It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter tragedy. I think all of us remember when we heard the news.
I am not much of a sports fanatic, but I remember the overwhelming amount of love and admiration for him, after his death.
So, I got curious. What was it about Kobe that caused such an incredible following? I think I have found the answer.
It wasn’t long after his passing that I was introduced to the book, “Relentless”, by Timothy S. Grover . Tim Grover was the performance coach for Kobe Bryant, along with other incredible athletes, like Michael Jordan, Dwayne Wade and more.
In his book, Tim categorizes everyone into one of three categories:
–Cooler: They are Good. They let others decide if they are successful. They wait for a compliment to know they did something right.
–Closer: They are Great. They feel successful when they close a deal, but they stop once they achieve it.
–Cleaner: They are unstoppable. They never feel that they have achieved success because there is more to do. They are relentless, focused and internally driven. A cleaner has the guts and the vision to steer everything to their advantage.
Kobe was a cleaner. He was relentless and unstoppable. After reading Grover’s book, I can only imagine how intense and focused he was at all times. One example that was given was when Kobe was drafted into the NBA – he went to practice that day. All other players when they are drafted, go out and celebrate. Kobe went to work out because he was that driven to be the best. He never rested on his laurels.
Even when Kobe was injured and unable to play in the game, he attended all games dressed in tailored suits, carrying a clipboard, and carried himself with the same seriousness, as if he was there to play. Most players, when they are side-lined and injured, come in sweats and casual clothes – not Kobe. He treated his fans, his teammates, and his sponsors with incredible respect by showing up as an intense, serious, and always on professional.
I first read this book in 2022. I was so impressed with Tim Grover’s “Relentless 13” – the 13 essential traits of the most intense competitors and achievers in sports, business, and all walks of life, I decided that I would read this book multiple times a year, every year as I got so motivated and inspired every time I listened to it.
Last week I read it again, and what jumped out to me this time was how fastidious Kobe was and how he dressed when he was not playing and was injured. His shoes were polished, his suit immaculate and the band on his timepiece (he did not call it a watch) matched his shoes. His automobile (he did not call it a car) was spotless.
When you are a Cleaner, when you are relentless, when you are driven to be the best, how you do anything is how you do everything.
In this day and age of Zoom/Teams meetings, hybrid work and texting and email instead of handwritten notes, what message do you send to your team, your clients and prospects?
Are you a cooler – just getting by so that others notice? Are you a closer – you perform well and stop when you hit your goals?
Or are you a CLEANER – unstoppable, relentless to the core? Do you give it your all and keep going whether anyone notices? Are you showing up in yoga pants and sweatshirts or with scuffed shoes, or do you show up looking the part of a professional, even when no one says you need to?
Very few people have the drive and the will to be relentless. Read Tim Grover’s book and find out what it takes. Perhaps it will inspire you to take your game up a few notches.
Onward and Upward,
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