Lessons from The Last Dance

Mind over matter. Attitude matters. Prove them wrong. You have to be mentally tough. You have to believe in yourself.

How many times have we heard these statements over our lifetime?

Sitting here enthralled after the 10th and final episode of The Last Dance, the documentary series providing an intimate window into the career and mindset of Michael Jordan, I am reminded again that statements like these, however cliche they may seem, are indeed the difference makers in one’s lifetime.

Reflecting on the balance of MJ’s career and what went into his storied 6 championships, there are many lessons to be learned and applied:

1) Proving others wrong is sometimes the greatest fuel in life.

While we seek those great mentors and sources of encouragement, we sometimes miss out on one of the greatest fuels in life, doubters.

Throughout Michael’s career, he was constantly seeking out “doubters” as he knew they would give him the fire to push through adversity to prove them wrong.

Reflecting on my own life, I’ve learned that a “chip-on-your-shoulder”, if managed appropriately, can be a great force.

Don’t avoid doubters, embrace them!

2) It is better to be respected than liked.

Throughout life, we seek the attention of others and thirst to be “liked”. Going back to our earliest years, we seek the attention and approval of our parents. This same mindset follows into our school years and ultimately adulthood.

In doing so, we sometimes miss out on the opportunity to be “respected” in our efforts to be “liked”. This mindset has us avoiding conflict. Missing out on opportunities to “speak up” at critical moments. Sometimes these missed opportunities just fade away. Other times, these missed opportunities are life changing as we fail to hold others and ourselves to a higher standard, letting mediocrity fill the space.

Michael made it clear throughout this career that being “liked” was secondary. He was going to push himself and push his teammates, and do whatever was necessary to get the most out of his team, even if it meant “ruffling” feathers. He knew that “respect” was more powerful and over time would yield better outcomes than being “liked”. And that “respect” is lasting while “being liked” is fleeting.

Don't avoid conflict, address it head on. Have the courage to say the right thing at the right time. Seek respect over "likes".

3) The most important person you need to have in your corner when the chips are down is yourself.

“You just have to believe in yourself.”

It’s easy to say, but harder to believe.

Throughout Jordan’s career, whenever the chips were down, there was one consistent source of inspiration that he went to when he needed it most, his undying belief in self. Whether heading into a game 7, or with the game clock ticking down, MJ is one of those special few that was able to consistently tap into that 6 inch space between your ears, his own mind, to find the will to succeed.

While we seek the approval and encouragement of others in our times of greatest need, the biggest source of inspiration actually lies from within. I am here to say the most powerful force in the world is without question, mental toughness.

When times are their toughest, don’t first look for help, look within!

4) If you want to inspire others, hold yourself to the highest standard of effort, at all levels of your career.

One of my favorite parts of Last Dance, albeit subtle, was seeing Michael finish first in practice when they did conditioning sprints (or "gasers" as they were called in high school). With several championships and MVP awards already under his belt, Michael was still pushing himself to bring maximum effort.

He underscored this mindset by commenting, “You ask all my teammates, the one thing about Michael Jordan was he never asked me to do something that he didn’t [expletive] do”.

One of the things I’ve noticed in life is that the highest impact leaders, whether sports or business, remain consistent at all levels of their career. The hungry mindset they had as a rookie (aka first year analyst) remains the same as a storied All-Star (aka Managing Director). The ability to bring that “hunger” and “enthusiasm” at all levels of your career, and particularly as a senior leader, will inspire others.

Remember what got you there in the first place!

5) You learn more in defeat than victory.

Another favorite part of Last Dance was seeing Michael Jordan struggle with the Bad Boys, my beloved Detroit Pistons, led by my favorite player, Isiah Thomas.

Over three consecutive seasons, MJ and the Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs by the Pistons. Finally, in 1991, the Bulls beat the Pistons and went on to win 6 championships over the next 8 years. Just like the Pistons needed to get through the Celtics and the Lakers, the rite of passage for the Bulls was Detroit.

Jordan learned a lot from those Detroit series in 1988-1990. He learned he needed to rely more on his teammates at critical moments of games (e.g. see John Paxson in ‘91 Finals). He learned he needed to get a lot physically stronger to handle the style of the play of the Pistons. Through all of those struggles with the Pistons, emerged a battle-tested, confident champion.

As such, we need to embrace our failures as “gifts”. Study them. Analyze them from different angles. Ask questions like “what will I do differently next time…?”

When you find your Pistons/"Bad Boys", that final hurdle you just can't seem to get over, take heed as the greatest lessons are being taught at that very moment.

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On a very personal note this film was a trip down memory lane. Some of my fondest memories of my youth were those classic Pistons/Bulls series, and seeing Isiah and Jordan battle it out. Seeing this film with my 2 sons at the same age I was when this all happened during these unprecedented times is one of those "silver linings" from this time at home with the family during the quarantine. Thank you Jason Hehir and ESPN for the incredible film. And most importantly, thank you Michael for the lessons.