Today we are mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant. At the age of 6, he fell in love with basketball. His first basketball was a pair of rolled up socks from his father. He gave his all, his heart and commitment to the game he loved. He showed all of us what is possible with love and the discipline to practice, practice, practice. He lived his dream passionately.
In his DEAR BASKETBALL letter he said, “I knew one thing was real. I fell in love with you.
A love so deep I gave you my all – from my mind and body, to my spirit and soul. As a six- year- old boy deeply in love with you, I never saw the end of the tunnel. I only saw myself running out of one. And so I ran. I ran up and down every court, after every loose ball for you.”
Thank you, Kobe.
Are you doing what you LOVE? What inspires you? What does it mean to you to live with purpose and passion?
I LOVE what I get to do. Helping others be the best they can be has been a driving force since I was a small child. My entire life has been enriched and inspired by examples of human beings living their dreams, high purpose, because they love what they get to do. They stood by me in the darkest moments of my life.
Yes, we all have ups and downs. It’s how we find the strength deep inside to get back in the game that matters.
I used to say, “I want to be all used up when I die”. After reading the entire following quotation from George Bernard Shaw, it became a part of the message shared at programs all over the country for more than 30 years. Take a moment and read it slowly:
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by YOURSELF as a MIGHTY ONE; that being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
“I want to be thoroughly USED UP WHEN I DIE, FOR THE HARDER I WORK THE MORE I LIVE. I REJOICE IN LIFE FOR ITS OWN SAKE. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations”
What inspired you – helped you keep on keeping on? When was your first aha moment? A genuine act of kindness? Taking on a leadership role to make something happen that mattered?
When people are moved by a high purpose, when IT is bigger than I am, anything is possible. Niche said, “When a man has a why he can endure any how.” Victor Frankl, after surviving the death camps of Auschwitz and the death of his family, created logotherapy, mans’ search for meaning. He shared how purpose, the will to live for something bigger than this moment, helped others survive. As he stood naked in front of the armed German soldiers, he said to himself, “They can take everything from me, but they can’t take how I THINK!”
Your Journey Matters
Every dot along your path – living, learning, connecting with others, finding a purpose bigger than your little self, risking, collaborating with others, loving what you get to do, contributes to a life that fulfills our hearts and souls. In the end, LOVE is all that matters. Love of self, love of family, love of friends, love of life, love of what we get to do, is a journey of choice. Living authentically matters.
As leaders, authenticity is one of the great traits that opens the door for people to trust and bond with a vision and commitment worthy of full participation
Great leaders like, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mandela, Preston Tucker, Coach Wooden, and Ricardo Semler, inspire us with an authentic message of purpose and possibility that connects with our passion for what’s possible.
Authentic Leaders have high standards and continuously communicate with team players to reinforce their talents and value to the team. They understand the importance of advocates who effectively support a high purpose with daily reinforcement, respect, training and collaboration to fulfill the high purpose of the team.
I have witnessed leaders and champions from all aspects of life share how their childhood paved the way for who they are and what they do to make a difference today. AUTHENTICITY is one of the great traits of great leaders. How else will people want to trust you or bond with your vision if they cannot connect with you?
That’s the greatest quality of a great LEADERS – To bond with people – TO INSPIRE OTHERS – to show them they CARE- to be trusted – to have an authentic message of purpose and possibility that connects with the passion and aspirations of all who join them in their commitment.
“The GAME Is Never Over…..
No one does it alone”
