#340 Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

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Mar 1, 2024

Explore the competitive drive of basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, revealing their unmatched commitment to excellence. Discover how they transformed fear and self-doubt into powerful motivations for success. Learn about the relentless work ethic that defined their careers and how they demanded the same dedication from their teammates. Insights from their trainer shed light on their mental resilience and the pursuit of mastery in an era rich with opportunities. These legends' stories highlight the necessity of personal accountability on the road to greatness.

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ANECDOTE

Jordan's Revenge

After the 1995 playoffs, Michael Jordan vowed revenge on the Orlando Magic, who had questioned his abilities.
The next season, he led the Bulls to a record 72 wins and swept the Magic, proving his doubters wrong.

INSIGHT

Trust Your Instincts

True success comes from trusting your instincts, not following prescribed steps.
Tim Grover emphasizes the importance of independent thinking over seeking external direction.

ANECDOTE

Mozart's Wisdom

A young man asked Mozart how to write a symphony, highlighting the desire for instruction.
Mozart's reply, that he never asked but learned by doing, underscores the value of independent exploration.

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Winning

The Unforgiving Race to Greatness

Shari Wenk

Tim Grover

In 'Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness', Tim S. Grover presents a brutally honest and results-driven strategy for achieving massive success. Drawing from his three decades of work with elite competitors, Grover challenges conventional wisdom and emphasizes the importance of single-minded intensity and continuous learning. The book outlines thirteen crucial principles for unbeatable performance, applicable not just to athletes but to innovators and leaders in various fields. It highlights the need to challenge traditional methods, think originally, and persist in overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness.

Showboat

The Life of Kobe Bryant

Roland Lazenby

In 'Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant', Roland Lazenby provides a comprehensive and detailed portrait of Kobe Bryant. The book covers Bryant's life from his ancestral influences and childhood, where he was exposed to basketball through his father Joe Bryant, to his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Lazenby uses extensive research and numerous interviews to reveal the complexities of Bryant's public image, his personal life, and his relationships on and off the court. The biography is praised for its thoroughness and engaging writing, making it an essential read for basketball fans and those interested in sports biographies.

Relentless

From Good to Great to Unstoppable

Shari Wenk

Tim Grover

In this book, Tim S. Grover reveals what it takes to achieve total mental and physical dominance. He breaks down the essential traits shared by the most intense competitors and achievers in sports, business, and all walks of life, known as 'The Relentless 13.' Grover shows how to trust your instincts, get in the Zone, control and adapt to any situation, and find your opponent’s weakness and attack. The book is packed with previously untold stories and unparalleled insight into the psyches of the most successful athletes of our time, demonstrating how even the best can get better.

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

Naval Ravikant

Eric Jorgenson

Tim Ferriss

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a compilation of Naval's thoughts on fundamental principles for happiness, wealth creation, decision-making, and personal growth. The book distills his insights from the last ten years into practical advice, guiding readers on how to walk their own unique path toward a happier, wealthier life. It emphasizes the importance of compound interest, leveraging resources, and productizing oneself. The book also delves into key aspects of life, including relationships, health, and purpose, offering a holistic approach to wealth and happiness.

The Score Takes Care of Itself

My Philosophy of Leadership

Bill Walsh

This book provides insights into Bill Walsh's philosophy of leadership, gleaned from his successful career as the head coach and general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. Walsh stresses the importance of creating a strong culture, setting high standards, and thorough preparation. He advocates for leaders to focus on the process rather than the outcome, emphasizing that 'the score takes care of itself' when the right principles are applied. The book also touches on Walsh's personal struggles and the toll of relentless pressure, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal life. It offers practical advice on leadership, applicable not only in sports but also in business and other fields[1][2][4].

Michael Jordan: The Life

Roland Lazenby

This biography, written by Roland Lazenby, delves into the life of Michael Jordan, from his early days in North Carolina to his rise as a global ambassador for basketball. It covers his growth from a skinny rookie to a legendary player and business icon, highlighting his ruthless competitiveness and insatiable drive. The book draws on Lazenby's personal relationships with Jordan's coaches, friends, teammates, and family members, as well as interviews with Jordan himself, to provide a detailed and compelling portrait of the man behind the myth.

Driven from Within

Michael Jordan

Mark Vancil

In 'Driven from Within,' Michael Jordan provides a detailed look at his life, from his early days in basketball to his illustrious NBA career. The book highlights his dedication, hard work, and the internal drive that made him a legend. It also delves into his business ventures, particularly the creation and success of the Air Jordan brand, and features contributions from family members and colleagues. The book is a testament to Jordan's relentless pursuit of excellence and his ability to inspire others through his story.

Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson

This biography, based on more than 40 interviews with Steve Jobs and over 100 interviews with family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues, provides a riveting story of Jobs' roller-coaster life and intense personality. It highlights his passion for perfection, his ferocious drive, and how he revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing. The book explores Jobs' contradictions, his 'reality distortion field,' and the lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values that can be drawn from his life and career.

Creative Selection

Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs

Ken Kocienda

In 'Creative Selection,' Ken Kocienda offers a detailed look at Apple's software development process during his 15-year tenure at the company. The book focuses on the 'creative selection' process, a method of iterative development through continuous demos and feedback. Kocienda shares stories of his work on key products like the iPhone, iPad, and Safari web browser, and discusses the essential elements of innovation at Apple, including inspiration, collaboration, craft, diligence, decisiveness, taste, and empathy. The book provides insights into the working culture and decision-making processes under Steve Jobs' leadership.

Mozart

A Life

Paul Johnson

Sam Walton

Made in America

John Huey

Sam Walton

In 'Sam Walton: Made in America,' Sam Walton shares his personal and professional journey, from his early life in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, to the founding and expansion of Walmart. The book is a first-person account supplemented by quotes from friends, family, and colleagues. It highlights Walton's core values, such as the importance of hard work, customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing. The autobiography also provides insights into Walton's leadership style, his approach to business, and the lessons he learned throughout his career. The book was published posthumously in 1993 and offers a compelling and inspiring look at the life of one of America's most successful entrepreneurs.

What I learned from reading Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover and Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness by Tim Grover.

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(3:00) What I am giving you is insight into the mentality of those who have found unparalleled success by trusting their own instincts.

(3:00) Mozart: A Life by Paul Johnson. (Founders #240)

(6:00) Michael was the best because he was relentless about winning. No matter how many times he won he always wanted more and he was always willing to do whatever it took to get it.

(6:00) Michael never cared about achieving mere greatness. He cared about being the best ever.

(7:00) These are the most driven individuals you'll ever know, with an unmatched genius for what they do: they don't just perform a job, they reinvent it.

(8:00) Alex Rodriguez interviews Kobe Bryant

(11:00) The most important thing, the one thing that defines and separates him from any other competitor: He's addicted to the exquisite rush of success and he'll alter his entire life to get it.

(11:00) The mind will play tricks on you. The mind was telling you that you couldn't go any further. The mind was telling you how much it hurt. The mind was telling you these things to keep you from reaching your goal. But you have to see past that, turn it all off if you are going to get where you want to be. —

—Driven From Within by Michael Jordan and Mark Vancil. (Founders #213)

(12:30) If one thing separated Michael from every other player, it was his stunning ability to block out everything and everyone else. He was able to shut out everything except his mission.

(14:00) At some point you made something simple into something complicated.

(16:00) Being at the extreme in your craft is very important in the age of leverage. The best person in the world at anything gets to do it for everyone.

(20:00) A 600 page biography of Kobe Bryant: The Life of Kobe Bryant by Roland Lazenby. (Founders #272)

(21:00) This could be an ad for FOUNDERS NOTES

The greats never stop learning.

All the hours of work have created an unstoppable internal resource you can draw on in any situation.

(22:00) Mostly he tested himself. It seemed that he discovered the secret quite early in his competitive life: the more pressure he heaped on himself the greater his ability to rise to the occasion.

— Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby. (Founders #212)

(23:00) Kobe and Ahmad Rashad interview

(23:00) Be indifferent to the opinions of other people. Michael does not care what you think. Kobe does not care what you think. There is no one that can hold them to a higher standard than themselves.

(34:00) How Kobe Bryant knew he was going to win a lot of championships:

It was easy to size other players up in the NBA. I found that a lot of guys played for financial stability. Once they got that financial stability the passion, the work ethic, and the obsessiveness was gone. Once I saw that I thought, “This is going to be like taking candy from a baby. No wonder Michael Jordan wins all these fucking championships.”

(35:00) Michael Jordan worked on consistency, relentlessly.

(49:00) A good competitor always evaluates his oppenent. And you understand him for what he really is. You never try to give him confidence you try to take it at all times. — Michael Jordan video

(53:00) Everyone wanted to be like Mike. Mike did not want to be like anyone else.

(1:07:00) Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs by Ken Kocienda. (Founders #281)

(1:07:00) Stop adding. Start deleting. Winning demands total focus.

(1:11:00) It started with hope.

It started with hope.

We went from a shitty team to one of the all time greatest dynasties.

All you needed was one little match to start that whole fire.

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