My Five Elements of the Mamba Mentality- Professional Development Lessons From Kobe Bryant

"Build strong habits and your confidence will be as normal as breathing."

-Kobe Bryant

There are several people of which I admire, but not to the point of fanatic stardom. I’ve always been a fan of Kobe Bryant, also known as the “Black Mamba,” but I could never root for him back in the day as he often dominated my Detroit Pistons. So, I admired him from afar. Post-basketball Kobe was just as impressive as basketball star Kobe. His untimely passing caused me to focus on why I felt a blow personally and caused me to reflect on why I admired him.

Now that I’ve had time to process some of the personal accounts from former teammates on who Kobe indeed was, I came up with what I pulled most from Kobe’s work ethic and commitment to excellence.

My Five Elements of the Mamba Mentality



1. Pick an example and aim to outperform them

There’s no secret Kobe Bryant idolized basketball legend Michael Jordan. He watched his film studied his moves, practiced those moves, and replicated those moves. Michael Jordan was the best, but Kobe wanted to be the best himself. He added his own flair to Jordan’s game and made his mark on basketball forever. Kobe was always compared to Michael Jordan, but it can never be said he didn’t make a unique mark on the game of basketball. If you plan to model someone, why not model the best and improve on it where you can?

Here’s a comparison of stats between Jordan and Kobe.

NBA Championships Kobe 5, Jordan 6

NBA Seasons: Kobe 20, Jordan 15

Playoffs played: Kobe 15, Jordan 13

All-Star Games: Kobe 18, Jordan 14

Season MVP: Kobe 1, Jordan 5

Finals MVP: Kobe 2, Jordan 6

Scoring Leader: Kobe 2, Jordan 10

Total Points: Kobe 33,643, Jordan 32,292

Olympic Gold Medals: Kobe 2, Jordan 2

They each had their strengths over the other, and ultimately the game of basketball benefited from both of them. There was space for the two of them to exist in one crowded industry, both dominate, and not engage in a smear campaign against each other. Kobe saw the best, modeled the best, and carved his own explosive niche.

Who are those examples in your industry or field to whom you look up, and what is your value proposition or strategy to be better than them?

Links

• Is Kobe Bryant Actually Better Than Michael Jordan?

• Michael Jordan once told Kobe Bryant he could 'never fill' his shoes, and he remembered

• 'Words cannot describe the pain I'm feeling': Michael Jordan shares emotional statement on the death of Kobe Bryant

2. Obsess over Improvement

There are countless stories of Kobe’s commitment to improvement. Showing up early to get 400 shots in, showing up with a broken arm, and participating in practice with only his left hand while wearing pajamas under his uniform.

Some may not agree with this one, but I believe in being obsessed with being your best self. My only caveats are 1) don’t let it take over your life, and 2) don’t sacrifice the good for the great. Being self-aware and having an accurate understanding of your self-inventory gives you a starting point. Spend time developing solid routines, find ways to assess your performance, and working with capable professionals to help get you to the next level are essential. Kobe could easily have done just a bit more than everyone else, but that wasn’t his style- he wanted to do way more than everyone else to create distance or “space” as it’s called on the court.

There’s a quote that essentially says the toughest competitor you can face is the one you see each morning in the mirror. Are you working on being a better you than the day before?

Are you looking at each day as an opportunity to study your own “film,” find weaknesses in your game, etc.?

Links

• Kobe Bryant’s ‘airball game’ in 1997 was as defining moment in his career

• Former Lakers player and head coach Byron Scott said he once found an 18-year-old Bryant shooting in a dark gym two hours before practice.

• Kobe Bryant shares the importance of film study

• Dwyane Wade Talks About Time Kobe Bryant Called Him for Advice During Playoffs

3. Have unwavering confidence- take the shot

In basketball fan circles, there’s a running joke about how Kobe was a “ball hog” and took the shot, regardless of how many opponents were in front of him. The stats support this, Kobe took a lot of ill-advised shots. Kobe took 26,200 shots during his 20-year career; he made 44.4% or 11,719 of them. He set the record back in 2014 for the most missed shots, racking up a total of 14,481 of them by the time he retired. It takes a high level of confidence to miss that many shots and not be discouraged. 

While people, including me, may say that Kobe took a lot of bad shots, what they won’t say is he wasn’t a leader, or they wouldn’t trust the ball in his hands for a buzzer-beater shot. Remember point number two of this post, obsess over improvement. Kobe rarely, if ever, took time off from practicing. He knew he wasn’t the best shooter, but that didn’t impact his confidence to keep taking shots. Kobe didn’t let his missed shot statistics dim his leadership light nor his spirit. Confidence in himself is what propelled him to land as in the #3 spot for most points in NBA history, 33,643- a spot he held until LeBron surpassed him during the 2019-2020 season.

What we can take away from this is knowing that not every game is going to be a win. We will fail; we will miss the mark, but what’s more important is what we learned from those losses and failures. It is also vital to keep pushing, especially when in a position of leadership. Your team is looking at how you react to the loss, how you coach them, and as well as how to move forward with confidence.  

Links

• Kobe Bryant breaks NBA record for missed shots

• Kobe Bryant’s All Game Winners of his Career (36)

• NBA History - Points Leaders

4. Do more than sit at the table

While we won’t ever have the experiences and talent of Kobe Bryant, we have our relative level. Kobe walked on a massive stage right out of high school at the age of 18 when he was drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft. From that point on, he made his mark in the NBA. He showed up with an air of confidence and determination. Beyond the NBA, Kobe went on invest in several companies, started a foundation with his wife, launched a basketball program for girls, went on to win an Oscar for a short film, launched a $100 million tech investing fund, Bryant Stibel, invested a $6 million early stake in sports drink BodyArmor in 2014 which turned into $200 million after a Coca-Cola acquisition, and launched a multimedia publishing company, Granity Studios. 

The big takeaway from this point is to show up and show out on any stage you are given and leave it better than you found it. Use your seat at the table to benefit others.

5. Be Present

Kobe was a man of many interests and abilities, but it can never be said that he was not present. They say people make time for what’s important, and we find that to be true in the case of Kobe. Listening to the words of his wife Vanessa, his children, teammates, coaches, business partners, etc., he was present. People could count on his attention, his feedback, and, most importantly- his follow-through. Basketball was his first love; doing for others was his passion, but family was his greatest treasure.

 Our lives, we are busy, have competing priorities, and more, but we must be present in every moment if we have chosen to take it on as a responsibility. Admittedly, that is an area I am working on personally. 

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training.” - Archilochos

Organizational Culture Transformation Starts with Intentionality and Conviction.

We were mid-discussion in our AMA Chicago book club, unpacking Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg, when the conversation shifted — as the best ones do.

Someone asked: how do you actually create an environment where tough conversations can happen?

My honest answer: it takes intentionality, sustained movement, and a willingness to treat organizational culture as a strategic discipline, not a feel-good initiative.

If you want to be truly transformational within your organization, you have to build the muscles for it. That means investing in how you think, how you listen, how you lead across difference, and how you measure what actually matters.

So I shared a mini masters curriculum in organizational culture transformation. No particular order. All essential.

Fusion: How Integrating Brand and Culture Powers the World's Greatest Companies by Denise Yohn Here's why: Most leaders treat brand and culture as separate workstreams. Yohn dismantles that. If you want transformation to stick, it has to live inside the organization first. Your people are your brand.

Say More About That… by Amber Cabral Here's why: Advocacy without skill is just noise. Cabral gives you the language and the framework to speak up in rooms where pushback isn't always welcome, and to help others find their voice too.

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg Here's why: Most of us think we're communicating. Duhigg shows us we're often just talking past each other. Understanding which kind of conversation you're actually in changes everything about how you lead.

The Culture Map by Erin Meyer Here's why: You cannot lead across difference, cultural, generational, or organizational, without a framework for decoding it. Meyer gives you the map most leaders never knew they were missing.

Measure What Matters by John Doerr Here's why: Transformation without accountability is aspiration. OKRs create the shared language of progress that keeps teams aligned when the work gets hard and the vision gets fuzzy.

IdeaFlow by Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn Here's why: Innovation isn't a personality trait. It's a practice. Utley and Klebahn make the case that the organizations winning right now are the ones treating idea generation as infrastructure, not inspiration.

The Challenge Culture by Nigel Travis Here's why: Psychological safety sounds good in theory. Travis shows what it actually takes to build an organization where pushback is expected, respected, and productive, not performative.

Seven books. One through line: transformation is relational before it is operational.

Which of these is already on your shelf, and which one do you need to pick up?

The time will pass anyway

Years ago when I contemplated the idea of going back to school to finish my degree, I couldn’t help but focus on the time I would have to commit to completing the remaining credits, which equaled a year. I thought about the time I wouldn’t have with my friends and family but didn’t think about how that time wasn’t more important than completing my degree as well as its impact on my career potential. I chatted with my best friend and told him about my options to finish my degree and the time it was going to take and in his typically witty way, he replied: “so what?” I don’t know what I expected him to say, he started at Eastern Michigan University with me and left with his degree, went on to earn a Master’s degree and was beginning his doctoral studies. He said, “look, just do it, the time is going to pass anyway.” That simple phrase stuck with me and has become my mantra whenever someone talks about a project or endeavor requiring a sacrifice of time, the time will pass anyway. After the time has passed, will you have achieved your goal or wish you had started? There’s a quote which says:

“The best time to start was yesterday, the second best time to start is today.”

What are you waiting on? Both marathons and sprints begin with a single step, take yours toward your goals.

Pour into your own cup first: 2017 Reflections.

It is a natural reaction for many to help others in their times of need. Many people put the needs of others before their own. 2017 was a year of reflection for me as I experienced ups and downs professionally and personally. I learned a lot about myself, but the reoccurring lesson was that I need to always pour into myself before I can pour into others. At the end of the day, you must take care of yourself and invest in yourself before you can effectively do the same for others. You can't pour from an empty cup.

I will share a few quotes I rely on to keep me motivated

“Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation” – Zig Ziglar

“life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” – Charles Swindoll

“Leaders lose the right to complain” – Michael Pope

Professional

I often draw parallels between careers and dating; they aren't that different when you think about it. You seek out a good fit knowing what you can bring to the table, hoping they bring what you are looking for and the end is a suitable match with mutual outcomes. Just like dating, personalities matter. Personalities are just like workplace cultures- how they are early on is more than likely how they will continue down the line. YOU can’t change a person’s personality, and YOU can't change a workplace culture. Once you realize the personality or culture you must decide- do you stay or leave? In the professional setting, there is a third option, do I stay just long enough to learn what I need to learn and achieve some wins or is it not worth it.

Late last year I realized my previous employer's culture wasn't a good fit for me, which isn’t a diss to them, it’s just like a relationship, you realize you are just on two different planes and the long-term outcome isn’t mutual or aligned. I knew this feeling was mutual, maturity and gray hair give you this special sight beyond sight sometimes LOL. I worked on my exit plan and began to pour into my business and readied my parachute just in case. That preparation paid off when they ended our relationship before I could. Pouring into myself and business sustained by family the entire time until I entered a new role. Had I put all my eggs in one basket trying to “force” or “save” the relationship with the previous employer or been focused on my new temporary yet the involuntary role of stay-at-home dadprenuer, I would have been of no help to anyone else. The time I was afforded to spend with my daughter during her first year of life was priceless, not-so-hidden blessings.

The job search also taught me a lot about myself and helped me overcome some self-doubt I'd been carrying around. I had interviews with some dope organizations and institutions but I wasn't a good fit for their needs, which was fine. Just like dating, all good looking options aren't for you. It was an ego booster being called in for interviews and multiple rounds in some instances. Some times the boost you need takes on unlikely forms.

During the final stages of the job search, I had a clear focus on what mattered most to me, which wasn't title or pay- the latter was important but not the end all be all, again maturity teaches you a few things. My decision between two employers came down to culture, it just fit and worked. It was what I needed for where I am in my life professionally and personally. The other company made a generous offer but I found myself asking them too many questions about the culture and workflow dynamics, and it was clear, I would be forcing myself to like the cute girl with nothing to add to my life. So, I chose the woman who brought more to the table because I knew what I needed in my cup so that I could pour into my family and community in the ways which mattered most to me.

As a testament to the culture of the new role, they upped the pay and the salary because they felt to get me and keep me, they needed to come correct up front. They also told me they wanted me to build out the unit and develop a team, which again is what I needed. I'm a strategist, not an order taker and doer; I just needed someone to realize they needed that and make an offer : -) Prior to those changes, the only difference between the final two offers was the title, the pay was the same. Ironically, after I declined the other offer, they changed the title of the role to where it should have been in the first place. That kinda reminds me of dating; you break up with someone, and next week they are ready to settle down and get married. Good for them.

For those wondering "why don't you just do your business full-time," I don't want to. It takes more time and commitment than I want to give at this point to maintain the life I want to live right now. I did it for 7 years full-time, so I know what it takes and that's just not what I want to do right now. 

Personal

Among the professional challenges of 2017, there were several personal challenges in which I had to navigate. I won’t go into detail on those because they are personal and frankly none of your business- but rest assured me and Ruth are fine and have not had any issues. Nosy bastards. Some of the fallout from my professional challenges spilled over into my personal life including stress and anxiety. I consider myself to be a high performer and committed to excellence and when I am not in an environment to do that, it affects me. I have been more committed to my health and mental well-being this year as that is the ultimate pouring into self. Just like relationships, when your career affects you on that level, it is time to leave. Beyond that, keeping yourself first must always be a priority.

Back in 2016 is when I began an internal campaign "finding my happy," which is me simply making sure I make time to do the things I enjoy and make me happy- balance. For me it was reconnecting with sports and going to more games, reading more, tending to my collections of things, resting more, and just whatever else makes me happy at the moment.  I've also been more comfortable telling friends and family "no," and being completely fine with that without further explanation. It can be taxing when you have many people depending on you for various things as you often realize you have no one to lean on yourself. Relieving that tension often calls for telling folks no, not responding to them, or just letting them figure it out on their own, the latter is hard for me because I am a problem-solver.

Extracurricular

I love the organizations of which I am a member, but they can take over your life if you let them. I've done well in managing that over the years and not allowing that happen, but this year I made it a point to limit my involvement and be strategic with my time. I’m still around, I’m still involved but my time is finite and valuable and should be respected. It’s easy to want to put in work and time for various organizations and causes in which you are passionate, but there must be a balance, and in my opinion, it should add value to your life. If there is no balance and it adds no value, why are you doing it? In my case, does it advance my family, business, philanthropy, or professional goals buckets? Sometimes you must step back and recalibrate your focus and intent and in some instances, make hard decisions.

Conclusion

2017 was a year of reflection and rededication to myself. The challenges of the year have prepared me to face a new year with a refined perspective. I’ve never been one worry to ask why me, why this, or why that, but more so one to take it in stride, make necessary corrections when possible, and share my experiences, so others don't have to experience what I have whenever possible.

What are five ways you will pour into yourself in 2018?

1.    Reducing my bandwidth. Focusing on less and doing more vs. trying to focus on too much and accomplishing little.

2.    Focusing on education and professional development

3.    Communicating more with those beyond my immediate family members

4.    Travel and relaxation. I don’t know what this looks like just yet, but it will happen.

5.    I will marinate on #5 and report back.

Graduate Degree Program Websites Suck

Dear fellow higher education marketing professionals, the websites we manage, suck.

Having been a salesman much longer than a higher education marketing and branding professional, if I know one thing, it is that there is an art to selling and it must follow a specific and logical order. I have worked in the field for almost since 2012, and as someone also researching graduate programs for my educational goals, I have concluded that the user experience is an afterthought if at all. I say this as someone who has worked in enrollment marketing, directly. It is different when you are busy tasking from the inside compared to viewing externally as a prospective student. 

Millions of dollars are spent each year on training and improving the customer experience for luxury cars, goods, homes, all high dollar purchases. Why don't we treat the collegiate experience as a luxury item, that is what it is at the end of the day. Why don't we work on improving the collegiate shopping experience? The hope and expectations are that you earn your degree, spread the good word on your experience, and you give time and money back to the university. Car dealerships, mortgage banks, and luxury retail products are a one-time (multi-payment in most cases) transactions, and they do not maintain the same expectations as a college or university has of their alumni. We have it all backward.

These are the following items degree seekers would like to find on your website, and quickly. What program, how long will it take me, how much does it cost, and what do I need to apply? That is what everyone wants to know. Why is it so complicated to make these items easy to find in a logical order and flow? As marketing professionals, we must take the wheel as subject matter experts and think like salespeople on how to best present the information students seek. We also must seek feedback from students on how well we are conveying and displaying relevant information.

It can be hard to collaborate with other departments and determine what needs to happen, but it costs you students in the long run.

What folks want.

•      Degree programs- Students do not care about the school of business or wherever the program is housed unless it is Booth, Kellogg, Wharton, Etc. Improve your SEO to get the programs to show up quickly. Students do not know that your integrated marketing communications and marketing communications programs are in two different schools. Show all the graduate programs and link them to the appropriate program pages. Students may be looking for the marketing communications program and never see the integrated marketing communications program, which may be a better fit for them if all degree options are not presented.

•      Overview- What is the program about, what are the expected outcomes, who is this program targeting, what are possible roles one can expect with this degree.

•      Why should you get my money? What makes you different than anyone else, what's so unique about your program? Is it faculty? Placement rate? Diversity? Time to completion? Cost? Delivery format? 

•      Time Commitment- How long will it take for students to complete the program? Give me the fastest option, and make that clear. Be specific with the schedule showing what course load it will take to meet the best-case scenario goal. Fall = XYZ classes, Spring = XYZ, Summer = XYZ classes. Students do not want to see the average-case scenario; they want to see best case scenario and adjust it based on their reality.

•      Cost- How much does the program cost? List the total cost; students do not care about how much it is per credit. If it is $50,000, then say that. If the program is $50,000, and trips/immersions are required (and are to be self-financed) add that, as well as estimated costs for books. If that pushed the total to $60,000 say that. 

•      Contact- whom can I contact for more information? Where are your social media accounts for the program or school so that I can interact with others?

•      Events- Are there any events I can attend such as information sessions or networking events? That should be easy to find.

•      Admissions- Be very clear and concise on what is required for admissions. What does the process look like, what are the deadlines, if I miss this window when is the next start date?

There are far too many links to click to find necessary information, PDFs opened to view program curriculum, and calculators being pulled out to determine costs. If a concise flow is developed, the less your recruiters and admissions staff must field basic questions, and there is more time for them to work on closing applications and to get students into seats. The metrics are there, where are people clicking the most? What are they searching the most on the site? What are your heat maps telling you? All the digital advertising, direct mail, and marketing in the world cannot counter a lackluster web experience. I do realize and understand that the hierarchy and political climate in your university and department play a role in decisions involving the website, but it might be costing your students.

What are your thoughts and experiences with graduate program websites?

(Brand Trivia) The Black Fives Collection

Lil history lesson inspired by my trip to the mall today. I normally see one or two "Black Fives" hats at @lids, but today I was excited to see so many from the series at a local store . I own one of the hats from the series (below).

Click here learn more about the Black Fives 

Click here to view the Black Fives collection by '47 Brand & Lids

About the Black Fives

Just after the game of basketball was invented in 1891, teams were called “fives” in reference to their five starting players.

Basketball, like American society, was racially segregated. Teams made up entirely of African American players were often known as “colored quints,” “Negro cagers,” or “black fives.”

The sport remained divided from 1904 — when basketball was first introduced to African Americans on a wide scale organized basis — until the racial integration of the National Basketball League in the 1940s and the National Basketball Association in 1950.

The period in between became known as the Black Fives Era, when dozens of all-black teams emerged, flourished, and excelled.

African Americans were making moves in basketball generations before the N.B.A. was born.

About the Partnership

’47 , a privately held premium sports lifestyle apparel brand, has partnered with the Black Fives Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to research, preserve, showcase, and teach the pre-1950 history of African Americans in basketball, to create a first-of-its-kind collection of headwear, apparel and accessories that combines fashion with history to honor the pioneering teams of the Black Fives Era." 

Re: "I will never compare my life to yours. That’s why I’m happy."

Below is my personal reflection based on the article "I will never compare my life to yours. That’s why I’m happy."

I adopted this thinking years ago. I was beating myself up because I wasn't as "successful" as some of my friends and associates of the same age, similar upbringing, and background.

Some of my friends finished college in 4 years, some of them had great internships before graduation, some of them had great jobs right out of college, some of them earned advanced degrees years ago, some of them have been in their chosen career path or field for going on 15 years, some of them never got divorced, some of them are celebrating 15 years of marriage, some of them are heads of divisions or companies, some of them have more money in their retirement savings, some of them have great relationships with their spouses, some of them are half-way through their mortgages, some of them are on their 2nd or 3rd passport, some of them just seem to have it all together.

We are raised to follow typical or expected trajectory of those within our peer groups. But the more I live, the more I find that while others have things you wish you had  achieved the success you hoped to have at the same time as your friends, they want some of what you have.

I posted a meme the other day that said something to the effect of "what messes us up the most is the image of how it is supposed to be".

I stopped measuring myself by my friends' success and achievements. There is a difference between having a goal and being envious. I ambitious, but based on my own successes from where I was, where I am, and where I want to be. It's ok to want more than what you have, but don't let that dictate your life or let it become an obsession which fuels self-doubt, depression, etc.

The hardest part of being an adult is understanding and accepting that your life is not going to be the way you'd like, and you have to play the hand you are dealt and make the best of it for you and/or your family and friends.