32: Bring The Boat In
Chris Suarez: [00:00:00] Today. I wanted to share a quote from the late Kobe Bryant. It's a quote that I heard this weekend while listening to an interview, Kobe was asked how he got his teammates to be so committed. You of course, had a storied past with some teammates and had a reputation of being a bit insensitive at times in his pursuit of winning.
But his teammates showed up as much. Like he did night after night, the secret. There wasn't one, his mantra. He said, don't tell me how rough the water is. Just bring the boat in. It didn't matter how rough or choppy that water was against the shore of execution or the, that dock of winning Coby brought the boat in.
He always did. And he expected those around him to do so as well for this. He was labeled as insensitive at times. He was labeled as unwelcoming. He was labeled as having a little or no empathy. He didn't want to hear how rough the water was after all. He was on the boat. He didn't need that play by play that he didn't need the reminder of how difficult it was.
He didn't need the complaining, but looking back that commitment to bring the boat in, regardless of the condition of the water made him one of the greatest players of all times, one of the most skilled and successful in his industry. It also made everyone around him better. Many, remember all of Kobe's awards and accolades, but they forget.
That while he was playing five other teammates became NBA. All-stars two others earned the coveted six men award, countless won multiple NBA championship rings with him at times that the likes of Eddie Jones, Rick Fox, Robert Henri alum, Lamar Odom, and certainly Shaquille O'Neal disagreed, argued, and even butt heads with him.
Why. Because choppy water, isn't easy to navigate leading others through that water towards a goal can be even more complex. This year has been nothing short of choppy. Some of us have felt like we're headed to bring in that boat hole first with all the resistance of the world in front of us, the bow of our boat somehow ended up in the wrong direction and we're backing our way towards the shore is what it feels like.
Some of us have felt like our engines gave out at the end of the first quarter, but in order to bring the boat in. All of us need to get the bow headed in the right direction. Some of us needed to pick up a paddle and exert energy into the business. Like we've never done before. Others almost literally grabbed a rope tied around their waist, jumped in.
Yeah. And began swimming. And so doing. Some results were expected and others unexpected Kobe was always willing to do what it took to win. He outworked everyone. He was so good, not because he was born great, but he was committed to being great. Kobe was going to win with, or without you, that was expected.
What was unexpected is how committed and great everyone around him became what was unexpected was a level at which she, his team showed up and performed.
I believe it was leadership is bringing people down a path to their preferred future. So as you jump into the rough water and begin bringing the boat in the unexpected happens, your teammates, your starters, your six men and six women have been jumping in right by your side. We all become better players.
By the players we choose to surround ourselves with, by the players that get drafted and signed to our teams. When we show up and realize our teammates has been on the court, practicing a free throw or a jump shot or sprints a full hour before we get to the gym. Well, guess what? We practice just a little bit more that day.
Don't we practice this a little bit harder that day. Don't wait. We show up at least 15 minutes earlier. The next day is that easy. Some days. Some days it is. And most days it's not, we continue to be headed into choppy waters. I believe what we've experienced in our industry and in the economy.
And elsewhere was actually the calm before the storm. The wind is picking up the water's choppy and the current is strong. So what do we do now? We prepare our dock lines. We attach our fenders, we line up our approach. We judge the water conditions. We lead. We move forward. It's time to bring the boat in.
