The Michael Jordan Way (and Why It May Not Be the Best Way)
The documentary The Last Dance portrays Michael Jordan as a fierce competitor who, even after winning multiple NBA championships and MVP awards, still had a chip on his shoulder. In this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve discuss what we can learn from the Jordan model; a model founded on performance from a place of animosity and opposition, and leadership through fear. Should we be trying to emulate the Jordan way or trying to avoid it? Does the Jordan way work for a certain type of person? Brad and Steve discuss the source of Jordan’s drive, his self-awareness, and whether his teams won because of his leadership style or in spite of it. They discuss the distinction between playing from a place of fear and anger versus openness and love. Is it more important to fear losing or to enjoy winning? Finally, Brad and Steve tackle whether great athletes make great coaches and how this all plays into youth sports.
“We tend to fall for a myth of singular greatness, but seeing that there are other models is really important.”
“There’s a difference between performing from a place of fear and anger versus openness and love.”
“Very rarely do you see someone that’s competed at the highest level being the parent going off the rails at youth sports.”
“There are more paths than just this one Jordan way.”
You can find the podcast on:
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- The Last Dance, the Michael Jordan documentary
- True Hoop: Under Lebron’s Skin, by Henry Abbott
- The Captain Class by Sam Walker
- The Growth Equation Podcast: The Science–and Art–of Leading Yourself and Others
Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagness
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[…] at everything to be the best. We all saw how Michael Jordan manufactured beef between players and coaches to give himself a chip on his shoulder in the docuseries The Last Dance. When you’re working to be the best at what you do, there are instant comparisons […]