Icon Living: Mindsets from Michael Jordan & Jim Brown

This past Monday, two trailblazers of their respective generations celebrated their birthdays.

Michael Jordan and Jim Brown were unquestionably giants in their sports spanning a combined five decades. But it’s their modern-day presence as executives and servant leaders that continues to transcend our culture.

They have relentlessly challenged the status quo, empowered hearts, and minds, and have been positive difference-makers in countless lives spanning the globe. They have never run from criticism or backlash and have transported the Black athlete into the future, all while bringing injustices to light.

Sports has always had a profound impact on society, providing safe havens of inspiration and unity in times of heartbreak and unrest. Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to change the world…It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

We do not need to be the next Michael Jordan or Jim Brown to be iconic in our own pursuits. It’s far more important that we have a conviction-filled spirit.

May the following mindsets possessed by both Jordan and Brown support you on your journey as you work toward leaving a legacy of authenticity, grace, and inspiration.

• Leadership cannot be a spectator sport.

• Close the gap between knowledge and people.

• Dare to be great. Dare to dream the impossible.

• Excellence is a journey driven by passion, not merely a destination of hope.

• Deliver insights and new ways of living that invigorate, illuminate, and help chart the way into the future.

• There must be a bone-deep commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals, teams, and entire organizations.

As we celebrate the lives of two legends in Michael Jordan and Jim Brown, may we never lose sight of their journeys and the bridges they’ve built. Let’s take the unique opportunity we have today to be creative and iconic in designing the way we play the game called life!

P.S. If you are in search of a book recommendation, our team at The Daily Coach highly recommends Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, & Identity by Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo. This deeply inspiring book reveals the lines that separate us based on race or other perceived differences and how telling our stories and listening deeply to the stories of others are the first and most crucial steps we can take towards negating racial inequity in our culture. 

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