Three years ago, we lost one of the greats. Kobe Bean Bryant.
I owe a debt of gratitude to the Black Mamba.
He was a source of inspiration during my formative years in high school and college.
During that time, I emulated his work ethic and drive, which helped me achieve my academic goals, putting me on a fast track to begin my career as a pharmacist. When he passed in 2020, it was a tremendous loss. 11 months after his death, my eldest son was born. It gives me a bit of solace, knowing the two of them are linked by that day. Every month on the 26th, I celebrate my son and mourn my hero. As a tribute to Kobe, I want to share three lessons I learned from him, that help me to this day.
1) Get over yourself.
I heard Kobe tell a story about the time he shot 4 airballs against the Utah Jazz in the 1997 playoffs. His reaction?
“You’re not that important, get over yourself… You’re worried about how people may perceive you, your walking around and it’s embarrassing, you shot 5 airballs. Get over yourself. After that, ask yourself why did those airballs happen?”1
By taking emotion out of the equation and looking at the situation objectively, he knew what he needed to do to prepare for next year. Come back stronger.
Execution over emotion. Rationality instead of reactivity.
When we fail, it’s easy to get caught up in a storm of self-doubt and self-loathing. The quickest and easiest way to move on is to let go. Let go of your ego, let go of your expectations. Respond with logic, assess your shortcomings, get over yourself and come back stronger.
2) Lead by example.
When I ask my patients what they value most in their lives, they typically respond with family and health. However, most people fall into the trap of prioritizing their careers and work over their personal health and family relationships.
I once heard Kobe tell a fan, no matter how much effort you put in at work, when you come home you have to double it. It’s a lesson I think about often, especially now that I have two young sons.
As a parent, you have to model behaviour. Your children will follow your lead, and you can’t just talk the talk, you have to back it up with action. No matter how much effort you put in at work to provide for your family, be prepared to work even harder at home. When I struggle to find energy, all it takes is a moment with my kids. I look them in the eyes and it’s all the motivation and inspiration in the world to keep pushing and be there for them.
3) Take your shot.
The game of basketball is a great metaphor for the game of life. In basketball, you miss more than half your shots. Kobe was notoriously labelled as a chucker, pundits would argue he shot too much. But one thing that always stood out was his courage and willingness to shoot in high-pressure moments. His game-winners and ability to close out games became one of his lasting legacies.2
In life, we also miss most of our shots, but we also fail at attempting them. Most people are afraid to take a chance, especially when something is on the line – money, their ego, or a shot at love. When I’m in a situation that requires courage and confidence, I do my best to follow in Kobe’s footsteps – put in the work, prepare as much as I can, and let it fly. Although Kobe is gone, his legacy will carry on through all of us that live with the mamba mentality.
Gone but not forgotten.
SG
“Those times when you get up early and you work hard; those times when you stay up late and you work hard; those times when don’t feel like working — you’re too tired, you don’t want to push yourself — but you do it anyway. That is actually the dream. That’s the dream. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey. And if you guys can understand that, what you’ll see happen is that you won’t accomplish your dreams, your dreams won’t come true, something greater will.”
– Kobe Bryant
