Kobe Bryant was a global sensation for many different reasons. But pivotal among that is his unbelievable work ethics and obsessive desire to win.
As a young entrepreneur building a globally-minded, Africa-focused brand, I take a lot from his mamba mentality – which according to him means to constantly try to be the best version of yourself; a constant quest to be better today than you were yesterday.
President Obama once said that the best way to connect with people is through their stories. Whether you loved Kobe or not, there’s no controversy in the fact that his life was absolutely remarkable. Not only did he commit his career to working with one organization for 20 years, but he also played the game with so much love and passion. He left a legacy that inspired and continues to inspire, several generations. But that’s not all. When he retired from the game, he went on to remake himself by building a beautiful career in an entirely different industry. He was that much determined to chart this course to the full length, but alas, his life was cut short by a plane crash ?
As we mourn his tragic death at the young age of 41, I want to share 10 of his best quotes that, if you apply them to your own life, can help you achieve all your goals and live your life on your own terms in the next 12 months or less.
Kobe Bryant’s Quote On Choosing to Win
“When you make a choice and say, ‘Come hell or high water, I am going to be this,’ then you should not be surprised when you are that. It should not be something that is intoxicating or out of character because you have seen this moment for so long that … when that moment comes, of course, it is here because it has been here the whole time because it has been [in your mind] the whole time.”
“There’s a choice that we have to make as a people, as individuals. If you want to be great at something there is a choice you have to make. We can all be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that family time, hanging out with your friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with that.”
“The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that you’re here and you are for real. I’m young, but I am not going to back down from anybody. I’m just going to play hard and who knows?”
“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. No matter what the injury — unless it’s completely debilitating — I’m going to be the same player I’ve always been. I’ll figure it out. I’ll make some tweaks, some changes, but I’m still coming.”
Kobe Bryant On Being the Best Version of Yourself
“Everything was done to learn how to become a better basketball player. When you have that point of view, then literary the world becomes your library to help you become better at your craft – because you know what you’re looking for.”
“You have to obsess over it. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness. They have other concerns, whether important or not, and they spread themselves out.”
Kobe Bryant on Leadership
“The topic of leadership is a touchy one. A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord. Throughout my years, I haven’t had that fear.”
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do. “
Bryant’s Quote on work ethics
“I’ve played with IVs before, during and after games. I’ve played with no sleep, a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don’t miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn’t that serious in the first place.”
“Have a good time. Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, smile and just keep on rolling.”