How Michael Jordan Dealt With Obstacles

“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” – Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan knew that obstacles are part of life.

“If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But 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

When we see someone who is really good at what they do, like Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s easy to think that they are born that way and that they have had an inevitable rise to great success. But when you research them, you realize that they didn’t catapult to success solely because of their amazing, born talent.

Every one of them put a great deal of work and when they were met with obstacles, they powered through them. Some people are born with certain passions and talents and build them, but many people who never achieve anything are born with talents and passions that they never see through. What we come with is the raw material that we have to develop.

Obstacles are a part of sports and life. How we handle them is determined by and defines who we are as people. With time and deliberate practice, your ability to do hard things can improve.

“It takes way more than skills to be great. It takes consistency, having an edge and having an obsession with getting better. The thing that separates me is the obsession and discipline that I have for the game.” – Giannis Antetokounmpo

Being great is more than skills. It’s having the right mindset, grit, toughness, work ethic. Fall in love with what you do. Fall in love with the practice, the work and getting better.