The Sacrifice For Success

 Getting off my bed yesterday morning, I opened up YouTube on my Laptop and the topmost video on my feed staring right at me was a Kobe Bryant Interview by one of the business channels I am subscribed to. It's a 63 minutes plus record and at first i just thought to maybe see the first 15 minutes, just to get an idea of what the interview was about.But guess what? I ended up watching to the very end, smiles... 

A quick introduction about Kobe;  Kobe Bean Bryant, known unanimously as Kobe. He was an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships. And those are just to mention a few of his many laurels picked up in his glamorous career.

In this Interview, Kobe said something that struck me. "of course, my relationships suffered" This he said while explaining the price he had to pay to keep sole focus of Basketball. He went ahead to explain that his family had to come to terms with it and let him be.

Another thing he pointed out was how he made a 'Kill list'. A list containing professional basketball players who were ranked above himself. as at the time he made this list, he was no. 57. Now, that struck me. This was a man on a mission and what best depicts that is to set a clear pathway highlighting the roadblocks and challenges to achieving the set goal.

But that's not going to be my focus writing this afternoon. Kobe was a man who was so focused. I dare even say that his focus was on the extreme side. looking at his accomplishments today, sure all of that focus and sacrifice paid off. He ranks as the greatest Laker and one of the all time greats in the sport. He pointed out something in that interview when asked "What was your drive to keep going?" of which he answered, "I looked up at those high up on my kill list and they didn't have two heads" Talk about being daring and bold, that was Kobe. He went further to say about how fast it was for him to climb up that ladder that he noticed that "For many of them, as soon as they got comfortable, the big bucks were rolling in, their families were in a good place, then their hunger for the game took a dip" they were comfortable where they were. A pretty god place, top of the game but staying there wasn't the focus but rather on the side attractions that come with it; status, fame, wealth and the attention, but Kobe was not up for all of that. He was so in love with the game, his passion consumed him and this was why he was able to make peace early with the fact that his relationships suffered. To him, that was his price to pay.

Then, Kobe did something. Guess what? He put himself under the tutelage of one of the greats of the game, if not the greatest, Michael Jordan who Kobe testified was like a big brother to him, gave him advise and guidance. This was very strategic! How so? here is Kobe who set his sight on becoming one of the greatest and with him right there on the court was Michael Jordan as an opponent. Something drew Michael's attention to Kobe and it was his daring character. He didn't shy away from going 'hard' on the tackles and man marking him even as a young chap.

In the situation, where others would have backed out of a challenge for fear or respect of Michael's pedigree and status, Kobe did not cower and right there, Michael saw the character of a champion. That was one relationship that went on till the Passing of Kobe. Like the quote "Game recognizes game". The recognition was a 'two way' and on Kobe's side, this form of mentorship was instrumental to the successes he had in his playing career.

But talking about the sacrifices Kobe had to pay for his glamorous career, not everyone of us will be required to go the same path but surely there must be a price. For some of us, it'll be on the short run and for some others, it'll be on the long run.Kobe was quick to identify his and went all in.

Today we salute his talent, bravery, hardwork, passion and personality. A terrible relationship with friends and family mostly due to little time spent together were his major price to pay for his career of which towards the latter years of his life, he poured himself into his Family, Vanessa his wife, Natalia his eldest daughter, Gigi, Capri and Bianka as well as his friends and extended Family.

What is your own price for success? Have you identified them?

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