What Michael Jordan’s 'Last Dance' Teaches Us About Business

If you’ve seen The Last Dance, you know it’s more than just a sports documentary. It’s a masterclass on leadership, resilience, and team dynamics. Michael Jordan’s journey to leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships holds powerful lessons for anyone trying to scale a business, whether it’s a Fortune 500 company or a mid-market firm aiming for exponential growth.

1. The Power of Relentless Focus Jordan didn’t just want to win—he needed to win. His obsession with the game, his fierce work ethic, and his never-satisfied mentality were what made him the best. In the business world, we see this same relentless focus in mid-market firms that manage to break through tough competition. Take the example of a Belgian manufacturing company that was struggling to compete with cheaper international competitors. By narrowing their focus to a specific niche market—high-quality, sustainable packaging—they became leaders in their industry. They understood that in order to be the best, you need to focus on one thing and do it better than anyone else.

Whether you're trying to scale up or expand into new markets, maintaining focus on your unique competitive edge can make all the difference.

2. Building a Winning Team Jordan was a superstar, but even he couldn’t win championships on his own. His supporting cast—Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson—were instrumental in the Bulls’ dominance. Similarly, a mid-market SaaS company that I coached managed to increase its revenue by over 50% in one year, not because they had a single star performer but because they built a rock-solid team. They aligned their sales, marketing, and customer success teams around a common goal: delivering unmatched value to their clients.

They embraced the lesson from Jordan’s leadership: the strength of your team isn’t just about individual talent; it’s about chemistry, collaboration, and having the right people in the right roles. You need people who complement each other’s strengths and cover for each other’s weaknesses. Think about the people on your team right now. Do they fit into this mold, or is it time to rethink your lineup?

3. Resilience in the Face of Challenges Throughout The Last Dance, we see the Bulls face numerous setbacks—key injuries, internal conflicts, and intense media pressure. But what stands out is Jordan’s refusal to let those setbacks define him or his team. This same resilience is critical for any business, especially mid-market firms that face challenges like economic downturns, stiff competition, or technological disruption.

A mid-sized logistics company I worked with faced significant disruption when one of their biggest clients pulled out. Instead of panicking, the leadership team took a page from Jordan’s playbook. They focused on what they could control—strengthening their service delivery, re-engaging their existing clients, and aggressively pursuing new business. Within a year, they had not only recovered but exceeded their previous revenue. When challenges arise in business, it’s how quickly and effectively you can adapt that determines your success.

4. The Price of Success One of the recurring themes in The Last Dance is the personal and professional toll that greatness takes. Jordan’s drive to win was so intense that it sometimes led to conflict—both with his teammates and the media. In the business world, pursuing growth and success can also come with its own set of sacrifices. Many mid-market business owners I’ve worked with faced hard decisions: whether to take on debt to finance expansion, whether to let go of long-standing employees who were no longer aligned with the company’s direction, or whether to restructure entirely to remain competitive.

Take the case of a family-owned retail chain. When the time came to scale, the leadership had to make a difficult decision: they hired external executives who brought a different corporate culture but much-needed expertise. It wasn’t easy, and the transition wasn’t always smooth, but the results spoke for themselves. The company tripled its footprint in three years and became a key player in its market.

Just like Jordan, who had to make unpopular choices and push his team to uncomfortable places, business leaders often have to make tough calls in the pursuit of long-term success. The real question is: Are you willing to make those calls for the greater good of the business?

5. Leadership and Vision: Seeing the Bigger Picture One of Phil Jackson’s greatest strengths as the Bulls’ coach was his ability to get Jordan and the rest of the team to buy into his vision. The "triangle offense" wasn’t the easiest system to master, but Jackson knew that once the players fully understood it, it would unlock their potential. Similarly, mid-market firms need leaders who can see beyond the day-to-day operations and communicate a compelling vision that inspires their team.

I once worked with a mid-sized tech company that had hit a growth ceiling. The CEO knew they needed to innovate, but there was resistance within the team to adopt new technologies. By clearly articulating his long-term vision and showing how those changes would position them as market leaders, the CEO gradually got his team on board. Within two years, they had launched a groundbreaking new product line that put them ahead of their competitors.

Your Turn So, how can you bring the mindset of The Last Dance into your business? Whether you're scaling your mid-market firm, expanding into new markets, or developing your next big innovation, the lessons from Jordan and the Bulls are clear: Stay focused, build a strong team, embrace resilience, be willing to make sacrifices, and never lose sight of the bigger picture.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Comment below or reach out for a free 30-minute coaching session to explore how we can bring this winning mentality into your business.