Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba.
It’s still hard to register that he’s gone. But as someone who’s grown up playing basketball, I still watch his videos. From his playing highlights all the way down to his wisdom.
Kobe was loved for his mentality & since I have a goal setting category on my site, it’s only right that I go over what Kobe had to say about setting goals.
Let’s get into certain things he’s said.
One Foot In Front Of The Other
The first video I saw of Kobe discussing goals, he explained the importance of putting one foot in front of the other.
He mentioned setting the goal of climbing Mt. Everest.
He stated, “If you stand at the bottom of Mt. Everest and look up, you’re gonna say I’m not climbing Mt. Everest. But if you break it down into sections and just put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time, next thing you know you’re at the top of the mountain”.
I recently wrote about this in a recent article which was an article about goal setting according to Andrew Huberman. He stated something similar. Each small step that you accomplish, you will increase your motivation and sense of accomplishment, which will keep you going. Here’s the full article for that.
No matter what you do, you want to break it down into the littlest steps possible. You can apply this to almost any aspect of life. Whether it’s increasing your health, income, relationships, or whatever it may be.
Rest At The End Not In The Middle
“The second valuable lesson I derived from Kobe’s approach to goal setting was his philosophy of “rest at the end, not in the middle.”
In a particular video, he underscored the importance of perseverance, urging the audience not to rest, but to keep pushing forward.
Throughout his illustrious career, Kobe acknowledged that there were questions he didn’t have answers to. Nevertheless, he refused to let uncertainty slow his momentum. Instead of retreating to ponder these ambiguities, he would press onward, resolving to address those unknowns when they inevitably arose.
So the takeaway is this: rather than being paralyzed by what you don’t know, continue to act and confront the unknowns as they emerge.”
Applying Kobe Bryant’s 4 AM Philosophy to Your Life
Similar to the work ethic we admired in Gary Vee in a recent post, Kobe Bryant’s commitment to his craft is exceptional. His discipline and dedication are second to none, as evidenced by a quote from one of his candid interviews where he emphasizes the importance of maximizing training time:
His work ethic is second to none.
In one of his interviews, Kobe Bryant highlighted the importance of maximizing training time. He said,
“Imagine this scenario. If you get up at 10:00 in the morning, train at 12:00 for two hours, until 2:00, you then need to let your body recover. So you eat, recover, and then you’re back training again at 6:00, from 6:00 to 8:00. You then go home, eat dinner, go to bed, and then wake up to do it all over again. That’s two sessions.
Now consider this. You wake up at 3:00, train at 4:00 from 4:00 to 6:00, come home, have breakfast, relax, and then you’re back at it again 9:00 to 11:00. You relax, and then you’re back at it again from 2:00 to 4:00 and again from 7:00 to 9:00. Look at how much more training I’ve done simply by starting at 4:00.
As the years go on, the separation you have with competitors and your peers grows larger and larger. By year five or six, it doesn’t matter what kind of work they’re doing in the summer; they’re never going to catch up because they’re five years behind. So it makes sense to get up and start your day early because you can get more work in. For me, it was just common sense.”
His approach speaks volumes about the importance of consistency in achieving goals. He did not merely commit to this rigorous schedule for a day or two, or even a few weeks. His commitment was long-term and unwavering, revealing the endurance and consistency necessary to achieve high-reaching goals.
You don’t even have to compete with others for this. You can take a look at the trajectory of what you’re doing now and adjust it to make it so you hit your goals faster.
Don’t Negotiate With Yourself
“I’m not negotiating with myself…I signed that contract with myself, I’m doing it” – Kobe (via Jay Shetty)
A lot of people get all excited about setting their goals in the moment and then throughout the process they put things off.
Instead of writing two blog posts, you write one, and say you’ll make up for it.
Kobe emphasizes the importance of not negotiating with yourself. Once you’ve set a goal, you’ve essentially signed a contract with yourself. You’ve made a commitment, and it’s crucial to honor that commitment.
Pressure And Challenges Are All Apart Of The Process
“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant
This powerful quote, attributed to Kobe Bryant, has been circulating on social media for years, and for good reason. It encapsulates a mindset that is crucial for anyone striving to achieve their goals.
In the pursuit of any goal, encountering challenges and pressure is inevitable. However, instead of viewing these as deterrents, it’s essential to perceive them as opportunities.
Every challenge you face is a chance to grow, to learn, and to strengthen your resolve. Each pressure-filled situation is an invitation to rise above, to push your limits, and to prove to yourself that you can overcome.
In essence, these ‘negative’ aspects are not roadblocks, but rather stepping stones on your path to success. They shape you, refine you, and ultimately, lead you closer to your goal. So, embrace them, rise above them, and let them propel you forward.
Power Of Reflection
“I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose.”
As I mentioned in my blog post, “The Power Of Self Reflection In Goals Setting”, reflection allows you to learn from the input we’ve done in the past.
Kobe Bryant’s perspective on reflection adds another layer of depth to this concept. He emphasizes the importance of purposeful reflection – reflecting not just for the sake of it, but with a clear intention and objective.
When you reflect with a purpose, you’re not just ruminating over the past; but you’re actively seeking what you could do better for the future.
For Kobe, this was probably a big part of watching film.
Conclusion
Lets just say when Kobe speaks, regardless of the topic, I listen.
When Kobe Bryant speaks, his words carry weight and wisdom, regardless of the topic. I always find myself listening intently.
I hope this exploration of Kobe’s insights on goal setting has provided you with valuable perspectives to apply in your own journey. Perhaps it has sparked a new understanding or reinforced what you already knew about the power of setting and pursuing goals.
This probably won’t be the first time i mention him in one of my posts, as there are many different productivity topics he’s touched on in the past.