🥇 The Winners Circle: Black Mamba

 🏆 CULTURE WINS LESSON

Each of these Culture Wins lessons is a part of my Culture Wins Curriculum. You can download this video and the PDF lesson to use with your team.

Nekton Mentality

What is a Nekton Mentality?

The concept of the Nekton Mentality, popularized by the University of Minnesota Football Coach PJ Fleck, encapsulates a powerful mindset for athletes and individuals in any endeavor.

Derived from the term "Nekton" in marine biology, which refers to organisms that can swim and move independently of water currents, the Nekton Mentality embodies a resilient and determined approach to facing challenges and achieving success.

Check it out!

Download the PDF lesson on Nekton Mentality Here. Use the video and lesson with your team or school. This video and lesson are among the growing number of lessons in the Culture Wins Curriculum (click the link to get lifetime access to the entire curriculum).

✅ COACHING TIPS

Coaching tips are small, simple strategies on mindfulness, game strategy, the psychology of coaching, and more that you can use with your team. Do you have a coaching tip to share? Email me!

1. The 4-7-8 Method

   Incorporate this mindfulness exercise into practice or game situations to enhance team focus and present-moment awareness. How does it work? Players breathe in for 4 seconds, hold their breath for 7 seconds, and exhale slowly for 8 seconds. This exercise helps regulate the nervous system and can be particularly effective before games or in high-pressure situations to induce calmness.

2. The Red Car Theory

   What is the Red Car Theory? It is the concept that we focus on what we look for. If you look for Red Cars, you will start to notice Red Cars. Use this concept with your team. Remember, you are what you emphasize. If you focus on effort, you will get more effort. If you focus on rebounding, you will be a better rebounding team. Pick one focus each week or each practice and make that the focal point.

🥇 THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Kobe Bryant - The Black Mamba

This was the mindset of Kobe Bryant.

Kobe’s Background

Kobe Bean Bryant, known as the Black Mamba, embodied dedication, skill, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.

Born on August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bryant entered the NBA straight from high school and spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

His journey was marked by five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and an incredible commitment to excellence.

Off the court, Bryant was a father, a storyteller, and an entrepreneur whose impact transcended basketball.

Critical Career Moments

• 1996: Drafted directly out of Lower Merion High School by the Charlotte Hornets and immediately traded to the Lakers, marking the start of a legendary career.

• 2000-2002: Led the Lakers to a three-peat of NBA championships, cementing his status as an elite competitor.

• 2006: Scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.

• 2008: Earned his first NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, showcasing his individual brilliance.

• 2016: Concluded his illustrious career with a 60-point farewell game, one of the greatest exits in sports history.

What Makes Kobe Tick?

The "Mamba Mentality" wasn't just a catchphrase; it was Kobe's life philosophy.

It stood for the relentless pursuit of the highest state of readiness and determination, not just in basketball but in every aspect of life.

Bryant believed in hard work, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude.

Here are Kobe's 10 Rules of his Mamba Mentality! 

1: GET BETTER EVERY SINGLE DAY - Greatness does not happen overnight. It comes from daily, incremental steps over time. It comes from having great habits. Habits Win. Select small daily habits that push you toward your goals. Have relentless consistency in these Habits.

2: PROVE THEM WRONG - The great ones play with a “chip.” They have an “edge.” Kobe always felt he had something to prove. Ali had his Bike. Jordan was cut from his varsity BB team. Brady has his 9th-grade FB season. How can you use this to be great? What is your “Chip?”

3: WORK ON YOUR WEAKNESSES - In games and competitions, always play to your strengths. Be great at what you are good at. However, in practice, the great ones focus on their weaknesses. They always work to get better.

4: EXECUTE WHAT YOU PRACTICED - Practicing something is different than applying it. The great ones will practice a skill. They then will work to apply it in practice. Then, they apply it in a game. This is how you grow and improve. Purposeful Application of Practice!

5: LEARN FROM GREATNESS - Learn from others who have been great. Why are they great? What did they do? Always be humble enough to learn. No matter your age. Take notes. Grow. Learn. Never be Satisfied.

6: LEARN FROM WINS and LOSSES - The great ones ALWAYS learn from the competition. They learn from wins and losses. They never fail, they only learn. Kobe said it best: “Failure Does NOT Exist.” 

7: PRACTICE MINDFULNESS - Mindfulness is about finding Peace in your mind. There is no pressure. It is about learning to focus on the task at hand. Breathe. Appreciate life. Show Gratitude. Live in the Present.

8: BE AMBITIOUS - The Mamba Mentality is about driving toward something you want. How did Kobe do it? Find an Obsession. Have Self-Belief. Be Disciplined. Ambition is hard to stop. Find your passion and go for it. Every Day.

9: BELIEF IN YOUR TEAM - The team is in two parts. The TEAM you play on. The TEAM that supports your ambition. Who is in your corner to support you? Surround yourself with people who support your ambition. These are your true friends.

10: LEARN STORYTELLING - Storytelling is why people follow you. Storytelling is how the human race separates itself. Storytelling is about communicating your vision. Share your story. Be Great.

What Do Others Say About Kobe?

Two Kobe Stories

The 2008 Olympics Redemption: After a disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, Kobe made it his mission to lead Team USA back to glory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His leadership and clutch performances, especially in the gold medal game against Spain, were pivotal. Bryant's dedication to representing his country and his clutch gene cemented his legacy as a global icon.

The Academy Award Win: After retiring from basketball, Kobe didn't simply rest on his laurels; he pursued his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. In 2018, he won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for "Dear Basketball," a love letter to the game that defined his career. This achievement highlighted Bryant's creativity and his ability to excel beyond the basketball court. Check it out!

Kobe Resources

• “Kobe’s Last Great Interview on the Mamba Mentality” with Lewis Howes [Click for video].

• "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play" by Kobe Bryant - An insight into his approach to the game and life [Book on Amazon]

• “Kobe never stopped trying to inspire” by Ramona Shelburne at ESPN [Click for article]

Three Takeaways

1. Daily Excellence Drills: Integrate a segment in every practice focused on refining basic skills, akin to Kobe's relentless practice routine. Challenge each player to set personal improvement targets and work towards them every day, emphasizing the importance of consistency over sporadic effort.

2. Competitive Scenarios in Practice: Create high-intensity competitive situations during practice that mimic game pressure. For example, set up scenarios where players are slightly behind in points and have limited time to strategize a comeback. This not only prepares players for real-game situations but also instills a never-give-up attitude.

3. Structured Game Debriefs: Implement a structured debriefing process after each game, where the team collectively discusses what worked, what didn’t, and what can be learned from both the wins and the losses. KEY: Do not do this right after the game. Do this the day after.

🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS

👉 ICYMI: “Hear Me” Mike Tomlin Gold

🎥 Video of the Week: One of the Great Post-Race Interviews by Ciara Mageean.

🎙️ Podcast: Mindset is Your Superpower (Allistair McCaw) from the Great Coaches Podcast 

📙 Newsletter of the Week: The Red Car Theory

👀 OTHER WAYS I CAN HELP

1. Are you interested in Sponsoring an Issue? Reply to this email or click here: Sponsor Great Team Better Leaders.

2. Are you seeking a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school? Contact Greg for more information.

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]