Kobe Bryant was the beast we all loved and wished we could be. Transcending generations with his talent and charisma, Kobe was someone that we all knew as great in many facets of his life: basketball, business, public speaking, service and most importantly fatherhood. Whatever it was, Kobe dominated.
January 26th, 2020 is a day that we will remember forever. Every generation experiences that high profile death that they can’t quite fathom. The death that you never consider because it is far too incomprehensible. Kobe was that death for my generation. If you were a kid in school during the Kobe-er, you knew every game he played was legendary. Whether it was the Kobe-Shaq dominance, the inhumane championship performances, the 81 point games, or his final game where he dropped 60 points, we could always count on Kobe to give us a ride of a lifetime every night he played.
People across the world are in shock right now, the world has been shaken to its core, and there is no doubt that we can feel the loss of someone special today. There is a lesson to be learned from this unpredictable, heart shattering death, however.
Put so eloquently by the legend himself, the lesson is “Have a good time. Enjoy life. Life is too short to get bogged down or be discouraged. You have to keep moving. You have to keep going.” We must listen to those words and act on them. If not for ourselves, then to honor the many fallen legends. We have to live purposefully, Kobe had a beautiful way of doing so; he poured his heart into the game and turned it into so much more than that. He found something he loved and put every ounce of his life into it. He left it all on the court and made sure to leave a lasting impression on the game.
As we reflect on his life and consider our own mortality, let us find a way to push forward. Fear is for the immortal, and failure is fuel. With this in mind, understand that because we are mortal, every day is life-changing. Life is too short to consider if you will fail or lose because that thought alone means that you have already been defeated. Kobe Bryant had a life of purpose and success because failure was an asset to him. He understood that because he left space to fail, he had room to win. So many of us mourn Kobe because of the power he possessed. He didn’t tell the world he owned the court or every room he was entered. Instead, Kobe showed us through his work, his resilience, and his humility.
Power is within all of us. Today is a day where we reflect on Kobe’s life and remember that life’s possibilities are endless. The air in your lungs and your life alone is enough to be just as great, if not greater than the Kobe’s of the world.
Our legacy is simply a reflection of work we put into our craft. Kobe worked overtime more than anyone, and that is why he is being mourned in the way he is. He lived exceptionally and tirelessly and as a result, he has earned the legacy he now has.
Kobe is the exception because he made himself that way. He is legendary because he believed in the possibility of greatness. You can be the next Kobe. You can be legendary. The only thing holding you back from Mamba Mode is your willingness to do the work for your legacy.
Kobe once asked Kanye West in a now infamous commercial “are you a different animal and the same beast?” It is the answer to that question where we will find out what made him so different than his predecessors.
In honor of the silent beast that is Kobe Bryant, ask yourself that question. If the answer you find is “no” than get to work. Your legacy depends on it.