Mamba mentality
In all you want to do in life, start by employing the basic rules for success: Identify, Focus, Build, Opportunize.
If you know Kobe Bryant, you will know that he is one of the greatest basketball players and an athlete of the first degree. He shot guards and played 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, which comprised his entire athletic career right out of high school.
Of course, just like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, we all know that the debate between professional basketball and the best is decades-long. Still, whether you believe it’s Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or any of the other basketball giants, they all got there because they put their entire heart into each game.
Similarly, when you make the decision to do whatever you've chosen to do, whether in life or in business, it's crucial to devote ever-increasing amounts of energy to that single idea. Believe that failure is not an option. This can often be the difference between making a modest achievement of your vision and turning it into the best in all.
To be the greatest, you must have a vision for yourself and your team. To develop that vision, you must first adopt the right mindset. Bryant referred to it as "Mamba mentality" — trying to get better every day at what you're doing.
So how do you develop a Mamba mentality in order to be the best in life?
Be Fearless
Long before I had my meeting with the state governor, I was a student who never spoke in class due to fear of being booed but guess what? I did not only speak with the governor, we had a good conversation. Also, when I started freelancing, I could not make any dime from Upwork and LinkedIn but now, I have made millions. What if I had given up then? What if I had been discouraged by that?
So what are you not going to allow yourself to do? Fear is temporary, but regret is forever.
Give It Your Heart
In a love letter to my diary, I wrote, “You asked for my writeups/I gave you my heart.”
No matter what you do in life, if you want to succeed, you need to do more than be the first one in and the last one out. You need to give it your heart — everything you have.
Kobe Bryant said that “everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.”
Bryant knew that life wasn’t going to hand him success. He loved the game! And when you love something—when you want it badly enough — you can’t help but put all your effort, skill, knowledge, drive, and guts into it. In other words, you’ll give it your heart.
So, let me ask you: what is the heart? It’s doing whatever it takes to win, no matter the situation.
Bryant went on to become a venture capitalist. He was a brand-builder; an investor with a vision. His empire was built on that same devotion to winning that he used on the court.
In all you want to do in life, start by employing the basic rules for success: Identify, Focus, Build, Opportunize.
Build A Good Team
My book club might have sunk if not for the great team I have. To succeed, you can’t do it alone. Get a mentor to put you through the ropes. Find a partner to set challenges for you. Build a team around you. Find the right people to help you achieve your goal.
This isn't always easy, though but you should strive to. Look around you and talk to people. It could be that silent dude who is always doing it right. It could be anyone. Use this period to also remove the unwanted twigs from your existence.
Bryant knew the importance of a good team and working with the right people. “You’ve got to have strong entrepreneurs,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “That's really the key for us is looking at the people.”
Make Your Own Luck
Sometimes, you just get lucky. How do you get lucky? You make your own luck. If you've worked hard and hustled, if you’ve put in the time and heart, you'll be ready when the opportunities show themselves. In other words, you'll be ready to opportunize. It's called being in the right place at the right time. Here's how you do it:
• You need to be willing to walk through the muck longer than anyone else.
• You need to position yourself to be lucky. Many an opportunity will be missed or go virtually unnoticed if you're not prepared.
• Don’t be just a passenger. Get in the driver’s seat of your life’s journey.
• Try to remember why you want to succeed, and what success means to you in terms of monetary reward, recognition, personal satisfaction, and freedom to be your own person.
• Don't ever play victim to anyone. Often we are our own worst enemy because we continue to play the roles we're used to even if they are not making us happy. There's plenty of success available for everyone, and you will define your success by your actions.
Those who spend their time focused on their goals and are willing to walk through the fire to get what they want will be their own superstars.
Conclusion
I am sure you have a vision for yourself. If you’re ready to take up the challenge, there’s no doubt that your vision, hustle, and heart will create extraordinary outcomes for you and turn you into the best version of yourself.
Ready to step up? Connect with me on WhatsApp by using this link
Success is always right in front of our eyes, we just need to focus well enough and look at the right place with the right lens