Michael Jordan In His Own Words

The episode explores Michael Jordan's relentless commitment to excellence, both on the basketball court and in business. Initially, Jordan's dedication to practice and improvement, driven by a desire to surpass expectations and prove himself, is highlighted through anecdotes from his career. His approach to leadership, emphasizing leading by example and maintaining high standards, underscores his philosophy of continuous improvement and authenticity. The episode also delves into Jordan's business ventures, particularly the creation and growth of the Jordan Brand, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, listening, and staying true to core values. Jordan's mindset, focusing on living in the moment and turning negatives into positives, is a recurrent theme, illustrating his unique approach to achieving sustained success.

• The speaker initially planned to create an episode on a book Michael Jordan published midway through his career.
• After reading the book and additional material, the speaker felt there wasn't enough good information for an episode.
• Instead, the speaker decided to republish a previous episode about Michael Jordan based on the book "Driven from Within."
• The episode is highly recommended, whether listeners have heard it before or not.

"I'm hosting two more conferences this year. The first one is July 29 through the 31st in Scotts Valley, California. The second one is in September 27 through the 29th in Austin, Texas."

• Conferences are organized to help founders, investors, and high-value people build relationships.
• The events are all-inclusive, with all logistics handled by the organizer.
• The events are intended for already successful individuals who can afford the price without financial strain.
• Smaller, more intimate events are preferred to foster better connections.

"These events are being advertised not only on this podcast but on business breakdowns and invest like the best."

• The events are promoted through multiple business-oriented podcasts.
• Interested individuals can find more details and apply at Founderspodcast.com/events.

• Michael Jordan attributes part of his career success to studying great people before him.
• The speaker has created a tool called Founders Notes, which compiles highlights, notes, and transcripts from every book and episode they've done.
• Founders Notes allows users to search by keyword or have an AI assistant synthesize data.

"Founders Notes is literally a compounding tactical advantage over my competition."

• The tool is described as a significant advantage, providing access to collective knowledge on demand.
• The speaker uses Founders Notes to answer questions, such as how history's greatest founders think about hiring.

• The book "Driven from Within" by Michael Jordan and Mark Vancel explores Jordan's philosophy, work ethic, and success.
• Jordan's success is attributed to internal drive and the influence of mentors and coaches.
• His achievements in sports, business, and style are highlighted.

"Michael makes it clear that the basis for his phenomenal success came from the inside out, thanks in part to those who guided him along the way."

• The book emphasizes the power of collaboration, teamwork, and a relentless desire to lead.
• Jordan's dedication to fundamentals and constant improvement is a recurring theme.

"Great companies have a lot in common with great teams. Players who practice hard when no one is paying attention will play well when everyone is watching."

• The importance of practice and preparation is stressed.
• Jordan's focus on being the best at his craft led to significant financial rewards.

"If I was good as I could be at playing sports, eventually it would pay dividends. I didn't know how, but my main focus was to be the best player in whatever sport I played."

• Jordan's initial low expectations evolved into higher goals as he built confidence through achievements.

• Jordan's high school coach, Coach Herring, played a crucial role in his development.
• Coach Herring's motto, "It's hard, but it's fair," became a guiding principle for Jordan.
• The coach's influence helped Jordan develop a strong work ethic and focus.

"Coach Herring was the first one to see in me what I saw in myself. He picked me up every morning my junior year, took me to the gym before school and worked me out."

• Jordan's desire for freedom and to do things his way motivated him to excel in sports.
• He found joy in playing and connecting it with business, rather than traditional work.

"To this day, I don't enjoy working. I enjoy playing and figuring out how to connect. Playing with business, to me, that's my niche."

• Jordan's financial conservatism was driven by a fear of having to get a traditional job.
• His focus on achievement rather than material symbols of success is highlighted.

"What's left after you got all the money and buy the best car? There's no way to go from there. There's nowhere to go from there."

• Jordan's father doubted his ability to make a living due to a lack of mechanical skills.
• Despite this, Jordan focused all his energy on achieving his goals in sports.

"He didn't think I'd amount to anything because I had no hand skills, no mechanical skills. The way my father looked at it, there was no guarantee I'd be able to make a living."

• Jordan's constant desire to improve and prove himself drove his success.
• His initial low expectations helped him build confidence as he achieved each goal.

"My expectations are very low. I wanted to be the best player at the park in Wilmington. Then I wanted to be better than my brothers or the guys in my neighborhood."

• His high school coach's influence and the experience at a five-star basketball camp were pivotal in his development.

"Coach Dean Smith's system wasn't about excelling at one phase of the game. He was about excellence in every phase of the game. Scoring, rebounding, passing, playing defense."

• Financial constraints and sacrifices made by his family to support his basketball camp attendance are mentioned.

"Each week we would sit down and figure out what bills we were going to pay. We had paid for one week of basketball camp. When Mister Garfinkel called, we told him we only had money in the budget for that one week."

• Michael Jordan's experience at a basketball camp significantly boosted his confidence and drive to improve.
• He realized he could compete with the best and became highly motivated to keep getting better.

"Hey, I can play with the best, the best people around. I'm as good as they are. I was full of energy. After that second week, I thought I must be doing something right."

• Jordan's initial success at the camp inspired him to continually seek improvement and absorb knowledge like a sponge.

• Jordan's unmatched practice habits and commitment to preparation were evident from his rookie year with the Chicago Bulls.
• His level of effort and competitive nature stood out, often pushing his teammates to elevate their own performance.

"His practice habits were unmatched. No one is going to prepare more than me. No one is going to practice more than me."

• Jordan's dedication to practice and education was likened to the wisdom and experience of Yoda from Star Wars.

"Michael is Yoda. He's always been an old soul...the education he got from his parents, Dean Smith in college, and Bobby Knight in the Olympics."

• Jordan exhibited maturity beyond his years, avoiding the temptations that could derail his goals.
• His ability to resist distractions and maintain focus on his objectives was rare for a 21-year-old.

"The maturity for a 21-year-old person to not give into the temptations...that is very rare."

• Jordan's unwavering dedication to the game was a key theme, emphasizing the importance of hard work and commitment.

"If you're going to watch The Last Dance, it's going to show my unwavering dedication to the game."

• The public often focuses on the glamorous aspects of success, overlooking the hard work and sacrifices behind the scenes.

"The public praises people for what they practice in private."

• Jordan stressed the importance of being uncompromising in one's commitment to excellence.

"You have to be uncompromising in your level of commitment to whatever you are doing, or it can disappear as fast as it appeared."

• Jordan considered leaving Nike to start his own company but ultimately stayed due to loyalty and strategic negotiations.
• His agent and parents advised against starting a new company, using the offer as leverage to secure better terms with Nike.

"Nike put a big deal on the table that expanded our line, gave me more creative control and approval rights within Nike."

• Jordan's financial conservatism was influenced by his advisors and a fear of ending up with nothing after his career.

"I've seen a lot of people who had opportunities to be successful and wealthy, but they made critical mistakes. I pay attention to those things."

• Jordan valued gut instinct in decision-making, a trait he shared with Warren Buffet.

"Whatever my gut tells me, that's what I do."

• This approach helped Jordan make confident decisions and avoid second-guessing himself.

"Once I made a decision, I didn't think about it again. It was strictly off gut."

• Jordan emphasized the importance of living in the moment and not worrying about the future.

"I want to go through a day or a week not worrying about what I have to do on Wednesday or Thursday, because I won't then enjoy Monday."

• This mindset helped him enjoy the present and avoid compromising the current moment for future concerns.

"If I'm worried about what's happening on Wednesday and Thursday, that means I can't enjoy Monday."

• Jordan's personal expectations were higher than those of others, driving him to pursue his dreams without fear.

"The expectations I had for myself were beyond my father's expectations. My thoughts were way beyond the idea of preparing myself for jobs so I could be like the guy down the street."

• He believed in putting in the work and letting the future emerge naturally.

"Anything can happen if you're willing to put in the work and remain open to possibilities."

• Jordan's extreme mindset and leadership style demanded high standards from himself and his teammates.

"If you want to win, you have to pay the price. It's not complicated."

• He set a standard of excellence and expected others to rise to it, rather than lowering his own standards.

"That's what leaders do. They set a standard, and everyone has to live up to that standard."

• Jordan's resilience and determination were evident in his ability to play through pain and adversity.

"The best came out because you find that little bit of strength where you keep going when you keep going. That's determination and focus."

• His commitment to giving his best effort in every situation was a core aspect of his approach to life.

"Give it your best and all other good things will come to you."

• Jordan believed in focusing on the little things, as they add up to significant outcomes.

"I focus on the little things. Little things add up to big things."

• This meticulous attention to detail contributed to his overall success.

• Jordan's mentality of serving others and maintaining mental and moral hardiness was similar to Henry Ford's philosophy.

"I pity the poor fellow who is so soft and flabby that he must always have an atmosphere of good feeling around him before he can do his work."

• This mindset emphasized the importance of resilience and character in achieving success.

• Michael Jordan's journey is marked by unwavering dedication, financial conservatism, a focus on the present, and an extreme mindset.
• His leadership, resilience, and meticulous attention to detail set him apart as a model of excellence and determination.

• The podcast begins by discussing a story about Michael Jordan and his extreme mindset.
• Michael Jordan's friend of 25 years recounts a story that exemplifies Jordan's 'you can't ride the fence' mentality.

"Michael comes to my apartment. We're getting ready to go out, and he says, 'Man, it's kind of cold. Can I borrow one of your jackets?' I said, 'Sure, go in the closet.' He went in there and saw everything separated out. He's in there a little longer than necessary, and he comes out of my room. He has taken all of my Puma stuff out, brought it to the living room, and laid it on the floor. He goes into the kitchen, gets a butcher knife, and literally cuts up everything."

• This quote illustrates Jordan's uncompromising loyalty and commitment to Nike, showing his extreme dedication and mindset.

• Jordan was surprised by the laziness of his Olympic teammates during practice.
• Despite reaching the Olympics, many players did not understand the importance of practice.

"They were deceiving themselves about what the game required."

• This highlights Jordan's belief in the necessity of hard work and practice, even at the highest levels of competition.

"All we did was line up and play. Chuck Daley, the coach of the Olympics, he'd just say, 'Come on, guys, let's go hard for an hour or two. Let's get loose.' That's all he did. He didn't coach, he didn't call fouls. He just threw the ball out there."

• This quote emphasizes the competitive nature of the Dream Team practices and Jordan's drive to dominate even in practice games.

• Jordan emphasizes the importance of authenticity and avoiding shortcuts in achieving long-term success.

"We have become a shortcut culture. To a certain degree, we define success on the basis of fictional attributes. If a guy has commercials, a lot of money, the girls, the car, then he's considered successful, whether his performance matches all those things or not."

• This quote criticizes the modern tendency to equate superficial attributes with true success.

"Authenticity is about being true to who you are. Even when everyone else wants you to be someone else. It is a lot harder to become the best you can be when you're focused on trying to be the best version of someone else."

• Jordan stresses the importance of being genuine and true to oneself for lasting success.

• Jordan's preparation and work ethic extended beyond basketball to his attempt at a baseball career.

"What Michael did to get himself ready to play baseball was grueling. He would get up every morning and go to the complex before, way ahead of the other players. He'd get into the batting cage, swing the bat, and knock around the ball. He would do this for an hour to 90 minutes."

• This quote showcases Jordan's relentless work ethic and dedication to improving his skills in a new sport.

"Work ethic eliminates fear."

• This succinctly captures Jordan's belief that thorough preparation can mitigate fear and anxiety.

• Jordan discusses the importance of learning from failures and turning negative experiences into positive outcomes.

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times. I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

• This famous quote from a Nike commercial encapsulates Jordan's philosophy of using failure as a stepping stone to success.

"To win you have to lose. To be successful you have to have something that wasn't successful. To be happy you have to have disappointment."

• Jordan emphasizes the necessity of experiencing setbacks to achieve true success and happiness.

• Jordan frequently discusses the importance of mental strength and controlling one's mind.

"The mind will play tricks on you. The mind was telling you that you couldn't go any further. The mind was telling you how much it hurt. The mind was telling you these things to keep you from reaching your goal. But you have to see past that, turn it all off if you're going to get where you want to be."

• This quote highlights the mental battles Jordan faced and the importance of overcoming them to achieve his goals.

"I have total confidence in my skill, so I am not afraid."

• Jordan's confidence in his abilities stems from his rigorous preparation and mental fortitude.

• Jordan discusses the sacrifices and accountability required to achieve success.

"If you love something and your goal is to be successful, there's a certain price you have to pay. There's a certain accountability you have to hold."

• This quote underscores the commitment and responsibility necessary for success.

"Everything comes with a price."

• Jordan succinctly acknowledges that success requires sacrifices.

• Jordan reflects on the lasting impact of his father and the importance of personal relationships.

"I had him for 32 years. I never look at it from a negative sense. I think about him practically every day."

• This quote illustrates Jordan's ability to cherish the positive aspects of his relationship with his father, despite his tragic loss.

• Jordan encourages the belief that anyone can achieve greatness with the right mindset and effort.

"The idea that it could be you is something all of us can relate to when we think about our goals. It doesn't have to be someone else getting all the accolades. It could be you."

• This quote inspires the belief that anyone can achieve their goals with dedication and hard work.

• Jordan draws parallels between building a successful sports team and a successful business team.

"We bring our personalities, our visions, and our creativity to discussion. We don't give a damn about getting credit. We are there to create something beautiful, something representative of what the brand is all about."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared vision in building a successful team.

"Successful people listen. Those who don't listen don't survive."

• Jordan highlights the crucial role of listening and accepting input from others in achieving long-term success.

• Jordan stresses the importance of staying present and not making assumptions about the future.

"I know what I'm doing moment to moment, but I have no idea what's ahead. I'm so connected to this moment that I don't make assumptions about what might come next because I don't want to lose touch with the present."

• This quote encapsulates Jordan's philosophy of focusing on the present to avoid mistakes and maximize potential outcomes.

• Hiring is crucial in the early stages of a startup.
• Each hire should be seen as a significant percentage of the company.
• The quality of the first ten hires can determine the success of the company.

"Assume you're by yourself in a startup and you want a partner. You take a lot of time finding a partner, right. He would be half of your company. Why should you take any less time finding a third or a fourth of your company or a fifth of your company?"

• Emphasizes the importance of spending time to find the right people.
• Each early hire represents a significant portion of the company.

"When you're in a startup, the first ten people will determine whether the company succeeds or not. Each is 10% of the company."

• Highlights the critical impact of each of the first ten hires on the company's success.

• Steve Jobs' Approach: Find great work and hire the people behind it.
• David Ogilvy's Approach: Identify great advertising/copywriting and reach out personally.

"The great way to hire is just find great work and find the people that did that and then try to hire them."

• Emphasizes hiring based on demonstrated excellence in relevant work.

"He'd go through magazines, find great advertising, great copywriting and he'd write the personal letter and then set up a phone call."

• Personal outreach to talented individuals based on their work.

• Prioritized hiring people with social skills.
• Hired talented people as they were found, not necessarily as needed.

"The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I pay more for that ability than any other under the sun."

• Stresses the value of social skills in hires.

"Taking for granted the growth of his empire, he hired talented people as found, not as needed."

• Emphasizes opportunistic hiring of talented individuals.

• Vannevar Bush: Used problem-solving during interviews to evaluate candidates.
• Nolan Bushnell: Asked about reading habits to find creative people.

"I discussed with him a technical point on which I was then genuinely puzzled. The next day, he came in with a neat solution, and I hired him at once."

• Evaluates candidates based on their problem-solving abilities.

"One of the best ways to find creative people is to ask a simple question, what books do you like?"

• Uses reading habits as an indicator of creativity and curiosity.

• Emphasized hiring people better than themselves.
• Raising the hiring bar with each new hire.

"If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarves. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants."

• Advocates for hiring individuals who are more capable than the current team.

"Every time we hire someone, he or she should raise the bar for the next hire so that the overall talent pool is always improving."

• Aims to continually improve the overall talent pool with each new hire.

• PayPal: Prioritized speed but kept a high bar for talent.

"A, players hire a, players. B, players hire c, players. So the first b player you hire takes the whole company down."

• Emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards in hiring.

• Larry Ellison: Hired based on candidates' confidence levels.

"Ellison insisted that his recruiters hire only the finest and cockiest new college graduates."

• Focused on hiring confident and self-assured individuals.

• Izzy Sharp: Used hiring as a form of distribution for his hotels.
• Elon Musk: Solved personal problems to secure hires.

"Remembering that Cesar Ritz made his hotels world famous by hiring some of the foremost chefs, we decided to do something similar."

• Leveraged hiring renowned individuals to enhance brand recognition.

"Musk had called his friend Larry Page, the co founder of Google. The engineer sat in stunned silence for a moment, but then he replied, given all that, he would come to work at SpaceX."

• Demonstrates solving personal issues to secure a critical hire.

• Les Schwab: Preferred promoting from within to avoid bad habits from other companies.

"In our 34 years of business, we have never hired a manager from the outside. Every single one of our, more than 250 managers and assistant managers started at the bottom changing tires."

• Advocates for internal promotions to maintain company culture and values.

• Jerry Sloan: Required autonomy to accept a coaching position.

"If you hire me, let me run the team in business, right? That's what you're hiring me for."

• Highlights the importance of granting autonomy to talented hires.

• Thomas Edison: Emphasized developing unique, non-hireable skills.

"I can hire mathematicians, but they can't hire me."

• Encourages founders to develop rare and valuable skills.

• Estee Lauder: Hired people aligned with her thinking and values.

"Hire people who think as you do and treat them well. In our business, they are top priority."

• Stresses the importance of value alignment in hiring.

• Peter Thiel: Advocated for unique and differentiated recruitment pitches.

"General and undifferentiated pitches to join your company don't say anything about why a recruit should join your company instead of many others."

• Encourages creating unique recruitment pitches to attract top talent.

• Nolan Bushnell: Hired Steve Jobs for his passionate enthusiasm.

"If there was a single characteristic that separates Steve Jobs from the mass of employees, it was his passionate enthusiasm."

• Values passion and enthusiasm in hires.

• Elon Musk: Personally interviewed the first 3000 employees at SpaceX.

"Musk made hiring a priority. He personally met with every single person the company hired through the first 3000 employees."

• Demonstrates the importance of founder's involvement in the hiring process.

• Creating an environment where employees feel surrounded by talented peers and part of a larger mission.

"It's not just recruiting after recruiting. It's building an environment that makes people feel they are surrounded by equally talented people and their work is bigger than they are."

• Highlights the importance of maintaining a motivating and supportive work environment post-hiring.