Maybe it's my fault, or maybe you are just making excuses

The previous post, in which I wrote of Elon Musk’s work ethic and constant desire to improve, caused me to think back of a great Nike advertisement from the 90s.

It is very rare that I find anything in a tv commercial that reaches audience on a philosophical level and gives a motivation. This advertisement, titled ‘Maybe it’s my FAULT or maybe you're just making EXCUSES’ is a true exception.

In this one, we see a series of images from Jordan’s past, from childhood to adolescence to manhood, as we hear him.

It is a 60-second spot I have seen more than a hundred times, and I even even used it in parts my teaching and public speaking. When I speak to people about the question if leaders are born or made, make a strong case that any remarkable accomplishment in any field is the result of practice and passion, and never a result of gifted abilities.

Becoming an effective leader, learning to communicate in ways that motivate others, is more about practice and persistence than about innate talent.

When someone looks as natural as Michael Jordan with a basketball, we wrongly conclude that prowess must be the result of gifted and inborn talent. Any great feat in sport or any area, takes years of hard work, attention to details, rigorous corrections and willpower.

 “Maybe I made you think…that my game was built on flash and not fire.” Here, we find a crucial lesson about leadership. Nowadays, the criterions to choose leader are sometimes wrong. We are impressed when they are flashy and charismatic. Jordan reminds us that his success was built more on character and determination than on panache.

“Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God-given gift and not something I worked for, every single day of my life.” This is the most important point he makes. We can become better every day through diligence and mindful practices.

“Maybe I destroyed the game, or maybe…you’re just making excuses.” Here, Jordan closes by asking each of us to “Become Legendary”. He is challenging us to reach our full potential. Anything else is a plain excuse. We all have scope for improvement and can do so by right mindset and persistence.

Rather than making excuses or complaining, each of us should strive to change the things we long to see or change, thus, becoming the people of influence.