So, now we’re on episode 5 of the ten-part documentary series “The Last Dance” about Michael Jordan’s last year with the Chicago Bulls (1997-1998). Part 4 was about the importance of leading on purpose and for a purpose.
[UPDATE: Due to the positive feedback I received on this series I turned it into a short book called “Lead Like Mike”. If you want to support me and read the ten posts all in one place you can now order the book here.]
Focus On The Main Thing
Episode 5 was about Michal Jordan’s global influence and was dedicated to Kobe Bryant. By this time, Jordan was one of the most recognizable people in the world. His games were always sold out and internally he was just as popular. People who had no interest in basketball were drawn to him and introduced to the game because of him.
Jordan said that fathers, their wives, and children came as a family to watch him play so he felt obligated to perform every night and not to disappoint them.
In episode 5, Jordan was being pulled in multiple directions with filming TV commercials, starring in a movie, brand deals, and his expanding contract with Nike. The moment he stepped outside he was mobbed by the press and fans and everyone wanted a piece of him. And even before the games, he spent time with the special fans who had health challenges.
At one point in the episode, Jordan explained that the only reason why he had shoe contract, endorsements deals and all of the things that led to him having a house-hold name were due to one thing. Winning championships.
At a restaurant, you order the main dish before the side dishes. The fame, money, and influence were side dishes. Anything that was not about winning a championship was like a side dish, nice to have, but not the main course.
LEADERSHIP NUGGET #5: Leaders intentionally and disproportionally invest their time, talents, and treasure into a few essential things and ignore the rest. They keep the main thing the main thing.
Here’s a fun fact: Jordan earned nearly $100 million during his career but since his retirement, he’s earned about $100 million per year in royalties. How is this possible?
He had a great agent and made good decisions but he kept the main thing the main thing while he played.
Experts say we live in the information age, but I think it’s the distraction age. We are bombarded daily by Weapons of Mass Distraction. From the moment we wake up we are attacked by endless streams of world-is-ending news, cat videos, clickbait, political Tweets, sexualized images, celebrity drama, and advertisers trying to convince you that your life is terrible unless you buy their product. Internet cookies follow you online from site to site like a lion stalking its prey.
And Google’s algorithm knows you better than you know yourself. That’s why every time you open Youtube the first 10 videos are all like eye candy for your brain. Not only does this algorithm know what you want, it constantly reinforces what you believe by feeding you the same viewpoint, which we are happy to consume.
We have to be intentional about our intentions to remain focused in this digital age. We can’t focus by accident.
Staying focused and having self-control today is really one of the greatest skills you can have. The future belongs to those who can focus on the sound while avoiding the noise.
We live busier (more distracted) lives today than ever in history. We feel pressured to do more, watch the popular Netflix shows, and stay current with everything happening. There’s even a term for this — FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out.
We read books on how to get more done and how to be more productive. But are we being effective? Are we spending our time and energy on things that truly move the needle of life forward?
There’s a big difference between being efficient and being effective. You can be super-efficient but if you’re working on the wrong things you’re being ineffective.
You Can’t Focus on Everything
The goal isn’t to do everything. The goal is to do the essential. And that’s true productivity.
As awful as COVD19 has been, it’s also forced us many of us to slow down. For the past 2 months I’ve been working from home so no commuting. I only go to the supermarket about once per week. Every movement outside of my home is carefully calculated to minimize interaction with other people, avoid crowded places and to do everything in one trip. No eating out, no shopping malls, and no flights. COVID has forced us to reexamine our lives and focus on the essential — the stuff that matters most — our health, relationships, our finances, and our mortality.
Jordan didn’t focus on contracts, endorsement deals or “gaining followers”. Social media didn’t exist back then, but I’m confident Jordan wouldn’t be sharing pictures of himself or Tweeting. Instead, Jordan kept the main thing the main thing. He focused on mastering his craft so that he could win championships and make an impact in the game.
His agent David Faulk shared this story:
“I brought him a deal three years ago for $100 million. All he had to do was, other than giving his name and likeness, make a one two-hour appearance to announce the deal and he turned it down”
God bless him. He’s been so successful, it gives him an opportunity to do whatever the hell he wants or not to do things he doesn’t want. I really admire that. He’s very, very selective in the things he wants to be involved in.”
Jordan declined a $100 million-dollar deal that would require 2 hours of his time and the use of his image. Why? Because money is not his main thing.
How clear are you about your main thing?
If you like this series, and want to increase your leadership I.Q check out my book, “Leader by Choice.”
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