KOBE

Kobe Bryant was the first guard to jump from High School basketball straight into the NBA. That rare process had been reserved for big men that stood tall as men among boys. Kobe's career had many ups and downs, but he retired as arguably one of the fiercest competitors the league has ever seen. If we want to be PEOPLE... ALL IN, we must compete. We must compete to make our lives better. We must compete to make other lives better. To make our families better. To make our workplace better. To make society better.

It is said that Kobe Bryant developed a list of 10 rules that allowed him to be successful.

1 - Get Better Every Single Day

My dad shared this with me. He was commuting a little over an hour to work each day. He told me that when he pulled into the parking lot, he thanked God for delivering him safely. Then he would say to himself, "I have a choice to make today. I can choose to get better, or I can choose to get worse. Let's get better today." Those words still resonate with me today. We all can make that same choice each day. Let's get better today.

2 - Prove Them Wrong

One of the tricks that I believe is instrumental to creating drive is to believe that you have doubters. Believe that you have work to perform at the highest level to earn your seat at the table. Believe that your boss doubts your talents. Believe that your coworkers are watching. If you live in this fantasy, then every day is the opportunity to prove them wrong.

3 - Work on Your Weaknesses

When I played basketball, I worked just as hard on my left hand as I did my right-hand moves. At the end of my sophomore year in high school, I fell and broke my right wrist. The next few months were no easy vacation. I pushed every day to get better with my left hand so that it was not considered a weakness. At work, I strive to improve my personal organizational skills. In the world that I work where I am on the move, I must become efficient in storing my documents online. The more organized I am, the better I am. We all have to identify and then work on our weaknesses.

4 - Execute What You Practiced

A guy once joked to me that he was really good at basketball at 3:00pm. His only problem was that the games were at 7:00pm. As you practice getting better at your work, visualize yourself being successful when it becomes game time. If you have prepared well for a project, then execute what you have practiced when the lights come on. Believe in yourself, and make it happen.

5 - Learn from Greatness

I have heard that Readers are Leaders. Specifically, reading books with leadership knowledge. Reading biographies of successful leaders is another way to collect nuggets of wisdom. In sports, watch the Greats perform. Better yet, find a way to watch the Greats prepare. When I was in Houston recently, I bought a ticket to watch Steph Curry play against the Rockets. I arrive almost 2 hours before game time and Curry was shooting. Some of his routine was designed for the fans, but he got up so many shots during the pregame warmups. I thought he would too exhausted to play well. Well, he score 38 points. That night, I learned from greatness.

6 - Learn from Wins and Losses

When I worked for Verizon Wireless I was the store manager of 4 different locations. I am confident to say that I was considered a successful manager of each of those sites. As I transitioned from one site to the next, I restructured my approach. I reviewed my actions that made the overall picture successful. I remembered that days in which we did not win. Things did not go well, and the lessons I learned. I recollected the wins, and the processes that were established that worked well. On each of the journeys, I repacked my tool bag and changed my leadership style. If we want to get better, we must learn from wins and losses.

7 - Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness means to me that we should bring peace. Sometimes that peace is for others. Being a friend. Sharing a moment with someone to make him or her feel special. Calling a friend with intentionality to listen. Sometimes that peace is reflection. Slowing down your actions and your mind. Finding a quiet time to gain a peace for your day. Controlling your mind allows you to become better. I was given an idea that works well for me. When I am listening to someone speak, I often find myself wanting to interject or add to the conversation. In those moments, I practice mindfulness by focusing on my listening skills. Talk less. Listen more. Bring peace.

8 - Be Ambitious

When I grow up I want to be... This line is used by every young kid in the world. I challenge that we should continue this mentality all through life. We should never stop growing. We should never stop achieving. Sometimes, we have to recalibrate our plans. Being ambitious is not always about being the best at a craft. It is about being the best YOU at that craft. When I moved to South Carolina 14 years ago, I started getting my MBA at Clemson University. Not to bore you with that journey, but I graduated on December 9 from North Greenville University with my MBA. Never stop growing. Be Ambitious.

9 - Believe in Your Team

I heard a case study once where teams with similar skills were competing. In each leg of the competition a cheerleader was placed by one of the teams encouraging each move that was made. The energy from that cheerleader was transferred into the group, and they won. Each of the team members believed in one another. They created momentum. They got better. The team without the cheerleader remained stagnant. Without the creation of energy, they did not believe in the team. How can you become a better teammate at work? at home?

10 - Learn Storytelling

What does storytelling have to do with winning? Everything. People that tell stories often dream. Dreamers can think of themselves winning. Dreamers can think of others winning. Storytelling aloud gives you confidence in speaking publicly. Those skills can be used in group communication. Storytelling allows you to think about steps and processes. Crafting a good beginning sets up for success at the end. A good storyteller is fun to be around. Everyone wants to listen to the next adventure. Leaders that can create an adventure worth following at work will develop trust. Learn storytelling. I want to hear about your adventures.

All of my articles are written to allow you into a piece of my thinking. I love to compete. I love to win. I love PEOPLE. If we want to be ALL IN, we need to have rules in which we live by that drive success. I offer Kobe's suggestions to you. Bring Peace and Win.