A short YouTube segment by Codie Sanchez recounts an anecdote about Kobe Bryant and youth coach/author Alan Stein. The story shows Kobe practicing basic drills (layups, dribbles, free throws) and explains the lesson that excellence comes from mastering and not getting bored with the basics, a principle Sanchez applies to business.
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Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest of all time. And it's probably not for why you think this lesson applies to business more than anything else.
Oftentimes when we're thinking about business principles, we think of them as basic. But basic doesn't mean easy. And I'll give you a great example. Alan Stein, a great author who's a youth basketball coach. He got a chance to meet the late, great Kobe Bryant. He's like, hey, Kobe, do you mind if I watch one of your practices? Kobe's like, sure. Show up. Monday, 4am Alan showed up with his clipboard ready to watch one of the greatest basketball players of all time practice. And for the next hour, hour and a half, he watched Kobe do layups and dribbles, free throws, very simple drills. He toweled off, he got off the court and he went to Alan. He's like, what did you think? And Allen, trying to hide his frustration and disappointment, was like, it was great. But I kind of watch you do the same thing that I do with my 3 and 4 year olds kind of watch. You only do basic drills. And Kobe looked at him, he's like, why do you think I'm one of the greatest basketball players of all time? Because I don't get bored with the basics. Now, oftentimes when we think about excellence, we think it's 360 dunks, we think it's super advanced tactics, but in fact, it's just taking the basics to the limits of their potential.
