Michael Jordan: Chasing Challenges

"If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” - Michael Jordan

When Michael was a sophomore in high school, he tried out for the varsity team but was cut. Jordan said he went home demoralized, felt like the coach didn’t like him, and didn’t want to play sports anymore. His mom said they cried together, but instead of complaining to the coach or principal or allowing him to make excuses, she told him, “If you really want it, you work hard over the summer,” and he did. 

That summer, he focused and practiced all day. His mom said the basketball never left his hand, and the next year, he not only made the team but eventually became the best player in the state and one of the best in the country.

Jordan’s father said, “If you want to bring out the best in Michael, tell him he can’t do something, or he can’t do it as good as somebody else.” He said Jordan would take it as a personal challenge to prove you wrong.

Jordan never stopped looking for challenges to make him better. When he got to North Carolina, he would play the team’s star, James Worthy, every day after practice. Worthy said, “I was better than he was … for about two weeks. He wanted to learn, and he wanted to grow quickly. From month to month and game to game, he was soaking up information.”

The best of the best run to challenges, not from them, and they search for people better than them because iron sharpens iron.

Reflection Question: When you face challenges what do you do? Do you run to them or from them?