Lesson of the Week – The Wide I

LESSON OF THE WEEK: What We Can Learn from LeBron James’ Career (Act V)

By cagencantrell | October 19, 2020

The Last Ride?: Nah, The Job is NEVER Finished

“I am reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward, I reflect with a purpose”. -Kobe Bryant

So here we are, back to 2020 where LeBron James has returned to the pinnacle of his success. Easy ride? Not so much, but he’s made it. Relocating to Los Angeles to presumably finish his career had a lot of people acknowledging the end of an uncommon career. LeBron might only have 3-5 more years they said, he’s about to begin the inevitable decline. Why was he here.. To make movies? Be closer to business associates? Tired of those painstaking midwestern winters? Maybe to put the Kobe or even Jordan comparisons to bed? I believe it was a little of all those things, but ultimately, I believe LeBron came to Los Angeles for a new mission. A mission on the farthest outskirts of the comfort zone, because the ‘greatest’ must always have a new mission prepared. Sure, the ‘decline’ is inevitable, but the mission must stay in tact despite that fate. In 2009, Kobe Bryant was on the cusp of a fourth championship, the first without Shaquille O’Neal. When asked postgame if he was happy with being two games away from another championship, Kobe simply gave a champion’s response. He infamously said, “What is there to be happy about? The job’s not finished”. In 2020, that mantra was shared by the Lakers in their championship run. This season (and year) was irregular for many reasons, and gave us all a reason not to be happy either: First, Kobe Bryant was gone. Second, the world was frozen in carbon because of a worldwide pandemic. Lastly, Americans were (and still are) caught in the crossfires of social warfare due to irresponsibilities and ignorance. Now, imagine if LeBron’s decision two years prior was made within the comfort zone, no new mission considered? He never imagined these circumstances to occur, the black swan appeared in the middle of what was supposed to be a clear pathway. Accept the decline, and ride into the California sunset.

It is critical to be intentional with our mission preparation, and to practice misfortune while moving through it. Practice what we fear, befriend our anxiousness, because when the going really gets tough; we’ll be one step ahead of it. Stoicism and other philosophies share a common maxim that has deeply resonated with me: Amor Fati. It means that was must be in love with our fate, treating every moment as a necessary battle to ensure victory in the greater war. This is why we practice the misfortune, take the path of greater resistance, meditate on our aim, and make time to have the hard conversations with ourselves. Imagine if LeBron had not been intentional with any of these in 2020, or even in 2018; his fate may have trajected much differently. Prepare early, endure during, admire later. This conceives the substance of Kobe Bryant’s favorite mentor phrase: “Rest at the end”. All essences of our fate are inevitable anyways, why not give it all we have now? We always have another mission, and the enemy is always watching, waiting to attack in your rest. Never be finished, always he starting. What lies ahead on the path, is already waiting for your seizing. This current fate is not what any of us expected, but we can still be intentional with our mission through it all. For the remainder of 2020: do not settle, do not attempt to predict the future, do not sit in anxiousness, do not let ego run rampant, and definitely do not rest. We all have a purpose, a life to fulfill, and a fate to love. With that said, respond by always moving forward, because the job is never finished.

LESSON OF THE WEEK: What We Can Learn from LeBron James’ Career (Act IV)

By cagencantrell | October 15, 2020

Kingdom Reign Two: Respond Against Resistance

“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance”. -Steven Pressfield (The War of Art)

This year, I read the aforementioned quote and book written by Steven Pressfield. His observation, articulation, and responses regarding this concept of ‘resistance’ should not be consumed passively. Wanting to be great at something is simple, planning to achieve goals is measurable, dreaming is natural. Until resistance comes to play games with us, then things get complex quick. After back to back championships, LeBron James found himself in a rubber match with resistance yet again. Once again he had to accept defeat in the NBA Finals, but this time against a team who was clearly more seasoned and more cognizant of their identity. Well that’s okay, sometimes we’re just not the best, right? No, that’s the resistance manipulating you, just like the ego does. Ego and resistance are best friends, because they’re polar opposite and opposites attract. Ego tells us that disciplines aren’t necessary, because we already have the ability and that’s enough. Resistance tells us similarly that disciplines aren’t necessary, but it tells us in a rhetoric attempting to convince us that we’re not going to champion it right now anyways.. Our typical response? We’ll do it later, we’ll start tomorrow, I’ll do this instead, I’ll put it on the back burner.

No, no, NO…

More than likely, we’ll never revisit the discipline that IS necessary to achieve those dreams and goals, and therefore never know what it could have taken to get there. THE UNLIVED LIFE. When LeBron returned home to play for the Cavaliers, he could have taken the path of least resistance and discipline. He could have dismissed the 50+ year drought of the city not earning a professional sports championship, he could have accepted the fact his new team was young and inexperienced; beginning to start padding his stats for the Hall of Fame. When you’re uncommon, the path of least resistance is a form of self disrespect. LeBron accepted the challenges of returning to a team, fanbase, and city that once irrationally disowned him when their narratives got burned. LeBron had 12 years of unfinished business, so this was not the time to start getting comfortable.

In war and in life, many leaders will lead from the back lines, because that’s the area of most support and safety. However, real generals lead from the front line, they’re the first line of command at all costs. Perhaps LeBron did not have an option to where he wanted to position himself as general. I mean he’s the most popular athlete in the world, you can’t really hide. Well, you’d be surprised the cowardly abilities the resistance grants us, there’s ALWAYS an option. Some days were uglier than others, but LeBron never fled or collapsed on this path of greater resistance, he just kept running at pace.

Nothing is given, everything is earned.

The resistance will try it’s hardest to convince us different. The path of greater resistance is the most challenging endeavor, which makes it the most rewarding. LeBron took on that most challenging endeavor, never put his goals on the back burner, never folded to the resistance.. there’s not enough time to wander in the territory of the unlived life, you have to start NOW.

Result? Fulfilled promises made to yourself. The life we live.

LESSON OF THE WEEK: What We Can Learn from LeBron James’ Career (Act III)

By cagencantrell | October 14, 2020

Heading South: Ego, A Close Enemy & A Closer Friend

When LeBron James took his ‘talents’ to South Beach, his life changed forever. Not because of two championships that were to come, not because he assembled the best trio of players in basketball history; not even because he finally married to high school sweetheart. The narrative changed on LeBron, the sentiments altered, the respect diminished. In Cleveland, LeBron was “The Chosen One”, the home town hero, the guy who didn’t care about money or fame; just about winning. That never changed in his decision to depart to Miami, but when the narrative changed, things got tricky. Essentially overnight, LeBron went from universally loved to overtly hated.

Why?

Because he left a situation that was no longer healthy for him? Because he resigned from a boss who blatantly showed he didn’t care for LeBron other than as a revenue generator? Or, maybe because a superstar finally decided he wanted to clock into work everyday with his best friends, and be successful while doing it. The truth within this reality is this: everybody wants to see you do better, until it inconveniences their narrative. Unfortunately, LeBron’s response to the unwarranted criticism was not handled responsibly. The ensuing year, 2011, is considered the season to be LeBron’s biggest failure. The worst part about it, that’s exactly what everybody wanted. The failure wasn’t because LeBron lost a step, because the new team lacked chemistry, or because coaching & ownership lacked accountability. Those excuses were off the table this go around, LeBron failed because his ego took control. The ego noticed nobody was on LeBron’s side, slithering in at the opportunity to be his ‘friend’. Countless times since the moment of falter against the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron has stated that failure haunts him to this very day. In that NBA Finals, for as wise and insightful as LeBron is, lost sight of his truth. He played with hate, revenge on his mind, no remorse considered..

The ego enlisted as his friend, with an agenda. The ego took him as far as it wanted to ride, showed him the riches and self gratification of tapping into the ‘other side’ of ourselves. But when resistance got strongest, the ego bailed on him, because ego is a coward. The negative narrative took over LeBron’s life that season, he entered uncharted waters and ego smelled blood. The result: failure, failure to the muse. A failure so painful, not even death knows that sting. All for what? Just to prove to everyone else that you’re right.

That’s the funny trick ego plays on us all, it convinces us that being right overrides our happiness and our truth. Ego tells us that haters need to be responded to with harshness, that revenge is the only correct choice. Ego disguises as our friend; it facades as our confidant, our domain, our advice giver. Fuck that. The ego is only your friend when you hold it accountable to it’s bullshit, otherwise, the ego is nothing more than our enemy. In the midst of this lowest point, LeBron had “The Decision” to make yet again. Moving forward: he could run back to the echo chamber configured by his ego and succumb to its manipulation. Or, he could endure the pain of defeat in the chest, and learn from this experience to keep the ego close. Manipulate ego to be HIS friend, to remind him never run back to that place of darkness. Being the villain looks cool, but that’s all it is, a visual. Some people will wait their entire lives for that “About Damn Time” moment of realization, fortunately, LeBron had his just one year later. And once again, the year after that.

Take that, ego.

LESSON OF THE WEEK: What We Can Learn from LeBron James’ Career (Act II)

By cagencantrell | October 13, 2020

Cleveland, Kingdom Reign One: Ability Does Not Guarantee Success, or Happiness

“Behind very successful man, there’s a lot of unsuccessful years”. -Bob Brown

When you are proclaimed to be “The Chosen One”, everything you ever dreamed of is inevitable, right?

Not so much…

That was not the case for King David, Napoleon, John F. Kennedy, or Anakin Skywalker. It damn sure was not the case for LeBron James either, at least not in the early years of his professional career. The stars seemed to be aligned for the self proclaimed king: his youth, energy, leadership, and natural ability rapidly transcended to worldwide stardom. The harsh reality, all of that wasn’t enough, how could it? Sure, LeBron received accomplishments 99% of his fellow professional colleagues could only dream about; first overall draft selection, Rookie of the Year (2004), Olympic Gold Medalist (2008), NBA’s Most Valuable Player (2009 & 2010), a successful documentary, and considered arguably the best offensive and defensive player among 450 others in his early 20s. For most players who have the privilege to compete in professional basketball, LeBron James had a Hall of Fame resumé before he truly realized his ability, isn’t that something special? Still, it wasn’t enough… how could it? LeBron had the physical characteristics and charisma to be a champion of the highest level, but this could not be accomplished without championing his mind. Soon, comparisons to other NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson began to rain on LeBron’s image; intensifying expectations that only a great few humans could endure. One of my favorites quotes ever comes from President Theodore Roosevelt, who famously uttered “Comparison, is the thief of joy”. LeBron was smart enough to not cast the immense pressure of these comparisons to the media, but internally, we can almost be certain those were depriving him of his joy. In 2010, his final post game press conference for the Cleveland Cavaliers after another crushing elimination by arch nemesis Boston Celtics, LeBron revealed to the media that a friend reminded him “You have to go through a lot of nightmares before accomplishing your dreams”.. That was the exact feeling in his individual life at the time. This may have been the first time in LeBron James’ uncommon career, that he had to take on that uncomfortable reality we all do our best to avoid, reflection. He realized that his mentality needed refinement, and it was time to step even further out of the comfort zone. To be the champion he always strived to be, LeBron had to accept that ability alone could never be enough.

Just because we seem to handing things well, doesn’t mean we can’t take it strides further. Just because we’ve grasped onto glimmers of success, doesn’t mean comfortability is an option. Just because things appear ‘good’ to everyone else, doesn’t mean we actually ‘happy’. When comparisons approach you, kick them back where they came from. When doubt trickles in, spit that shit back out. When you realize your ability does not equate to victories you hope, segment your goals and silence your ego. When you reach your moment of self-reflection, open your mind and keep moving forward. And always remember, when you are uncommon, it is NEVER enough.

LESSON OF THE WEEK: What We Can Learn from LeBron James’ Career (Act I)

By cagencantrell | October 12, 2020

The year of 2020 will be remembered by this generation of humans as the year everything became uncertain. Our health, our safety, our finances, the livelihood we once believed could not be altered. Despite that, one thing remained certain in 2020, LeBron James’ continued display as the best basketball player (and perhaps athlete) on the Earth. While LeBron James’ career may appear to be flirting with immortalization, he still shares the same air as us all. Some idolize him, others vilify him; but the commonality is that we’ll never know what it is like to be in his sneakers. However, just like the uncommon nature of 2020 has taught us all something, we can also attempt to learn from the uncommon career (and life) LeBron Janes has lived.

So here is my best shot, in a five segment series:

High School, A Young & Lucky Fighter: Opportunity Overwhelming Pressure

LeBron James is 35 years old as of his 4th NBA Championship, but he entered into the national spotlight at a mere 16 years old. Do the elementary math, and he’s been under the microscope of millions of people for more years than he was allowed to be a regular person. Which is fine, because LeBron James was not born to be a regular person. As David Goggins would say, he was purposed to be “common amongst uncommon men”. LeBron has often suggested that his life’s foundational origins should have taken him down a different path. He had no father figure, he was raised by a single & unassured mother, developed in a poverty ridden community, many times homeless, and not to mention the odds stacked against him just being a black man. While one can assume LeBron wrestled whether he could defy all those odds, the weight of it all didn’t matter, because he’s a fighter.

That’s what fighters do. They do not grunt at their toil or moan at their despair, that’s left for the enemy. LeBron James did not only arise from the dirt solely on talent, but as Sun Tzu states in The Art of War “in the midst of chaos, there is opportunity”. Most of us have encountered the beginning stages of an opportunity that could change the trajectory of our lives. Then; chaos ensues, pressure mounts, and before we know it we are back to square one. It probably would not have taken much for LeBron to fall down the rabbit hole back to square. A teenage pregnancy, an altercation with the wrong crowd, a social circle filled with hacks, or a someone disguising mentorship to be an early venture capitalist on his potential. You can argue all day who kept LeBron’s muse in security, but as a young man he refused early on to let pressures overwhelm his opportunity. Instead, he overwhelmed his pressures by seizing the opportunities that let him to a life he could have never predicted. And that, is where the story truly begins for this kid from Northeast Ohio.