It’s been six years since Kobe Bryant tragically left us. But his wisdom remains.
“If you really want to be great at something, you have to truly care about it. If you want to be great in a particular area, you have to obsess over it.”
Kobe’s Mamba Mentality is a fascinating peek into the psyche of a GOAT. There’s no hype to reach success. He believes in traditional hard work.
Kobe details how his unwavering ambition dictated how he spent all his time in training, learning, reading, studying plays, assessing players, tweaking his technique, and interviewing mentors. Down time was pushing past pain and problems to get back in the game and win.
“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. That’s totally fine. After all, greatness is not for everybody.”
When I read The Mamba Mentality, I felt like such an underachiever and I wanted to level up. I’m still in my comfy mediocrity, but you can’t help but get fired up by Kobe’s passion.
“It was never enough. I always wanted to be better, wanted more….That fueled me until the day I hung up my sneakers.”
Like Golden State Warriors GOAT Stephen Curry, Kobe values loyalty and relationships. He never left his first NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years. Both GOATS are also dedicated fathers. Kobe has four daughters and calls himself a Girl Dad.
Kobe’s hard work paid off and his influence is undeniable. This youngest NBA Slam Dunk winner has two Olympic gold medals, 2 MVP awards, and 5 NBA championships.
“The mindset isn’t about seeking a result—it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life.”
Ivy is a Jesuit-educated lawyer turned columnist and book reviewer. For the latest Silicon Valley books follow @IvyDigest on YouTube.
The Mamba Mentality—How I Play
By Kobe Bryant
Photos by Andrew D. Bernstein
Introduction by Phil Jackson
Oversize hardcover, 208 pages, 2018.
MCD and Melcher Media
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