of sixth men. Their leadership motivated the Bulls to the 1991 NBA Championship.

2.    Ownership creates a humanness that connects and propels your brand.

MJ could have easily lashed out after his remarks; he could have dismissed them as if they were never spoken. After all, he’s Air Jordan. Instead, Jordan chose to connect on a human level. Often the superhero and revered for his ability to fly, Jordan’s ownership connected his brand as a symbol for normal people. The same people that buy and lace up his shoes, chug Gatorade after a pick-up game, and daydream about being on the dream team now feel like greatness can be palmed. Never underestimate the power of connection. It is a powerful force that breeds loyalty and trust.

3.    Mistakes shouldn’t stifle innovation; they should accelerate it.

MJ took a verbal faux pas and turned it into a free marketing campaign. Since Carolina vs. Duke, he’s sold more than a million t-shirts, but most inspiring is how he defied the human proclivity to overreact and effortlessly pivoted from the perils of taking himself too seriously. And just like that, as if we needed another reason to be jealous, Jordan gave us another reason to covet his ability to strive under pressure. Jordan’s ability to evolve and connect with his fan base is a direct result of his relentless ability to innovate, improve, and leave it all on the court.

When I was a kid, Gatorade launched the “Be like Mike” campaign. The hook was infectious as the 90’s drum percussion assisted a chorus of children singing, “Like Mike, if I could be like Mike.”

Most of us will never have the endorsements, the money, or the notoriety of Michael Jordan. But like Jordan, we can accept responsibility for our actions, be accountable for our results, and take ownership of our mistakes. On March 4, 2017, Jordan gave us yet another reason to envy his cool. Thanks for the lesson, Mike!