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Jay Shaw argues that Kobe Bryant's relentless work ethic came from identity, not willpower. When you see yourself as someone who trains at dawn, staying in bed feels like betraying who you are. Identity makes the hard choice automatic.
Jay Shaw argues that Kobe Bryant's relentless work ethic came from identity, not willpower. When you see yourself as someone who trains at dawn, staying in bed feels like betraying who you are. Identity makes the hard choice automatic.
You gotta understand, high performers, real go-getters, they're not running off of willpower. They're not running off of drive. They're not running off of sacrifice. They're running off of identity. People like Kobe Bryant weren't running off of willpower and drive and confidence. No, Kobe Bryant was running off of identity. Kobe Bryant wasn't using willpower to get out of his bed at 4 AM and go to the gym. Kobe Bryant had an identity where staying in bed felt like self-abandonment. You see the difference? He's not using willpower to make himself get out of bed. His inner voice won't let him stay in the bed. The things that he believes won't let him stay in the bed. His expectation patterns won't let him stay in the bed. The way that he describes himself to himself won't let him stay in the bed. The confidence that you see is a result of his identity. He's not starting from confidence. He's not starting from willpower and crazy work ethic. The crazy work ethic is a byproduct of his identity.
