stop waiting to be told what to do

I recently listened to a Founders podcast episode about Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant with Roman–hoping some insight into the drive of Michael and Kobe would inspire him–and there was a moment early in the episode that really stuck out to me.

David Senra, the podcast host, was discussing the updated version of Tim Grover’s book Relentless, which shares stories of his days training Michael and Kobe, and the number one complaint Grover received was the book didn’t provide answers on what readers could do to be more like Michael and Kobe.

It was Grover’s response that I loved,

“Why would anyone want to be told what to do? The whole point of this book is that in order to be successful, to truly have what you want in your life, you must stop waiting to be told what to do and how to do it. I can’t give you a ten-step process or a checklist. What I am giving you is insight into the mentality of those who have found unparalleled success by trusting their own instincts.”

Senra then follows this quote with a story about a man asking Mozart how to write a symphony; Mozart responded to the man by telling him that he was too young. When the man responded that he was twenty-one and Mozart was writing symphonies at 10, Mozart responded that may be true, but he wasn’t going around asking people how to do it.

Too many times, we don’t realize our visions and dreams because we’re waiting for someone else to tell us how to do it; if the vision or dream is authentic to you, you won’t need someone to tell you how to do it, as was the case with Mozart.

Just go do it.

I want to end today’s note by bringing your attention to the last part of Grover’s final sentence, “who have found unparalleled success by trusting their own instincts.”

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC