Book Review: Michael Jordan – Driven From Within

So you’ve heard of the High Fidelity Lifestyle, but how does one attain it?
What are the best action steps that lead to a higher level of consciousness and a more rewarding day to day existence?
What are the MINDSETS you need to cultivate the state of mind excellence?
I had a lot of guys comment and email me after the last article,asking about my own motivations and daily routine towards a high fidelity life.
It reminded me of a book I read a few years ago, which has had a huge impact on how I view my goals, and how I live my life.
What does Michael Jordan have to do with success with women, or personal development for that matter?
What in a book about an NBA athlete can bring you towards the state of mind excellence?
Well, I think this book might be one of THE BEST examples on detailing the career of someone living the high fidelity lifestyle.

Be The Best In Everything You Do

Driven from Within by Michael Jordan gives you an inside perspective on how MJ lives his life.
Most people know about the 6 national championships, Gatorade commericals, and Nike shoes.  That’s all covered.
But what is even more amazing is the work ethic.  The mindset Jordan uses.  Not only on the court, but in business, and everything he does.
Most experts and lay alike would consider him the best to ever play the game, but beyond basketball, Michael Jordan also played a pivotal role in reinventing the way sports-stars were marketed, and completely revolutionized the sporting apparel and basketball shoe industry through Brand Jordan and Nike.
Living to his fullest potential, whether it be competing in a ping pong game, to the way he dresses, to how he trains for every single game on the court.
Leading by example, being the first one in the gym, and the last one home.
Heading to the practice court the day after winning ANOTHER championship, hoping to repeat again.

Thoughts of a Conscious Man

Another reason I think this is a great book is it brings you to Jordan’s level of consciousness, raising you to a higher standard as you read through the development of his career both on and off the court.
Michael is one of those rare breeds that somehow naturally evolved into a highly conscious dude.
Although self/personal development is never brought up explicitly,  but Jordan’s work ethic, motivations, and view of the world are a great example of the outward manifestations of being self actualized.
Control over your emotions, control over how you perceive the world and the actions others take.
This is most salient near the end of the book when Jordan is talking about his father’s murder, and how he is the only one in his family that has truly moved on.
He explains how he doesn’t worry about things that are outside of his control, work on what you can control, and strive to be the best in those things.
Again, not to impress, not to compare yourself to others, but because what else would you do with your time?!
Why not do something different, do something incredible?
When asked about what drove him to succeed:
“When we won one championship, then I wanted to win two in a row.  When we won two, then I wanted to win three in a row because Larry and Magic never won three straight.”
It’s a great example of what Jordan considers “tricking” yourself into creating goals.
Always something small and attainable.
You shouldn’t expect to go into the NBA and exclaim, “I am going to win 3 championships in a row!”
Just as you can’t expect to get 3 playboy playmates your first month in the game.
Baby steps goes both ways.
You keep your goals short term so they are attainable, this leads to more successes, and makes life more enjoyable.
But you also create short term small goals to keep moving forward, even if there is no real reason to do it.
You might as well choose to do something with your life, and you might as well do it as best as you possibly can.
Check the book out! Highly recommended!
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I’m writing this from a random PC computer, my macbook fried last week and I’ve been HIGHLY frustrated by how long it is taking to fix, as it has not only slowed down my article writing here, but also stunting my other internet related endeavors.
But, a nice by-product is that I’ve been reading a lot of books, so expect a few more book reviews, and probably another business related post in the next few days…
Have a good week!