This newsletter is all about being our best. So to mark our two year anniversary, the 24th edition, we will pay homage to another #24 who was obsessed with being the best, the late Kobe Bryant. Regardless of where you think he stacks up amongst “the greatest” basketball players of all time, his approach to success and achievement are worth studying.
Most notably in that pursuit is a nickname from Kobe’s playing years–Black Mamba.
Many NBA fans know and fear this phrase. It describes a sort of alter-ego that Kobe carried with him. In a tight 4th quarter in game 7 of the playoffs? Black Mamba would show up in mercenary style and simply take over. If there was a game-winning shot to take, Black Mamba wanted to take it. And every Laker player, coach and fan in the arena wanted Black Mamba taking that shot too.
Most fans assume that he earned this nickname through his playing style and winning ways. They could recognize the look on his face or the way he grabbed an inbound ball on an important possession and figure that’s just how he played when things got intense.
Quite the opposite! Black Mamba was intentional. Kobe created it, and it came out of necessity.
In 2004, Kobe faced a low point in his career and personal life. And it was while watching a scene from the movie Kill Bill that he was inspired to create this new persona. In a style that only Quentin Tarantino could pull off, an assassin uses a venomous snake to kill another character. The scene is simultaneously violent and hilarious; as the assassin calmly describes her method to the victim as he suffers its fatal effects.
In interviews, Kobe shared that he was captivated by the snake’s length, bite, strike and temperament. He also saw a clear connection to the way a snake sheds its own skin. That became a reference to him growing out of his old self.
All of this turned into a philosophy that is now known as “Mamba mentality.” It means being fearless, obsessive, and willing sacrifice in the short-term. This approach inspired many of Kobe’s legendary shooting practices and the style that his entire team played with–which continued to win championship rings even as the cast around Kobe changed dramatically over the years.
This idea of developing an alter-ego is nothing new. High achieving people have been “imagining” themselves as someone else in order to do things they normally wouldn’t be able to for as long as we’ve been able to imagine.
Although it doesn’t get the media coverage of Kobe’s transformation, I’ve used this strategy a few times to pull myself out of tough situations. My favorite was nearly two decades ago, during my junior year of college. Let’s just say fraternity life was getting in the way of my school work and I recognized something needed to change.
So I showed up to the chapter meeting on a Sunday evening and announced to my 50 best friends that “Delta Dan” had arrived. Further, I described that this Delta fellow loved spending time at the library and would take no part in weeknight shenanigans. I got some odd looks and a few “boos” from my peers, but the speech was inspired and I meant what I said.
It worked! My friends respected the new boundaries and I moved my grades from Cs to As in a matter of weeks. By that time, Delta Dan was established. That persona carried through the rest of my undergraduate days and I’m confident that it led to my recruitment by USC and all the big firms that put offer letters in my inbox.
So, what’s the take-away here?
Pretty simple–I’m suggesting that you need a Mamba or Delta in your own toolbox. When things get tight or you hit a low point in the cycle of life–who is that obsessed, get-out-of-my-way, make-stuff-happen persona that you can bust out as needed?
We certainly don’t want to live in this state full-time; like all things, moderation is key. But I strongly believe the ability to “go to another place” is an important ability in our pursuit to being our best.
When the moment calls–bring out your Mamba.
Ventured Highlight
What better time to find examples of people doing amazing things and achieving “new bests” than right after the Summer Olympics?!
Honestly, I spent much of that two week period with my jaw on the floor and tears in my eyes as I watched athlete after athlete achieve their lifelong dreams. With plenty of examples to choose from, one moment stands out above the rest to highlight this month’s lesson.
The event: Men’s 1500 meter final. The competitors: Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway), Josh Kerry (Great Britain), and a bunch of nobodies fighting for a chance at bronze. At least that is how it was supposed to play out.
But a racer that barely qualified to represent team USA named Cole Hocker was also on the starting line. He had a different idea. Click the image below to watch how things shake out in the final moments of this race.
Talk about stepping up to the moment! Talk about going to another place! I’m not sure what Cole calls his superhuman alter-ego, but I promise you he has one. This guy wasn’t even considered for the podium before the race started. Yet there he is, finishing first and setting a new Olympic record in the process.
Congrats Cole! What an incredible source of inspiration. For more ideas on how to develop your own champions persona, see the links below.
Worth The Click
1. Change Your State, Change Your Life: "Learning how to control your focus and physiology empowers you to manage your state, which enables you to feel whatever emotions you want, whenever you want."
2. These 14 Small Mindset Shifts Will Change Your Life: "So when I find myself in situations big and small, positive or negative, I try to see each of them as an opportunity for me to be the best I’m capable of being in that moment. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we are, we can always do this."
3. Mamba Mentality–How I Play: "I had to separate myself; it felt like there were so many things coming at once. It was just becoming very, very confusing. I had to organize things. So I created the 'Black Mamba."
I hope you found this note useful or at least allowed you to pause and be intentional for a moment. And remember – we always get more of whatever we focus on!
Best,
Dan Reilly
Love me some Delta Dan!