Expand Your Capacity, Mamba Mentality, Coffee for the Win! – Your Champions Brew

Busy leaders don’t change the world.

Happy Friday, Brew Nation! 

Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:

• Have Fun – Hold onto your mugs, Champions Brew Nation, because it’s time to celebrate! Coffee has once again proven its worthiness. In a study conducted by the brilliant minds at the National University of Singapore, it was revealed that our beloved caffeine elixir could hold the key to gracefully age.

Imagine this: a team of dedicated researchers meticulously observing 12,583 participants over two decades of their caffeinated lives. From the ‘young’ age of 53 to the seasoned wisdom of 73, these brave souls embarked on a coffee-filled journey like no other.

The results were nothing short of amazing! Sipping four cups or more per day, emerged as the Champion against physical frailty – twice as likely to avoid the clutches of fragility as they aged into their seventies.

So, we raise our cups high, Brew Nation, and toast to a life well-lived and a future brimming with strength and vigor.  (Of course, it is entirely possible that it’s just a coincidence that bigtime coffee drinkers had a better chance at a more robust later stage of life, but for now, trust the data!!)

• Work Hard – As a long time Boston Celtics fan, I never imagined the day would come when I would find myself captivated by a Los Angeles Laker. Kobe Bryant, the formidable force in purple and gold, was a player who evoked mixed emotions. This is a testament to his relentless ability to triumph over my Celtics. In fact, when Kobe took the court against the Celtics, the Lakers emerged victorious in nearly 60% of those games.

Kobe Bryant lost his life in a helicopter crash in January 2020.  Since this tragic event, many have documented Kobe’s leadership attributes on and off the basketball court.   Recently, I came across an article on Inc.com that highlighted some of Kobe’s leadership traits, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the wisdom he left behind. I want to share a few of his quotes and provide my insights on how they can inspire us to become uncommon leaders.

• Kobe Bryant on Effort:

“There’s a choice that we have to make as people, as individuals. If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. We all can be masters at our craft… But you have to make a choice… I knew that I was not going to be stopped… you can’t possibly become better than me because you’re not spending the time on it that I do.”

My take: To achieve greatness, we must first make a conscious decision to do whatever it takes. Kobe understood that greatness comes with sacrifices. The Law of Sacrifice states to go up, we must give up. It’s a choice to prioritize our craft over other distractions.

• Kobe Bryant on Lifelong Improvement:

“Everything was done to try to learn how to become a better basketball player. So when you have that point of view, then literally the world becomes your library to help you become better at your craft.”

My take: Kobe approached basketball as a lifelong journey of learning and improvement. I love the concept of “the world becoming your library” when you are committed to continuous growth. To become uncommon leaders, we must adopt a growth mindset and see every experience as an opportunity to expand our knowledge and skills. The world ‘becomes our library’ when we embrace a growth mindset.

• Kobe Bryant on Productive Discomfort:

“If we have a project and you’re saying, ‘OK, I can do that,’ that’s not the project we want… those are the things we want, because through that curiosity, you’ll reach a level you didn’t think was possible.”

My take: Kobe understood the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing productive discomfort. The learning zone, where we push ourselves beyond what we know, is where true growth happens. By taking on challenges that make us uncertain, we must explore new techniques and unlock our current level of performance. To be uncommon leaders, we must constantly seek opportunities that stretch our abilities and challenge us to reach new heights.

Kobe Bryant’s legacy will continue to inspire me about dedication, continuous improvement, and embracing discomfort to achieve a level of success achieved by only a few. By choosing to be great, committing to lifelong learning, and venturing outside our comfort zones, we can move closer to the person God designed us to be.

• Read More –This week is a review of Law #14 in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell.  Each week, I am traveling with you through a new chapter of this book.  I hope that you have purchased a copy of this book and are following along with me! 

Law # 14 – The Law of Expansion

Growth Always Increases Your Capacity

There’s something magical about walking through a bookstore, particularly the Business section. I used to wander those aisles, searching for the elusive silver bullet book—the one that would hold the key to unlocking my full potential. “Ah, here it is,” I would think, convinced that reading that book would be my golden ticket to success. But disappointment often awaited me at the end, as I realized the author hadn’t provided all the answers. I had approached growth with the wrong attitude.

Even now, I relish those moments in bookstores, scanning titles and occasionally arranging books to showcase the wisdom that has impacted me or to honor authors I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing on the Uncommon Leader Podcast. However, my search has evolved. I now seek expansion and lifelong learning. I understand that I’ll never truly “arrive.” To reach the depths of my potential, I need to be intentional and commit to continuous growth—a realization this chapter rekindled within me.

So, how can we expand our capacity to grow? Often, when coaching or consulting, I hear people say they don’t have time to read. But let me challenge that notion. First, you must make a choice: prioritize personal growth. Then, shift your thinking. Replace the question, “Can I find the time?” with “HOW can I find the time?” Once you change your mindset, your actions will follow suit. However, remember that merely altering your thinking without corresponding actions will leave you falling short of your potential. Great ideas may surface in the shower, but it’s those who step out and act upon them that stand a better chance of reaching their potential.

In his book, Maxwell outlines three ways to expand your capacity for action:

1. Stop settling for what you could have done before and start embracing what you can and should do. Shed the old habits and thoughts that hinder progress. Time cannot be created or stretched; we all have the same 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds each day. It’s how we utilize this precious gift that determines our success. Working longer hours is rarely the answer.
2. Rise above expectations and exceed them. To stand out, get noticed, and propel your career forward, you must raise the bar, not settle for average. Strive for excellence in everything you do, in every way. As Vince Lombardi wisely said, aiming for perfection may lead you to excellence along the way.
3. Embrace daily commitment to important tasks, rather than sporadic engagement. Be intentional. Advancing toward and realizing your full potential requires consistent effort. It’s not about doing some of the things you need to do some of the time; it’s about doing what’s necessary, even when you don’t feel like it, every single day.

Remember, your potential for progress is boundless, as long as you maintain the right attitude toward growth. I believe it’s time for another trip to the bookstore this weekend—a pilgrimage of possibility and wisdom eagerly awaiting discovery.

• Quote of the week:    “Faith does not make things easy.  It makes them possible.” – Jerry Prevo

What You Need to Do:

Call to Action:  Do you have a plan and a system to make sure you are doing what’s important daily?  Create a list of decisions you want to make, of who you want to be in the areas of your Leadership, your health, your faith, your finances, your friendships, and your fun.  Make them “I am” statements.  Then, figure out the disciplines required every single day or week to follow through on those statements.  Need help?  Set up a free call with me. 

It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”.  Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!

P.S. – Are you a podcast fan?  Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you.    Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?  Do you have a story to tell?  Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!