In defeat, Lebron James taught a valuable lesson about your work and life.
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That’s a level of honesty we rarely hear from superstar athletes.
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After the Cavaliers had lost game six and the NBA Finals championship to the Warriors, a reporter asked an exhausted and defeated LeBron James whether it’s all worth it or if he had satisfaction in the process. Here’s what he had to say (courtesy of ASAP Sports):
“Well, of course you question it, especially when you get to this point. I always look at it would I rather not make the playoffs or lose in The Finals? I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve missed the playoffs twice. I lost in The Finals four times. I’m almost starting to be like I’d rather not even make the playoffs than to lose in The Finals. It would hurt a lot easier if I just didn’t make the playoffs and I didn’t have a shot at it.
But then I lock back in and I start thinking about how fun it is to compete during the playoffs and the first round, the second round, and Eastern Conference Finals. If I’m lucky enough to get here again, it will be fun to do it.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad freeBut put my body through a lot, you know, but it’s the price for your body feeling this way for winning. Did I win? I didn’t win a championship, but I’ve done a lot of good things in this first year back, and hopefully I can continue it.”
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That’s a level of honesty we rarely hear from superstar athletes, and it gives us some real insight into what goes on in the mind of arguably the best individual basketball player in the world. If LeBron, having won two NBA Championships, can question whether he’d rather not make the playoffs (mediocrity) versus a record of two and four in Finals (success), it’s no surprise that we question this ourselves in our careers. Are we willing to settle for being average instead living up to our potential and being great?
Great to Good to Unemployed
From the beginning of my corporate career, I had aspirations of greatness and success. I wanted to be a top-level executive, and I worked hard and created opportunities that resulted in several promotions and increased pay. The higher I climbed the corporate ladder, the better life became. Being in senior management provided a solid six-figure paycheck, first-class travel and other perks. Life was great.
As I saw the pressure, responsibility and risks that executive management dealt with, I began to question whether it was all worth it. I believed I could become a great executive, but I wasn’t sure if I was willing to put in the effort. In the end, I chose comfortable and safe over risk and hard work. Instead of pursuing the level of success and greatness that I’d wanted, I settled for good enough.
That decision marked the beginning of my decline. I lost my passion for the job. I stopped performing at a high level, and my employer took notice. As things deteriorated, instead of taking responsibility for my actions, I blamed everyone and everything else but myself. Eventually, that way of thinking cost me my job.
Your Greatest Enemy
What if LeBron gave in to those doubts? What if he stopped putting in the long hours of training, conditioning and practice, putting himself through everything it takes to appear in The Finals for five straight years? Would his name still be mentioned as one of the greatest to have every played the game? I doubt it.
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What about you? Are you striving to be great or are you just getting by?
Or are you going to play it safe and stay comfortable?
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Maybe you’re unhappy at work, but you’re not do anything to change things because it pays the bills, and you’d rather not take the risk. You find it painful to go to work, but you’re comfortable and not quite frustrated enough to change things. That situation is the purest form of mediocrity, and it’s your greatest enemy in your journey towards a successful and fulfilling career and life.
You might not have LeBron’s basketball skills, but I’m sure there’s something else you’re great at. The question is, are you going to do great work and create the life you’ve dreamed about, or are you going to play it safe and stay comfortable?
That’s your version of the The Decision. What’s it going to be?
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Photo: Flickr/ Aaron Frutman