2020 has been a b-tch. Yes, it has been full of opportunities to grow and become more….but it has been a relentless stream of challenges, some of which we never could have imagined in our lifetime.
COVID-19, social unrest, devastating fires out west, hurricanes/tropical storms/flooding, political b.s., volatile financial markets, home schooling, kids losing sports seasons, spike in mental health issues, a crushed job market, and_________________________......fill in the blank as there is so much more.
For me, this year started to turn on January 26th when the news of Kobe Bryant’s death started to leak out. Then we found out there were eight others on board including his daughter Gianna.
I will never forget where I was, who called to tell me, and how I sat in my car for 30 minutes completely numb thinking about what life was going to be like for the families of those nine victims.
Tonight, when the Los Angeles Lakers take the court against the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, they will be wearing the Black Mamba uniforms in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
My guess….this series is over.
Though Kobe did possess loads of talent, it was his mental fortitude that propelled him to greatness. He had one of the most determined and electric mindsets we have ever and will ever experience.
The “Mamba Mentality” was a play on his nickname “The Black Mamba” which was the alter-ego he created for himself in 2003-2004 when his personal and professional life hit a low point.
The name was chosen after Kobe saw the Quentin Tarantino movie Kill Bill in which an assassin kills another character with a Mamba snake. Kobe was drawn to the snake’s speed, length, bite, strike, temperament, and was captivated by the way snakes shed their skin (A reference to growing out of his old self).
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According to Kobe he went from a person who was at the top of his game, had everything coming, and then a year later he had no idea where life was going.
He wanted to separate himself from all the things coming at him at once and to solve his confusion by getting organized.
The Mamba Mentality is about more than just basketball.
“Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most,” he told Amazon Book Review.
“It’s the ultimate mantra for the competitive spirit, It started just as a hashtag that came to me one day and it’s grown into something athletes- and even non-athletes-embrace as a mindset.”
“Hard work outweighs talent-every time,” he continued. “Mamba mentality is about 4 a.m. workouts, doing more than the next guys and then trusting in the work you’ve put in when it’s time to perform. Without studying, preparation, and practice, you’re leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate.”
Simply stated…..It is a constant quest to be the best version of one’s self.
Mind-blowing…..no.
Practical and actionable….absolutely!
What distinguishes the extraordinary from the ordinary is the amount of work and dedication put into perfecting a craft. Kobe lived this better than anyone.
Kobe was hyper-focused in his pursuit of mastery.
In his book, The Mamba Mentality: How I Play Kobe stated “If you want to be great in a particular area, you have to obsess over it. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. They have other concerns, whether important or not, and they spread themselves out.”
Off the court, Kobe was just as obsessed with greatness. He cold-called and texted numerous business people and entrepreneurs to pick their brains about success, sometimes at 3 a.m. He started his own media company dedicated to storytelling and produced a short animated documentary that won an Oscar. And there is the wonderful story of how he taught himself to play Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” by ear on the piano.
Mamba-fy Your Own Life
You do not have to be a superstar to actualize the Mamba Mentality in your own life.
Take some time to yourself and think about what Kobe tried to impart.
Then, ask yourself these questions:
·What areas of your life could you apply the Mamba Mentality to?
·Are there certain things you are good at that you could become the master of?
·Are you putting in the work necessary to accomplish mastery?
·Are you letting fear of failure inhibit your pursuit of success?
Put in the reps.
Do not get bored with the basics.
Embrace the process.
