First of all, I am of the opinion that Lebron James is the GOAT. Maybe if I had watched Jordan’s and Kobe’s careers for longer, I would have felt differently but we had only CRTV growing up so give me credit for turning out this way. Secondly, let us agree we are not going to go back to the conversation of why I am talking about what I learned from Kobe and not what I learned from someone I actually knew and met who also passed away recently.
That Said!
In the aftermath of Kobe’s passing, one cannot help but ignore the media coverage of the man and his life. No matter how redundant the things people are saying about him are, you still want to watch and listen to almost everyone’s take or feelings about the tragic event. Besides his work ethic, discipline, and fearlessness which we all saw in display on the wood floors of the Staples Center, one thing that people said of Kobe which resonated with me the most was is the fact that he wanted people to be accountable for their choice of words.
It is said that if you told Kobe that you were going to do something, he was not the type to just say “Yeah man, I believe you.” He always wanted to know if that person understood what is really takes to achieve that goal of theirs. It is said it is something he took seriously. He did not like people building castles in the sky as we would say. I can imagine if you told Kobe your weight loss goals for the year, he will not be excited until he sees, first of all, your workout plan. I imagine him to be someone to look at that workout plan and tell you in your face “This is not going to cut it.” Kobe was a blunt, tell it as it is unapologetic person.
I like to think I am a hard worker but even after putting in 15 hour days, I still feel like I’m slacking. Honestly, I know I am working harder than most people but I also know the challenge ahead of me requires that I work harder than I actually do right now. I have like one or two people in my circle that actually make me feel like I am not doing enough. Besides those, almost everybody else rather gets a push from me every now and then.
I have turned down two partnership proposals already this year. I did not do so because I don’t like the projects or because my hands are full already but rather because I didn’t feel like the people who approached me comprehend fully the amount of work and resources needed to realize those projects. This was the same experience I had organizing the bag concert. I didn’t feel like the others involved actually understood the work it will take to achieve the goals we all set so happily during our first meeting. It became a game of me having to constantly remind others that we will not make it there if we continue like this. And when you have to pick up the slack everybody else is leaving behind, you can easily lose your niceness -which turned into negative feelings towards me. I’m sure Kobe can relate.
My little cousin wrote to me saying he wants to now get into music and he needs my help. I didn’t reply him because I don’t think he knows what he is talking about. Other than what he said with his mouth, there was nothing else to show me he even remotely comprehends that according to his new dream, he is still in 2016. What I expected was for him to send me at least a song sample. You may ask me why I did not reply him to tell him this and I will tell you I need him to understand that he needs to read every single word posted on PoiseSocial where I leave him all the advise I can.
Any-Ha!
The fact is, looking around me, I can tell that we have a long way to go as the youth of this country and if we are going to make any difference, we have to understand that it will take 10 times the effort we are putting in today. 8 hour work days won’t get us there, neither will 12 - we need more. So I want you to do the same with your friends. When one tells you they want to become a fashion designer while they are binge watching GOT and every other TV series they can find, you need to tell them “Audio fashion designer.”
- Tino Foy