My Best Skill Was That I Was Coachable

Knowing what we know about Michael Jordan's competitiveness and work ethic, it is hard to believe that when he was growing up, his father said that Michael was mischievous and the laziest kid he had. Michael grew up the 4th out of 5 kids in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Jordan's mother said, "You had to discipline him. He would test you to the limit. Michael was always getting into things."

In The Last Dance, Michael said that when he was in the 9th grade, he got suspended three times in one year. He said that his father pulled him aside that summer and said, "You don't look like you are heading in the right direction. If you want to do all of this mischievous stuff, you can forget sports."

Michael said that was all he needed to hear, and from then on he had tunnel vision and never got in trouble in school again, and that his father was a friend and a voice of reason who always drove and challenged him.

We all need people in our lives like that. People who will be honest, tell us the truth about ourselves, and people who will challenge us. We need people who will tell us when we are doing wrong and what we need to do better.

We also need to be coachable and willing to listen and learn. Michael Jordan said, "My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn."

Being coachable (and a huge growth spurt) helped Michael Jordan grow from a lazy, mischievous kid into one of the best athletes that we have ever seen. Coachable athletes are ready, willing, and humble enough to listen and to make the changes and adjustments needed to become the best that they can be.

1 - What is one way that you can be more coachable?

2 - What is one thing that your coaches have been trying to get you to do that you have been fighting against?