A short podcast micro-chapter (Arete +1) in which Brian Johnson retells an anecdote from peak performance coach Alan Stein about Kobe Bryant arriving to practice at 4:00 a.m. and repeating very basic drills with intense precision. The episode's point: sustained excellence comes from relentless focus on fundamentals—never getting bored with the basics.
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Arete plus one degree. A micro chapter from our new book Arete activate youe Heroic Potential. 451 ideas like this practicing with Kobe at 4am Alan Stein is one of the world's leading peak performance coaches. He's worked with some of the most elite athletes and executives in the world, wrote a couple of great books. In Raise youe Game, Allen tells a great story about some time he spent with Kobe Bryant. It goes something like this. Once upon a time, Nike flew Allen out to Los Angeles to work the first ever Kobe Bryant Skills academy. At the time, Kobe was the best basketball player in the world. Allen asked Kobe if he could watch him work out. Allen says, that's how it is in my business. Everyone can see the game. But to really learn the secrets, you have to watch the practice. It's the difference between buying Jay Z's album and sitting in the studio watching him write and record one. So Alan asks Kobe if he can watch his workout. Kobe says, sure, I'm going at 4. Allen says, but don't we have camp session at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon? Kobe says, yeah, I know I'm working out at 4:00am Alan's head explodes a bit at that moment. Perfect. Alan shows up at 4am and what did he see? Well, first of all, by the time he arrives at 4am, Kobe is already drenched in sweat. He says, and I quote Allen Again, for 45 minutes, I was shocked. For 45 minutes, I watched the best player in the world do the most basic drills. I watched the best player on the planet do basic ball handling drills. I watched the best player on the planet do basic footwork. I watched the best player on the planet do basic offensive moves. And he says, granted, he did everything with surgical precision and superhero intensity, but the stuff he was doing was so simple I couldn't believe it. Later in the day, he thanked Kobe and he didn't want to sound rude or condescending, but couldn't resist asking him, you're the best player in the world, why do you do such basic stuff? Kobe's response. Allen says he flashed that gleaming smile of his. Why do you think I'm the best player in the game? He asked. Because I never get bored with the basics. Then that's our plus one degree. How are your basics, AKA your fundamentals? Remember, greatness is all about consistency on the fundamentals. Remember Kobe in the gym at 4:00aM as you dominate your fundamentals with superhero intensity Today.
