Jay Jay's Thoughts Your Reactions: Lessons from LeBron James

Jay Jay's Thoughts Your Reactions: Lessons from LeBron James: Lessons from LeBron James By Jay Jay Speaks August 8, 2012 LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for...

Lessons from LeBron James

Lessons from LeBron James

By Jay Jay Speaks

August 8, 2012

LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is an NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, 3-time NBA MVP, and former  NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA  All-Star Game MVP. He is also one of co-captains of the Miami Heat. LeBron is an eight-time NBA All-Star and has earned eight All-NBA honors and four All-Defensive honors.

Nicknamed "King James", James had a storied high school basketball career at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. A three-time "Mr. Basketball of Ohio", he was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar. After graduating, he was selected with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers for the Heat in a highly publicized free agency period. In 2012, he led Miami to their second ever NBA title, winning his first overall. His list of achievements and leadership during the Heats' 2012 championship run have led many basketball analysts, experts, and writers to consider him the best player in the NBA today. (www.Wikipedia.com)

LeBron James has been one of the most criticized, scrutinized, televised and idolized players in the history of the National Basketball Association.  In his 9 year career he has been one of the most “loved” players and one of the most “hated” players in the league. LeBron has surely and certainly had his highs and lows, ups and downs, victories and defeats. As I look back on the last couple of chapters on his life’s book I think there are some valuable lessons we can all take away.  LeBron went from owning the city of Cleveland, Ohio and being the most popular person in the state of Ohio, to being the most hated man east of the Rocky Mountains in one night. The basketball world laughed at his failure(s) in the 2011 NBA FINALS as the heavily favored Miami Heat lost to Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2. But at the conclusion of the last season 2011-12 LeBron James silenced ALL HIS CRITICS by winning his 3^rd League MVP and the leading his team to the NBA Championship, a championship the basketball fans of 49 states said his team wouldn’t win. Not only did James lead his team to the championship but he secured the Most Valuable Player of the championship series.

After the championship all the haters, naysayers and bitter fans, fell absolutely silent. The social media universe on Facebook and Twitter became a vacuum. The “he will never,” or “you know he won’t ever” jokes and criticism immediately became extinct.

LESSONS from LEBRON JAMES

1.       As Charlie Sheen once famously said, “AHHHHHH...WINNING!”

2.       Everyone who starts out with you won’t finish with you.

3.       IRON SHARPENS IRON; surround yourself with talented people if you want to keep getting better.

4.       Leadership is within all of us, but only when you are truly comfortable with WHO YOU ARE.

5.       No matter how much you love your parents, you are not responsible for their behavior.

6.       No one else can live your life for you.

7.       Often times you have to leave home (or what you’ve always known) in order to really grow up.

8.       “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall,” (Proverbs 16:18 KJV).

9.       Keep your words soft and sweet just in case one day you have to eat them (someone ask Cleveland Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert).

10.   Sometimes less is more.

11.   The best revenge is to LIVE WELL!

12.   The BEST YOU is the REAL YOU. Don’t try to be what other people what you to be. Be yourself.

13.   When you enjoy what you are doing, you get better at it!

14.   You have to do what’s best for you in life (your family, business, brand, etc.).

15.   You will never truly be successful if you are afraid to fail, TAKE YOUR SHOT WHEN IT IS OPEN!

16.   You won’t be able to please everyone, so don’t try (ask Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard).

_{(This list is not meant to be comprehensive or all inclusive, feel free to add your own)}

Whether you are a sports fan, basketball enthusiast or have never heard of LeBron James, you can still learn some valuable lessons from the recent pages of his career. These lessons are not just for athletes, entertainers or millionaires. The lessons above are for each and every one of us.

I’m sure if you put your dislike for him, his team, his actions or sports aside and just read the lessons you’ll find there is room for you to improve your life or your outlook on life from some of these lessons.

Don’t wait until Monday, do it today.