Life Lessons from Michael Jordan

Born: 17 February 1963 this basketball star won six NBA titles in his glittering career.
To borrow a line from Jay-Z, Michael Jordan isn’t just a businessman — he’s a business, man.
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#1 Ace the Fundamentals
Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.
- MJ

- You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way.

#2 Trust the Game

• If you don’t completely trust the game – then deep-down you’re not going to feel motivated to give it everything you have.
• With that attitude, you’ve lost before you even begin.

#3 Learn from Your Parents

My heroes are and were my parents. I can’t see having anyone else as my heroes.

- Michael Jordan

• Jordan’s respect and admiration for his parents is one of the keys to his success.

#4 Practice Every Day
- Jordan became better at playing than everyone else by first becoming better at practicing than everyone else.

- Until the end of his career, Michael Jordan was the first person to get to the gym and the last one to leave.

#5 Don’t Let People Get in Your Head

" It’s heavy duty to try to do everything and please everybody… I can’t live with what everyone’s impression of what I should or what I shouldn’t do."

- Michael Jordan

#6 Know How to Respond to Failure

" Failure makes me work even harder."

- Michael Jordan

Jordan wasn’t always a winner.
But it only made him want to be better.

He’s said, “Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

#7 Fear is an Illusion

" I know fear is an obstacle for some people, but it’s an illusion to me."

- Michael Jordan

Fears can be self-fulfilling.

When we let go of our fears, we’re free to be more aggressive and take full advantage of our opportunities.

#8 Just Do It

"Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen."

- Michael Jordan

There are three types of people. Jordan’s the type of person who makes it happen.

#9 You Can’t Do It Alone

" If you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."

- Michael Jordan

#10 Excellence Speaks for Itself

"Let your game be your promotional or marketing tool."

- Michael Jordan

• When you consistently deliver an excellent product, people will find out. No marketing firm necessary.

#11 Expect Your Shots to Go In

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.

Michael Jordan

Jordan wouldn’t be legendary if he didn’t have such a knack for making the “big shot.”

In big moments, you should feel totally confident that you will succeed.

#12 Learn to Harness Your Emotions

Showing emotion is commonly considered a sign of weakness, but for Michael it was a source of great strength. Jordan had the rare ability maximize his emotional energy while still being in complete control.

#13 Be Like Mike: Love What You Do

"Love is playing every game as if it’s your last!"

-Michael Jordan

Jordan loves basketball so much, he once said it was his wife .

When you do your work with love, as Jordan did, it will shine through in your performance.

#14 Forget the Past
"Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again."

-Michael Jordan

Jordan’s made some tough decisions, but he doesn’t dwell on them.

There’s no reason to worry about the past because it’s not coming back.

#15 Ignore the Future

"Never think about what’s at stake… If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus."

- Michael Jordan