27 April 2024
I’ve spent the majority of my life pursuing excellence on the basketball court. For as long as I can remember, I’ve done literally whatever it takes to find my edge, reach for my potential, and compete at the highest level. While I got a lot right throughout my journey, I also believe there are things I would have done differently knowing what I know now.
Before I begin writing the next chapter of my life – I wanted to share some of what I’ve learned, in hopes it can be of use to those who have the same aspirations of becoming the best at whatever they do:
First, pursuit of greatness should not be a solo endeavor. Accountability combined with competitiveness works better than discipline, every time. When the early morning feels too early, knowing a partner in crime is counting on you to show up, makes missed days go away. And more importantly some of the biggest joys come from chasing after a common goal with someone else. If you’re lucky enough to find someone who wants what you want, to the same degree you want it, hold on tight. Some of the people who drove me to be better, weathered the lows and celebrated the highs for different phases of my journey: Carson James, Isaac White, Daniel Begovich, Michael O’Connell, Majok Deng, and many others.
Make sure you’re climbing the right mountain. Working hard for the sake of working hard will result in a good work ethic, but not necessarily progress. Habits are hard to form and even harder to break. So when working on specific fine-tuned skills where details are important (like shooting a basketball), developing a good foundation is the most critical thing you can do. Save yourself time by working on the fundamentals and developing a measurable plan for how to get from where you are to where you want to go. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
There will always be a place for someone who brings positive energy everyday. I was lucky enough to find myself in some places and be a part of teams that very few people get to be a part of. By no means, was I as talented, strong, or as fast as most of the people on those teams. But by being relentlessly positive and bringing unmatched energy, I realized I could 10x the potential of our team by simply changing the environment. Energy is contagious – make yours the best.
Develop an identity of toughness. Find ways to continue to push your threshold for discomfort. Get to the point where you embrace it – bake it into your identity. Knowing that you’ve done more, and can withstand more, than the person next you, is the ultimate edge. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.
Start Again. A lot of success can be attributed to staying in the game long enough to catch a couple of lucky breaks. This means keeping your head down and working, regardless of the outcome. When the days or weeks stack up where it feels like you are making no progress, keep showing up. And when times are good, and you feel like you’ve achieved success, show up tomorrow with the same work ethic that got you there. Don’t get swept up by the outcomes of today, just make sure your actions of today are aligned with your long term vision.
There is always a way. There will always be an excuse not to improve. But if you care enough, you’ll find a way to get access to a gym or create your own “gym” – that might be your backyard, your garage, or even your bedroom. Typical people get typical outcomes. Those who are great, find a way to always improve.
Asking for help is a superpower. Ask for advice, suggestions, and coaching – the collective knowledge of others is infinitely more than what you think you know. And more often than not, they are more than willing to share it. By asking for help, you will not only grow, but you will also develop a relationship – the most fulfilling part of this journey.
Be where your feet are. It can be tempting to always be looking to the future – thinking the next place is the best place. Living this way will deprive you of the beauties and joys of where you are right now. Win and enjoy today, and the rest will take care of itself.
“You’ll never feel more alive than when you give something everything you have.”
Sam Beskind 