I Wanna be Like Mike…at least in this respect

 

It might not be the single easiest thing to do, but it ranks in the top ten: Telling someone else what to do. Not when or how, that is hard. But what, that is super easy.  Seems only fitting to “remind” us all of what to do…be like Mike, and Wayne too.

Last weekend it was all about Michael Jordan turning 50 – highlights, stories, interviews and just reminders of how great a player he was, as well as reminders of what a person he is and was, warts and all.  Yet it was seeing one of his quotes that struck a chord:

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

~Michael Jordan

For all that has been said about MJ, good and bad, past and present, it is that quote that has stayed with me.  Personally and professionally, I wish I heeded his words more often.  It is a great reminder that in the end it is all about taking action.  There are literally thousands of clichés and quotes on the topic, but coming from MJ, well it just seems to resonate a bit more.

And that of course leads to the reminder from “The Great One”:

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

~Wayne Gretzky

So in the spirit of taking the easy way, it seems only fair to remind myself of what to do, or in the vernacular of Nike, to “Just Do It”.  MJ and Gretzky transcended their sport, and sports in general.  They are quite literally icons.  They became what and who they are by doing.  They did not worry about missing shots, failure in general, or what others might think.  They took action, over and over again.  Sometimes they failed, but sometimes they were successful.  There is a reason they are not anonymous 50+ year olds living in North Carolina or Ontario.  Physical gifts aside, they took risks, and that made all the difference.

 

On a personal note, I was fortunate to see Michael Jordan play live just once, and yes he was that good.  Though he had his comeback, this is the way I will always think of and remember Michael Jordan, leaving the game on top…what a moment.