Greatness

Diving into the similarities, differences, and lessons we can learn from the lives of the two legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
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Check out my new book Chasing Greatness: Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

Sign up for my weekly greatness newsletter sent out every Saturday morning with stories, lessons, and quotes from greats throughout history, and some thoughts from me.

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Show Notes

1:15 - Defining Moments

5:15 - Obsession vs Controlled Obsession
“The most dedicated athlete I’ve ever worked with by far. Jordan would do the extra work when he needed to. Kobe was always going. His dedication to being the best basketball player, to me, was unparalleled. - Tex Winter

8:30 - Confidence + Irrational Belief
“His competence was exceeded only by his confidence.” - Lacy Banks on MJ

11:57 - Self-Made Motivation
“If you look at his path, it’s filled with moments of sort of created challenges for himself to raise his level. The thing that amazes me is that the standards he has set are so unbelievably high that it’s almost unfair that he has to maintain them.” - Steve Kerr on MJ

14:38 - Find Your Team

16:16 - Be a Sponge
“Kobe was like a sponge. If he wanted to know something, he’d come and ask you…show me how you do this, show me how you do that.”

18:15 - Be a Competitor
“Jordan came to practice every day like it was Game 7 of the NBA finals. He would destroy you in practice. That’s what set the tone of our team.”

20:10 - One Big Takeaway
“The moment is bigger than the injury. You don’t feel the pain.” - Kobe Bryant

Check out Roland Lazenby's books Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan: The Life to dive deeper into their stories. 

Diving into the stories, lessons, and greatness of Kobe Bryant from Roland Lazenby's book Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant

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Check out my new book Chasing Greatness: Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of Excellence

Sign up for my weekly greatness newsletter sent out every Saturday morning with stories, lessons, and quotes from greats throughout history, and some thoughts from me.

-----
Show Notes

2:15 - Childhood
“Kobe on stage was probably the most focused kid I’ve ever seen on the court. No bullshit, no taking it easy. He’s not going to smile at you. He’s going to kill you from bell to bell, no mercy. He didn’t give a fuck.” - Sonny Voccaro

6:25 - Irrational Belief
"I’m going to be that one in a million.”

8:55 - Kobe's Obsession
“We worked out twice a day. We’d start at ten in the morning; Kobe was there at eight. We’d get done at twelve; Kobe would stay till two. We’d start again at seve at night; Kobe’s be there at five.” We’d finish at nine, he’d stay to eleven. Every day. Non of the pros were doing that.” - Mo Howard

15:00 - His Defining Moment
“Coach, if you give me the ball, I’ll drain it for you.” 

21:45 - Imagination and Curiosity
Sports Illustrated said on Kobe, “Perhaps no player has ever made more use of his imagination.”

28:15 - Being the Man
“I just want to be the man. I don’t know how I’m going to get there. I just have to find a way.”

30:04 - Unparalleled Confidence
Kobe scored 62 through three quarters in 2006. When assistant Bryan Shaw asked if he wanted to go in in the 4th to get 70, he said, “Nah, I’ll get it another time.”

33:15 - Work, Work, and More Work
“He was on his second workout before anyone else had even showed up. That’s when I knew he was a different beast. It told me about his work ethic and his will to be great.” - Dwyane Wade

34:55 - Struggle and Pain

“The moment is bigger than the injury. You don’t feel the pain.”

37:42: Lessons Learned
“Kobe was like a sponge. If he wanted to know something, he’d come and ask you…show me how you do this, show me how you do that.” - Mo Howard

Diving into the stories, lessons, and greatness of Michael Jordan from Roland Lazenby's book Michael Jordan: The Life

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You can check out my new book Chasing Greatness

Sign up for my weekly greatness newsletter sent out every Saturday morning with stories, lessons, and quotes from greats throughout history, and some thoughts from me.

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2:15 - The Root of his Competitiveness
5:50 - The Cut and Closing Your Eyes
11:40 - MJ's Superpower
14:25 - College Ball
18:30 - MJ's Turning Point
19:50 - The Pros
24:00 - Jordan's Unique Drive
28:01 - Find an Enemy
31:36 - Seven Years
33:19 - Create Your Own Motivation
40:43 - The Power of Struggling
47:20 - Key Takeaways and Lessons

Discover the resilience, dedication, and passion that powered one of NBA's greatest players, Magic Johnson. This episode promises to take you behind the scenes of Magic's life, unveiling the profound influence of his father, his unwavering obsession with basketball, and the critical decisions that propelled his career to stardom. We'll follow Magic's journey, from his awe-inspiring performance on the court, his famous rivalry with Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, to his life-changing HIV diagnosis.

We'll explore the struggles and triumphs that made Magic Johnson an NBA legend. His battles with best teams, his response to criticism, injuries, and the intense pressure of fame - these experiences shaped Magic's career and life in ways unimaginable. We'll relive the unforgettable and forgotten 1988 NBA finals. 

But Magic's story doesn't end on the court. Post his HIV diagnosis, he reinvented himself as an activist, educating the public about HIV and AIDS. His inspiring journey teaches us valuable lessons about duty, love, support, and the transformative power of a relentless spirit. So, come along for an unforgettable journey into the life of Magic Johnson, a true basketball legend and an enduring symbol of resilience. Let's delve into the magic that is Magic Johnson.

Sources: 

My Life - Magic Johnson and William Novak

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Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
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At the heart of every great individual is the virtue of courage. It inspires. It moves us forward. It changes the world.

But what is courage? Is it merely risking your life for others or does it run deeper than that? This episode unravels the essence and significance of courage - a virtue that is central to all greatness, yet so often misunderstood. We explore the rich tapestry of courage, from the moral struggles of Edmund G Ross in 1868, to the inspirational journeys of Cicero, Frank Serpico, and Elizabeth Blackwell. We offer a fresh perspective, encouraging you to redefine your understanding of courage - it’s not just about overcoming fear, but choosing to face it head-on.

Let's get it.


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Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900

In today's show, I sit down with Sayer Covington and talk about everything greatness. We dive into some stories, ideas, and lessons from the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Jordan to Leonardo Da Vinci and David Goggins, take a look at what's most misunderstood about the greats and why so few go on to change the world, keys to succeeding in the start-up world, and much more. 

Enjoy

You can check out Sawyer's twitter and Newsletter "The Greats" below
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sawyercovington
Newsletter: https://the-greats.beehiiv.com

If you want to receive more stories, ideas, and thoughts like this, sign up for my Weekly Greatness newsletter which is sent out every Saturday to challenge how you think, live, and act. Sign up here: https://www.chasegreatness.net/newsletter

If you wanted to challenge your mindset, sign up for my Be a Philosopher course: https://chasinggreatness1.gumroad.com/l/beaphilosopher

Stay connected with everything else Chasing Greatness below:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CG_Greatness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan__watts__/
Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900

Eleanor Roosevelt is the definition of greatness. Breaking the status quo, changing how the First Lady is seen today, and fighting for the underserved all across the world. And in today's episode, we dive into her journey and four key stories that define the amazing woman Eleanor was, and what she can teach  us in our pursuit toward greatness. 

Enjoy.

If you want to receive more stories, ideas, and thoughts like this, sign up for my Weekly Greatness newsletter which is sent out every Saturday to challenge how you think, live, and act. Sign up here: https://www.chasegreatness.net/newsletter

If you wanted to challenge your mindset, sign up for my Be a Philosopher course: https://chasinggreatness1.gumroad.com/l/beaphilosopher

Stay connected with everything else Chasing Greatness below:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CG_Greatness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan__watts__/
Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900

Albert Einstein. A rebellion. An outlier. A difference maker. And in today's show, we take a deeper dive into his life and some unique stories that can offer some lessons, thoughts, and ideas to help in your pursuit of greatness. 

Enjoy.

If you want to receive more stories, ideas, and thoughts like this, sign up for my Weekly Greatness newsletter which is sent out every Saturday to challenge how you think, live, and act. Sign up here: https://www.chasegreatness.net/newsletter

If you wanted to challenge your mindset, sign up for my Be a Philosopher course: https://chasinggreatness1.gumroad.com/l/beaphilosopher

Stay connected with everything else Chasing Greatness below:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CG_Greatness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan__watts__/
Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900

Thomas Edison. A creator. Inventor. World Changer. Difference Maker. And in today's show, we take a deeper dive into his life and some unique stories that can offer some lessons, thoughts, and ideas to help in your pursuit of greatness. 

Enjoy.

If you want to receive more stories, ideas, and thoughts like this, sign up for my Weekly Greatness newsletter which is sent out every Saturday to challenge how you think, live, and act. Sign up here: https://www.chasegreatness.net/newsletter

If you wanted to challenge your mindset, sign up for my Be a Philosopher course: https://chasinggreatness1.gumroad.com/l/beaphilosopher

Stay connected with everything else Chasing Greatness below:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CG_Greatness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan__watts__/
Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900

Kobe Bryant is a five time champion, the fourth leading scorer in NBA history, and eighteen time all star. A legend. An Icon. A role model.

But getting to those moments were bumpy. He faced adversity, failed endlessly, and hit roadblocks. And it was how he responded in those moments that shaped who he would turn out to be. 

We take a ride down two stories of Kobe, one from his rookie year and one as an eight grader that would define his career. 

Stay Connected
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Website and store: https://www.chasegreatness.net
Weekly newsletter: https://www.chasegreatness.net/newsletter
Blog: https://medium.com/@jwatts032900
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasing__greatness__/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CG_Greatness