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

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.