The great Michael Jordan said “successful people listen. People who do not listen, never survive long. You have to be able to accept creative insight coming from someone other than yourself.”
So listen up in life and listen up to this article. The reason Jordan is a great example is not just because of his astonishing play on the basketball court, or his ability to get 6 championship rings. It is because along with doing those things, he built a brand, a brand that no athlete has ever been able to duplicate. When any athlete gets an endorsement deal they all dream of being the next MJ but never do.
He said successful people listen, now I am not the most successful person in the world but I do find that I am more successful when I listen to what successful, and UNSUCCESSFUL people have to say. Unsuccessful people give great advice because they have made many mistakes along the way. Don’t fluff a person off because in your eyes they have not done anything in their life. They could have some advice that is useful because they made that mistake numerous times.
Why Don’t We Listen
Let’s be honest, we do not listen because we have egos. We do not listen because we think we know everything. We do not listen because it makes us have to think about what we are doing and admit being wrong. We do not listen because it is very hard for some people to take ANY criticism.
Listening is Not Doing
People often mistake these two things they are far from the same. Listening to someone to me is just showing some respect and being open to new ideas. What is wrong with that? Someone could say 50 things you do not agree with. But if they happen to say one thing that makes you interested or provokes some thought. Or they say one thing that makes sense and is some new knowledge for your brain. Was listening not worth it?
The Idea Pool?
I try really hard to listen to what everybody has to say and put it in my idea pool. I like to think of it as the area of the back of my brain where I throw things that I am not ready to throw out because I might need it one day. If I never end up using the idea I will end up just throwing it out aka naturally forgetting. Sometimes I put some ideas I have heard at the back of my brain and one day, it becomes triggered when I hear about and boom I look like a genuius.
And Athletes Need to Listen Because…
Just like you can never be a perfect human, you can never be a perfect athlete. You can get better every day and that is what your goal should be no matter what sport you play. There are lots of places to get information whether it is the internet, your coach, watching T.V. or just talking with people. At the end of the day you can get the worst advice or the best advice but you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink it.
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