What We Learned From Kobe Bryant
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Hello, simpletons!
Today’s episode is a bit on the somber side, following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant at the beginning of the year. We’re chatting about grief, coping with the loss of an idol and lessons learned from someone you feel connected to but whom you’ve never met.
Coping with losing an idol
Grief is grief. You don’t need to know or be close to someone to feel it or to gain the “right” to feel it. One might question the feelings of deep sadness and loss that arise when an idol dies, but the truth is that they are part of what makes us human. Grief can be good. By sharing our grief and supporting others in theirs, a sense of community arises.
“What we know is that connection needn’t be physical. Connection is emotional and you can connect with anyone through any medium and space” - Conrad
Kobe Bryant was an inspiration for many people, SMP crew included. The shock of hearing about his untimely passing was felt by each of us. With time, grief makes way for reflection. And thus, we start extracting the precious lessons taken from him over the years.
Work ethics and unequaled effort
Kobe Bryant taught us that impeccable work ethics and continuous effort are the foundations of success.
“He’s almost the peak of who we could be if we really gave our everything” - Matt
There are many attachments in the relationship between us and the celebrities who inspire us. Because they influence who we want to become, they are part of our stories. Kobe’s dedication and effort fueled our own efforts. He made us wonder “What drives him?”. He made us realise that we can do so much in face of adversity if we really wanted to.
Mastering the craft
Work now, rest later. This is what it takes to master your craft. When you get to the top, keep climbing. This is another valuable lesson we learned from Kobe.
He was a stoic and did the work. By showing up and being the best, he challenged others to do so as well. “If you want to beat me, outwork me” is what he was telling everyone who looked up to him and dreamed of becoming him. He taught us what incremental greatness is - waking up an hour early to do the work is what leads to success.
Being of true service to people
One key theme that keeps coming from Kobe is service. He had the most Make-A-Wish grants out of anyone in the world - over 200. He made time to help, even though he was crazy busy. He found a way to fit that number in.
Kobe reached out to the people around him and showed true compassion and concern for them, helping younger players adopt the mentality that took him to the top. He created a sports academy for young girls and dedicated valuable time to helping them reach their potential. Kobe was a giver.
What is your eulogy?
Kobe’s death was a sobering reminder of the fact that we only have one life and we can’t know for how long. He asked all the tough questions during his life and asked us all the toughest question of them all in death: “What is your eulogy?”. Be the best version of you that you can be, enjoy the journey, leave something behind.
“Don’t waste time. Don’t waste time. It’s not yours to waste. It’s yours to invest.” - Conrad
Thanks For Listening!
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Credits
Host: Travis Hayto
Co-Hosts: “Magic” Matt J Hanham, Conrad “Cone-rad” Francis & Justin Bourn
Production: Joshua Ames & Alexandra Cho