Ever wonder what motivated the best basketball player of all time? I’m talking about Michael Jordan in case you think he is not the greatest.
I’ve been reading some of his quotes and listening to his interviews long enough to learn what drove him to be the superstar he became. It certainly
wasn’t some complicated philosophy or saying positive affirmations about himself like, “I’m the greatest ever”, “I’m the greatest ever”. Not even close.
For him, it was pretty simple. But the most profound things in life are simple. They hit us hard. Here is what it WAS for him..
1.) His parents, his role models, thought that in his family, he was least likely to be successful. To make it big. Now, for most children, that would discourage them or make them cry, but for Mike, it was a different story. He says that that drove him to prove them wrong. To prove to himself that he can be more than that. He didn’t want to settle with mediocre results.
2.) There was a reporter that asked him, who’s the toughest player to play against. He goes.. Myself! I “just had to keep challenging myself. I was in a constant battle with myself”. The point of the matter is that he wasn’t satisfied if he won the game but if he knew that he could be better. If he didn’t give his “all” it was all nothing.
3.) His self-image. This is SO important. When asked, do you think there is any NBA player that has been more competitive that you. He goes.. No! “I’m the most competitive guy I know”. And that’s not that he’s underestimating the other players or anything like that. It’s just that his self-image is so right on the spot, that fuels him with energy and drive and motivation.
You can combine this motivation with his athletic ability and powerful mindset and you get the one and only Air Jordan.