Ballin' with Barber

Though Bryant is gone, his legacy lives through all those inspired by his dedication to excellence.

Throughout his 20-year NBA career, Bryant’s basketball prowess earned him 18 All-Star selections, five NBA championship titles, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. Off the court, Bryant was a published author, philanthropist, partner of a venture capital firm, head of his own media studio, and a dedicated father to four girls.

Though Bryant did possess heaps of raw talent, his fellow professional athletes contend it was his sheer mental fortitude that propelled him to greatness. Bryant had one of the most determined and electric mindsets not just for a basketball player but also for any human living on this earth.

Bryant’s mindset can be summed up in his own coinage: the “Mamba mentality.” Understanding it provides a glimpse into what made him so great, and it has profound implications for our own lives, as well.

Mamba Mentality

The alter-ego helped Bryant cultivate his own philosophy. Simply stated, Mamba mentality means “just trying to get better every day.” It’s the “simplest form of just trying to get better at whatever you’re doing.” Sure, it’s not mind-blowing as far as philosophy goes, but it is practical and actionable. In his Mamba Mentality autobiography, Bryant explains in more detail the importance of mastery and the lessons of failure. He discusses the power of obsession:

If you want to be great in a particular area, 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.

It’s easy for people to point at masters like Bryant and remark that their talent is simply God-given. But the reality is that even though some might have natural attributes or abilities, what distinguishes the ordinary from the extraordinary is the amount of work and dedication put into perfecting a craft. Bryant knew this best.

Bryant was always the first one to show up at practice, sometimes injured, and often before the lights even came on—sometimes five hours before practice even started. He once warmed up before a practice from 4:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., refusing to leave until he made 800 shots.

Even in high school, Bryant would practice from 5 a.m. until 7 a.m.—before classes started. He would also challenge his high school teammates to one-on-one matches, first to 100. He won his worst game 100-12.

Off the court, Bryant was just as obsessive. He cold-called and texted numerous business people and entrepreneurs to pick their brains about success, sometimes at 3 a.m. He started his own media company dedicated to storytelling and produced a short animated documentary that won an Oscar. He taught himself to play Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” by ear on the piano.

In addition to mastery, one must accept failure as part of the learning process. Failure is inevitable, and when gone about the right way, it has a lot to teach us about improvement. On the importance of it, Bryant states:

If I wanted to implement something new into my game, I’d see it and try incorporating it immediately. I wasn’t scared of missing, looking bad, or being embarrassed. That’s because I always kept the end result, the long game, in my mind. I always focused on the fact that I had to try something to get it, and once I got it, I’d have another tool in my arsenal. If the price was a lot of work and a few missed shots, I was OK with that.

Bryant realized that if you want to improve or learn something new, you’re going to fail at your first attempts. But through repetition and trials, you will eventually improve. When you understand that, failure becomes an integral tool in bettering yourself.

That’s an important thing to keep in mind. What inhibits many from achieving or even pursuing goals is the fear of failure or embarrassing one’s self.

Mamba-fy Your Own Life

Bryant shared his Mamba mentality with countless individuals, teams, and organizations in hopes of giving them the mindset to achieve greatness. The benefit of this philosophy is you don’t have to be a superstar to actualize it in your own life.

Think about what Bryant tried to impart. What areas in your life could you apply it to? Are there certain things you’re good at that you could become a master of? Are you putting in the work necessary to accomplish mastery? Are you letting the fear of failure inhibit your pursuit of success?

It’s tragic that Bryant was taken from this world so young. One of the best ways to honor the dead, however, is to take the best aspects of their character and integrate them in your own life, letting the light of them shine through you.

That may be the proper way to view a person’s legacy. It’s the impact on others that continues to exist, long after we leave this body. Though Bryant is gone, his legacy lives through all those inspired by his dedication to excellence.

While most people generally believe that sports only teach you how to win games or be physically strong, I believe sports have a far greater impact on your life. They help you develop real-world skills that can be applied to all areas of your life. Listed are some important life lessons basketball can teach you. Although I’m sure that these life lessons can be acquired through any sport, I have related these skills to basketball. 

1. There is no substitute for hard work

If you really want to excel at something, hard work is the only way. When I want to perfect my jump shot or make more free throws, the only way I can do it is by practice.  It is also essential to practice the right way. I remember my coach once told me, “Don’t practice till you get it right, practice till you can’t get it wrong.”

It is the same with any other field in life. If you want to get better at school or get a raise at your workplace, the only way you can do it is by hard work. There are no shortcuts to this.  We are always taught to dream big but what we don’t realize most often is that our dreams don’t work unless we do. There is no substitute to hard work, ever.

2. Believe in yourself

In the sport of basketball, you cannot succeed unless you believe in yourself and your teammates. It is this belief that gives you confidence.  You must believe you will make that crucial free throw or make the buzzer-beater, which will win you the game.  That is the first step to move forward.

Similarly in life, you must believe in yourself. You must have faith in your abilities. Without this belief and faith in your capabilities, you cannot be successful or happy.

3. Be unselfish and be a team player

Basketball is a team sport and unless each player plays his/her role and contributes for the benefit of the team as a whole, it is not possible to win. Coordination and teamwork is an essential part of any team.

Similarly in life, we only grow if we are willing to contribute, share and cooperate. As the adage goes, “If you play your heart out for what your jersey says on the front, people will remember what it says on the back.”

4. Overcoming adversity and obstacles

Sports teach you to overcome adversity.  What might, in your opinion, be a wrong call by the referee may cost you a game or your key players might injure themselves before an important game and upset your game plan. In such situations you learn to overcome adversity and temporary failures.

Life too isn’t fair and much of it involves overcoming setbacks. You develop the mentality to overcome adversity through sport. “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” –Michael Jordan

5. The importance of discipline

For a sportsperson, discipline is essential.  Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Even at this level, the current NBA MVP (Most Valuable Player), Stephen Curry, has to pay 100 dollars for every turnover (after three turnovers in a game) to his mother.  His mother came up with this idea because of one recurring weakness: his high turnover numbers. Learning discipline will help throughout your life, whether it’s studying every day for a test or doing your work ahead of time. To be extraordinary all you need is discipline. Excuses don’t work (no matter how ‘valid’ they are). 

6. Making sacrifices and time management

In order to balance sports and other activities, you have to make certain sacrifices. This, for me, would mean cutting down on leisure so that I can balance studies and sport. A lot of time management is involved here too.

In life too, nothing worth having comes easy. Sacrifices need to be made at every step in order to achieve what you aspire to. Through sports you learn how to do this and how to utilize your time for your greater good. 

7. Dealing with success and failure

 Playing a sport involves both wins and losses. You learn to be proud of your success without demeaning your opponents. You learn to accept failures with grace and come back stronger next time. With time you realize it’s not really the win or loss that makes a difference. If you give it everything you’ve got, no matter what the outcome, you can walk away with your head held high.

In life too, everything does not always go your way. There are highs and lows but if you continue to give whatever you do your very best you will ultimately emerge triumphant.

8. Learning to never give up

In basketball, you are taught to never give up. A few minutes can change the game. Even on days when your shots just don’t go in you have to keep trying and helping your team in other areas. You need to contribute in the defense, go after loose balls, make good passes and help in any way you can. You can never give up – not on the game, not on your team, not on yourself. You keep trying till the very last second.

Even injury should not be a reason you give up. I can tell from personal experience that injuries have made me stronger.

In life too, there will be a million occasions where you will want to take the easy way out and give up. But you need to hold on and brave the storm.  This is what we learn from sports – to never give up.

9. Taking charge

In basketball sometimes you have to step up, you have to take the decision to make the game-winning shot in a close game. You have to take charge of the situation. You have to take responsibility to stop that shot to avoid overtime in the final seconds of the game.

In life too, you have to take charge for your own actions. You need to be responsible for your own dealings. Sports make you better equipped to handle your problems and take charge.

10. Respecting others

Through sports you learn to respect – your coach, your teammates, the referee and even your opponents. You learn to acknowledge that sometimes your opponent might be better. You learn that without respect winning doesn’t mean anything. You learn to never put another player down.

In life, without respecting others you cannot get anywhere.  Strong people never put others down; they lift them up.  Sports teach you just that.

Taken from: Ekalavyas

Taken from writer Glenn Llopis

Criticism is a natural part of leadership. If no one is criticizing your leadership – you are not leading correctly. Leadership is not a popularity contest. Leadership is about always doing what is in the best interest of the organization you are serving. Leaders get paid to make the difficult decisions. But many leaders don’t really know how to lead; they waste time trying to satisfy the agendas of others – rather than focusing on the goals and objectives of the organization and people they serve.

Leadership requires mental toughness. If you are not being criticized, you are not leading and guiding the organization to grow, innovate and explore endless possibilities. You need to be strong and objective to whatever criticism people throw your way.

Much of what ultimately happens is out of your direct control. However, if you can see what others don’t and anticipate the unexpected — as a leader you will find ways to influence outcomes that benefit those you serve. Effective leaders stay focused on confronting conflict head on – and move on to the next opportunity. When you get too personally vested, it becomes difficult to handle criticism and you eventually become stereotyped and your authority weakens. You lose momentum as you begin to make poor decisions trying to reestablish and validate your leadership to yourself and others.

As you find success in your leadership journey, some people will try to take you down. The leaches and loafers that are envious of your success may attempt to slow down your momentum. This is actually a sign that you are on the right path. Being a 21st century leader requires you to be a change agent and people don’t like to change.

As you lean-into the challenges and new opportunities that come with them, remember that criticism is a natural process of the leadership journey. Since criticism is never easy to handle, keep the following four ways in mind to ensure you handle it wisely.

1. Don’t Play The Victim

When criticism strikes, never take on a “woe’s me” attitude.   People find it difficult to respect a leader who becomes the victim. The victimization mentality is not a leadership trait, but rather represents an individual that lacks the mental fortitude and composure to be in a leadership role.  When leaders play to the victim narrative, it exposes their lack of maturity and doubt rapidly begins to enter the minds of those they lead about their ability to endure the pressure, intensity and uncertainty.

Rather than play the victim, own the criticism and convert it into new opportunities previously unseen. Be a change agent and turn the negativity into a platform to enable growth, innovation and endless possibilities.

2. Don’t React Impulsively

When faced with criticism, step back and assess the situation. Be patient, don’t react impulsively.  Too many leaders get defensive, focus more on their reputation and overreact, rather than evaluate the situation at hand.

Adversity my make or break you, but it primarily reveals you.   Leaders must practice patience when faced with criticism and show a high level of composure and executive presence.   Criticism comes and goes.   How well you lead through it is what earns you respect from your peers.

3. Don’t Take It Personally

I’ve been advised by my mentors not to care so much what people say.   This does not imply that I shouldn’t work hard or perform at my highest levels – it refers to the importance of not taking criticism personally.  As a leader, you must be mindful not to get overly attached to the business and the issues at hand.  When you take criticism too personally, it becomes more difficult to be objective towards meeting the needs of the business and the people you lead.

Leadership is not easy and handling criticism is an unwritten rule in the job description. It happens often and if you lead to win, advance others and the organization you serve – you should expect criticism and know how to handle it. Those leaders that take it personally will find their leadership role short lived.

4. Turn Criticism Into Opportunity

Criticism is another way of saying “learning moments.”  Though you can never be perfect when leading, you must be open-minded enough to course correct along the way. Leadership requires you to pivot, renew and reinvent yourself. Though you may have experienced success in the past, leadership requires you to invest in yourself so that you can become a better, faster and more fluid change agent.

Great leaders and their organizations are often criticized. As the saying goes, “It’s difficult to get to the top, but even harder to stay there.”  Why is it harder to stay on top?   Because it’s easy to grow complacent – and it’s difficult to endure the critics that don’t believe you’ve earned the right to be there in the first place.   Staying focused is critical when you are a leader and diffusing the noise by staying focused on the next level of evolution in your business will help you shut down your critics.

One of the most important qualities of leadership is being a good listener. And that applies just as much, if not more, when you are being criticized. Don’t try to shut it down. In fact, turn up the volume and really listen to what is being said. Too many times leaders turn the criticism around on the person speaking up, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to learn from someone else. Listening to criticism is a leadership responsibility that does not appear in the job description, but it can make you a more effective and trustworthy leader if you handle it constructively.

Taken from the Coaching Toolbox

A player is not the only one that makes mistakes. Coaches make many mistakes every day, even though most of them are not noticed. A costly mistake by a coach can be the difference between winning and losing. It also can lead to an underachieving, dysfunctional team. The three most costly mistakes of coaches are highlighted in this article.

Coaching basketball these days at any level is a very difficult job. Many books are written about successful qualities of excellent coaches and leaders. Most coaches will not take a deep look into their own coaching ability to discover their weaknesses. If you are serious about your coaching ability, take an objective look at the factors that keep you from reaching your potential.

1. Coaching without Clarity–

This is by far the biggest mistake made by coaches in basketball. This flavor-of-the-day approach has no base and leads to failure. The ultimate test of coaching clarity is defined by your ability to answer this question;

• What are your three areas of concentration in coaching? If your practice was observed for 30 minutes, would your Top 3 be easily identified? Why is this such an important part of coaching? Having a Top 3 given your coaching and your program the direction and clarity it needs. If your drills, terminology, practice, and daily focus are tied directly to your Top 3, your players will execute at a high level and time will be greatly maximized.

If your coaching or your program are without a Top 3, you are like a ship in the ocean without a map, compass or rudder. You will try hard every day, but you will not consistently travel the path to success. The Top 3 is the key to successful basketball coaching, consistent winning, and program development.

2. Priority Imbalance—I have yet to meet a coach that said his family, parents, or significant other was not his Number 1 priority in life. This commitment is repeated so much we all begin to believe it after a while! This is “coaching blindness” at its best. I call it the “Coaches Biggest Lie”. Coaches confuse provision with priority. The paycheck that arrives home each month is important for all of us. This check, though, in no way means that by supporting our loved ones financially we have given them top priority in our life. We say they are important but rarely find the kind of quality time and communication needed, especially during the season. To illustrate this point, it is said that time is the true test of our priorities. The things we spend most time on we value the most. It is a cut and dry proposition.

• Do you spend more time at work or with basketball than your family?
• Do you carry your job home with you and pretend to be present when your mind is elsewhere?
• Do you work as hard satisfying your wife’s needs as you do preparing for practice or games?
• What do you do with your free time; spend it on selfish pursuits or with family or friends?
• How many hours a week do you watch television as compared to quality time with your family?
• Do you know the name of your children’s teachers at school better than your next opponent?
• Do you feel that you have to watch tape at home at night?
• How often do you tell your loved ones why they are your loved ones?

3. Paralysis by Analysis—Coaches are famous for analyzing the game to the point of exhaustion. Many times we are the only ones who truly understand what is being taught. The philosophy, “Keep it Simple Stupid” gets massive lip service from coaches. This is a tough battle for most coaches, including myself. Our insecurity often leads to a catalog of drills, offenses and defenses that stagger the mind of young players. We stuff file cabinets with thousands of keys, teaching points, and magic late game plays. The knowledge well gets bigger and deeper by the year. At this point it is very important to ask a question: What is the goal of coaching?

I believe the answer to this question is execution. Coaching is the task of getting your players to play the game and execute the way you want them to. At its purest level, getting players to execute what you have taught and drilled them is the key. Some have said that execution is doing what you are suppose to do, when to do it, and with the greatest effort. If all of this is valid, simplicity is the only way to success.

The Simplicity Test for players—

1. Do your players know your Top 3 as a coach?
2. Do your players know exactly what they must do to get on the floor?
3. Do your players know exactly what they must do to stay on the floor?

To do justice to your own coaching, ask your players these three questions? The answers will provide a map for the future of your coaching. Are you a confusing coach to play for? If so, humble yourself and step back for a while. Carefully analyze your coaching approach and philosophy and get the opinion of assistants, administrators, and players. What seems like weakness can actually be the strength of your coaching! Congratulations to all coaches that take on this challenge. Please share your results with me and make next season your best one ever!

Strong team players are the backbone of any team. When others fail, these are the people who venture on with strong resolve and persistence, committed to getting the job done.

Most people can list the qualities without struggling too hard, but do you know what qualities great team players share?

Here are five qualities that make a good team player great:

1. Always reliable. A great team player is constantly reliable day in and day out, not just some of the time. You can count on them to get the job done, meet deadlines, keep their word and provide consistent quality work.  With excellent performance, organization and follow-through on tasks they develop positive work relationships with team members and keep the team on track.

2. Communicates with confidence. Good team players might silently get the work done but shy away from speaking up and speaking often. Great team players communicate their ideas honestly and clearly and respect the views and opinions of others on the team. Clear, effective communication done constructively and respectfully is the key to getting heard.

3. Does more than asked. While getting the work done and doing your fair share is expected of good team players, great team players know that taking risks, stepping outside their comfort zones, and coming up with creative ideas is what it’ll take to get ahead. Taking on more responsibilities and extra initiative sets them apart from others on the team.

4. Adapts quickly and easily. Great team players don’t passively sit on the sideline and see change happen; they adapt to changing situations and often drive positive change themselves.  They don’t get stressed or complain but are flexible in finding their feet in whatever is thrown their way.

5. Displays genuine commitment. Good team players are happy to work 9-5 (work hard in sports) and receive their paycheck at the end of the month  (receive playing times and get Wins). Great team players take the time to make positive work relationships with other team members a priority and display a genuine passion and commitment toward their team. They come to work with the commitment of giving it 110% and expect others on the team to do the same.

To be a great team player, you don’t have to be extroverted or indulge in self-promotion. In fact, great team players sport all kinds of personalities. You just need to be an active participant and do more than your job title states. Put the team’s objectives above yours and take the initiative to get things done without waiting to be asked. In return you will build positive perception, gain more visibility, and develop influential connections to get ahead in your career.

Disclaimer:  Insert is from the Career Advancement Blog

Snippet from Coach Tony Dungy

In our society, this struggle between being and doing starts early and is often innocently encouraged. We ask our children what they want to be when they grow up, which really means what they want to do. If they love animals, we’re not surprised when they tell us they want to be veterinarians.

Some children aspire to be bankers, or professional athletes, or the next American Idol, or an Olympic gold-medal winner. Maybe they want to make lots of money , or live in a big house, or have more cars than they can drive at one time. Great dreams—but they are all related to doing, not being. Those dreams tell us nothing about who our children are, or want to be, inside—what their values and priorities are—those things that will guide them through all of the things they will do.

I believe we all struggle with this, but it seems to me that it may even be a greater challenge for men. That may simply be because I am a man and have struggled with this trap as much as any. That’s my disclaimer.

Men feel pressured to tie their personal value to their career. Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23—“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Yet we rarely embrace these inner qualities because they don’t seem to fit within the world of competitive sports or business. Too often, we believe that a man’s value is determined solely by his achievements and measured against the standards of a world that pays homage to winning.

Unfortunately, many of our players feel this pressure as well—deriving their value from what they do and what they accomplish. They confuse what they do for a living with who they really are inside. Once they’re done with football, they aren’t sure who they are. For better or worse, they have the rest of their lives to figure it out.

Sadly, for better or worse doesn’t always apply to their marriages. A staggering number end in divorce . My guess is that many of the players don’t have that clear sense of self when they’re done playing football, compounded by the fact that their wives may have fallen in love with their husband’s high profile role and lifestyle. Whatever the case, their careers have come to define them, and when they are no longer involved in football, they simply don’t know who they are deep down inside.

A negative job review or worse yet, getting fired, can be devastating. I’ve been there. Though it is understandably traumatic, it doesn’t have to be defining. I hope you’ll never go through it, but the odds are that you will.

If you do, take a step back and remember that you’re not the first person to experience this. Your career is not you. It should not, and does not, define who you are as a person.

Every day in my line of work, I receive performance evaluations, often by people completely unqualified to give them. Though I must admit that I don’t listen to much talk radio, I decided long ago that I would analyze the criticisms from my superiors, players, assistant coaches, and even sportswriters for things that might be helpful. Trying to constantly improve means being open to learning throughout your life.

I also realize that I can’t control what is said, and I will not let harsh criticism affect my sense of who I am. People are free to criticize all they like (sometimes they seem to like it too much, especially when I had done something questionable in a loss), but I don’t let it negatively impact me. I know that I was created by God with all of my strengths and limitations. Somebody pointing out my limitations, real or otherwise, doesn’t change my strengths or the truth that I am and will always remain a child of God.

Being versus doing—distinguishing between them will make all the difference in the lives we live.

Taken from http://billzipponbusiness.com/

A window and a mirror are both made of glass, have a frame around them, and are used for seeing things.

But they have two totally different functions. You look through a window to the world outside, and you look into a mirror at yourself.

I have found that there are two totally different kinds of people when it comes to life and leadership. There are externally focused people, window people, who look outside at others passing them by; and there are internally focused people, mirror people, who look inside themselves for the solutions they need to move forward.

Which of these two are you? Answer the following four questions:

1. Do you assign blame or find solutions?

The first characteristic of a window person is that they look to the world outside and critique it. Rather than participating in the toss-and-tumble of real life, they stand on the sidelines and find fault. Window people are professional critics who see problem after problem and ask, “who screwed up here?’”

A mirror person, on the other hand, takes a totally different approach. Rather than passing the buck onto someone else, they accept responsibility. If they participated in causing a problem, they own it and fix it. If they didn’t, they help find a solution. This question is never far from their lips, “How can I help?”

2. Do you give up power or do you become self-empowered?

The great irony of being a window person is that you think you’re so smart, sitting smugly on the sidelines cynically criticizing the work of others. But that’s a position of powerlessness. Quite simply, when you’re not involved in finding solutions, you give up your power to others whom you have no ability to control. You are at their mercy.

By looking into the mirror, internally focused people see the one thing they can control: themselves. And by controlling their response in any situation, they become self-empowered in every situation. Few things can stand in the way of a self-empowered person.

3. Do you approach issues as a victim or as an equal?

Lack of power and control, then, makes a window person a victim, and all victims, by definition, have villains. Instead of working with other people just like you who are trying to do their best, you view yourself as working with sinister people who are out to get you. This point of view poisons your relationships.

Mirror people bring confidence and strength to their relationships. They don’t play the victim, but approach others as respected peers, an equal to an equal. Even in a bad situation, they believe the best in others, withhold judgment, and ask questions for clarification (as opposed to making accusations).

MORE: Resolving Conflict at Work without Victims and Villains

4. Do you take input personally or receive it as useful information?

Finally, window people take a totally different approach to input and feedback. Because of their victim mentality communication is always personal, seen as an attack on them. As a result they feel compelled to fight or take flight. That’s what we do when under attack, right? The villain is either attacked in return or withdrawn from completely. Both destroys communication.

A mirror person, approaching issues as a peer to a peer, an equal to an equal, doesn’t assign emotional meaning to a conversation. Input received, even if it’s about them, is a way to become more knowledgeable. And knowledge is power. As a result, a mirror person is able to communicate calmly and collaborate effectively because it’s not personal. It’s just information.

How do you become a mirror person?

Okay, how do you become a mirror person and not a window person?

Recognize that we’re all born window people. We come out of the womb pointing our finger at others and assigning blame. It’s part of the human condition. We become mirror people by the choices we make. Here are two.

In every circumstance you face, first ask and answer this question: Who am I? That is, look deep inside yourself and discover the values you embrace at the very core of your being. Define those values personally and live by them uncompromisingly. They are your moral center. Your rock. Your anchor.

Secondly, ask and answer this next question: What do I do well?

From your moral center flows a functional capacity for excellence. This is the unique ability you possess that allows you to thrive. It’s your personal tool box, a set of gifts and talents you can access at any time to solve pressing problems.

These two dynamics, character and competence, are the choices you can make to become a mirror person. Character, your core values, and competence, your unique ability, clearly defined and consistently deployed allows you to control the one and only thing you can control in any situation: YOUrself.

Taken from Brittany Young of byoungncompany.com

It seems that every athlete wants to be a rapper and ever rapper wants to be an athlete – at least this is the case for African American males. Athletes such as Ron Artest, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and others have tried to rap, and many rappers have played sports and decided it wasn’t for them (Shaq was actually decent). On the other hand, rappers such as 2-Chains, Roscoe Dash and others have had a short stint on the hardwood. I always wondered why this is the case? Maybe the rappers were undersized – most rappers are short – and maybe athletes’ word plays weren’t strong enough. One thing that’s for sure is that you can always catch rappers at sporting events and athletes at a hip-hop concert. Even in the film Brown Sugar, Boris Kodjoe’s character is an NBA player who is an aspiring rapper. In his song titled “January 28th,” J. Cole says  “I turn the TV on, not one hero in sight, unless he dribble or he fiddle with mics.” I think the commonality between the African American males that rap and play basketball or even football, is their economic statuses. Consider the aforementioned athletes and rappers’ cultures. Each of them have tough backgrounds and have had to overcome some struggles, and they either had to rap or play their way out of their situations.

Rappers talk about ball players in their songs and ball players are inspired by rappers by listening to their music before practices and games. It’s a strong connection because of the African American culture. It should not be the case – because there’s more to life than rapping and playing sports for males of color – but J. Cole has a point in saying that all of the rappers and athletes serve as heroes for young black males, mostly by default due to their status. Nevertheless, one basketball player who has been successful in articulating his lifestyle is Portland Trailblazer point guard Damian Lillard. He’s better than a lot of these rappers that are currently out. Check out the freestyle.

Taken from Holly Rust of the Huffington Post

There’s no question that some people are just natural born leaders. Others may spend years strengthening their skills and helping others just to achieve their leadership status. Anyone can assemble a team and give direction, but to be a strong leader you must have the ability to inspire the masses.

I’ve personally been very fortunate to work with some amazing, influential, brilliant people over the course of my career. Some of these colleagues carried titles and others did not, however all possessed many of the qualities I deem to be that of a remarkable leader.

If you look at all the great leaders past and present you’ll find they carry many, if not all, of these traits:

Have the Ability to Listen. Many leaders get into the habit of just directing and delegating. In order to nurture your team you need to know their needs and struggles. What can you do to help them grow? Ask them. They need to be heard in order for you to better lead them.

Have the Ability to Communicate Effectively. Unfortunately people cannot read minds, so it’s important to be concise and communicate your expectations to your team. Knowing what is expected of them will not only promote productivity, but also will keep the lines of communication open and eliminate confusion.

Demonstrate Integrity. Strong leaders treat others how they would like to be treated. Foundations are based on trust and respect. If these two are not present, your team will continue to turn over–or their efforts will be minimal.

Demonstrate Humility. Anyone who achieves success, big or small, should be celebrated. I am a believer in being proud of your accomplishments and letting others know, however being proud and being arrogant are two different things. Remember you, too, were once someone working your way from the ground up.

Demonstrate Empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Putting yourself in others shoes helps you manage conflict better and builds long-lasting relationships with your team.

Make It Their Mission to Inspire Others. Good leaders exude passion and confidence. They know the right words to say because it comes from the heart. They’ve been where you are and want to help you get to where they are–together.

Lead By Example. This one is my favorite. A true leader “walks the walk”. They don’t just tell you how to do it; they show you how to do it. They don’t make excuses. Their expectations of themselves are just as high as their expectations for their team. When leaders lead by example they become a great resource, and employees respect them more and willingly take their direction. The most important lesson I’ve learned in my continuous pursuit of becoming an inspirational leader is the same advice you hear when you become a parent; It’s not about you anymore. Once you’ve realized this–you’ll be on your way to being a great leader.

By Amy Morin

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control

You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks

They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over Continue reading →