Greatness Only Competes with Itself
By Derek Neighbors on March 1, 2023
Have you ever heard of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant? They were two of the best basketball players to ever play the game. People often compare them to each other, but in reality, they were both great in their own ways. That’s because true greatness only competes with itself, not others.
When Michael Jordan was growing up, he wasn’t the best basketball player on his team. He was actually cut from his high school team as a sophomore. But instead of giving up, he used that setback as motivation to work harder and improve his skills. He practiced tirelessly, focusing on his weaknesses and turning them into strengths. Eventually, he became so good that he led his team to six NBA championships and won five MVP awards.
Kobe Bryant had a similar story. He was also cut from his high school team, but he didn’t let that stop him. He worked harder than ever before and eventually became one of the best players in the NBA. He won five championships and was named the MVP of the league in 2008.
Both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had a fierce competitive drive, but their competition was always with themselves. They were always looking for ways to improve, to get better, to be the best they could be. They didn’t waste time worrying about what other players were doing or trying to outdo them. They knew that true greatness came from within.
So, what can we learn from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant? Well, first of all, we can learn that setbacks and failures are opportunities for growth. When we fail, we shouldn’t give up. Instead, we should use that failure as motivation to work harder and improve ourselves.
Secondly, we can learn that true greatness comes from within. We shouldn’t compare ourselves to others or try to be better than them. We should focus on being the best versions of ourselves that we can be. If we do that, greatness will naturally follow.
Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were two of the greatest basketball players of all time. They didn’t achieve their greatness by competing with others, but by competing with themselves. They worked hard, focused on their weaknesses, and always looked for ways to improve. We can all learn from their example and strive for greatness in our own lives by focusing on ourselves and working hard to be the best we can be.
How You Can Apply This
- Embrace setbacks and failures as opportunities for growth. Don’t let setbacks or failures discourage you. Instead, use them as motivation to work harder and improve yourself.
- Focus on your own improvement. True greatness comes from within, so don’t waste time comparing yourself to others or trying to outdo them. Focus on being the best version of yourself that you can be.
- Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant both focused on improving their weaknesses to become better players. Identify your own weaknesses and work on turning them into strengths.
- Set goals for yourself and work towards them. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant both had a fierce drive to be the best they could be. Set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve them.
- Practice consistently and persistently. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant both practiced tirelessly to improve their skills. Consistent and persistent practice can help you achieve greatness in any area of your life.
