Kobe Bryant and The Mamba Mentality You Can Use To Improve Your Life
How to improve your ambition in Life
Kobe Bryant was truly one of the most accomplished, celebrated, and admired athletes of all time. Throughout his twenty-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he won five NBA championships where he was the final MVP’s for two occasions, two Olympic gold medals, eighteen All-Star selections, was the 1997 slam dunk champion, has 2nd record of most points scored in an NBA game with 81 points. He has twelve all-defensive team selections and he’s the second player with most seasons with one team (20).
Even outside the court, Kobe was successful, in 2018 he won the Oscar for the best animated short in Dear Basketball. He truly was an inspiration before his death and will be for generations, One of his most famous nicknames was Black Mamba and he lived by what he called Mamba Mentality. Black Mamba wasn’t only popular and admired for offering spectacle on the court, but also for his professionalism and mentality.
“If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be.”
The five pillars of the Mamba Mentality:
- Passion
- Obsession
- Relentlessness
- Resiliency
- Fearlessness
Kobe Bryant was not an athletic freak compared to some of the legends in the game, he didn’t have the biggest hands, the higher vertical, the fastest speed, or the most strength, but he knew how to maximize his potential as basketball player using his basketball IQ, footwork and drive. His willingness to win was so strong that his passion could be seen by his facial traits.
Passion
Kobe had a thought of “it’s a matter of what is important to you”. Kobe was very passionate about basketball and didn’t feel good if he wasn’t doing everything in his power the be the best version of himself, he couldn’t be like everyone he had a 1% mindset.
“Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.”
Obsession and Relentlessness
Kobe was synonyms of fierce and competition at his heart, he wasn’t afraid of nobody, beyond the 1vs1 battles and fearlessness making plays and shots, intensive work ethic, and preparation. He was always training and preparing his body and mind for game detail attention and crucial game moments.
Since High School Kobe decided to get up at 4/5 am and work out. By this way of training, he would get much more training from his peers which would allow him to separate him from others to the extent that was impossible for them to close the gap.
“Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.”
Fearlessness
Kobe embraced crucial moments, by his way of thinking he was made for that. He didn’t care about media or fan’s scrutiny, it didn’t matter if he missed thousands of shots, he always had the confidence to shoot another one and eventually make one, he lived by the motto that you miss all the shots that you don’t try.
“The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win.”
Resilience
The black mamba animal is lethal and so was Kobe on the court. Kobe always persevered through obstacles, when he had a ruptured Achilles tendon he still was able to play through the pain and scoring, when he injured his right and dominant shoulder he shot the ball with his left one.
“Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success.”
Everyone can’t be Kobe, but you can be the best version of yourself, and that is what the mamba mentality can do for you.
Ask, reflect and answer this questions and you can find your purpose and have the drive that Kobe had:
-What is important and what do you value?
-Do your choices/decisions reflect your values?
-What impels you to work harder and longer than anyone?
-Do you source motivation to be successful?
-Are you confident in your ability, irrespective of other’s opinions?
-How do you respond to setbacks?
-Are the people surrounding you supportive of your vision?
Find how do you want to live your life and then spend the rest of your natural life waking up and going after it.
Be the best version of yourself, not a average one but a great one.
