Kobe Bryant

I said, man, listen, if you start this season and they say, you know, all you have to do is win two games at home and you're NBA champ, would you take that? Yeah. Right. That's all we got to do. Yeah. Go home, win two. We're NBA champions. All we got to do is win two games in a row. That's it. We'll take care of the first game. And I promise you, they're not winning game seven on our home floor.

It's not happening. So we all just laughed about it. And then we went out and we figured it out. But that game seven was we're down 15 points in the fourth quarter. Right. And that's when you have to collectively look at each other and say, you know, the spirit of your team must be good. because at that moment is when teams fracture.

It's not happening. So we all just laughed about it. And then we went out and we figured it out. But that game seven was we're down 15 points in the fourth quarter. Right. And that's when you have to collectively look at each other and say, you know, the spirit of your team must be good. because at that moment is when teams fracture.

If the energy amongst each other isn't there, that trust isn't there, you're done. And we were able to collectively dig deep together and say, all right, we're gonna figure this thing out. And I wasn't playing well and I wasn't shooting the ball well at all. And so my teammates picked you up and, They delivered. Yes.

If the energy amongst each other isn't there, that trust isn't there, you're done. And we were able to collectively dig deep together and say, all right, we're gonna figure this thing out. And I wasn't playing well and I wasn't shooting the ball well at all. And so my teammates picked you up and, They delivered. Yes.

I think it's the fear of starting anew. And that was certainly present for me as well. Really? Yeah. Like an identity, you mean? Well, it's starting from scratch, right? Because when you play for 20 years, I played for 20 years, you reach a certain level. You're like, okay, wait a minute. I have to start again at the base of a mountain. and try to climb the top of this mountain.

I think it's the fear of starting anew. And that was certainly present for me as well. Really? Yeah. Like an identity, you mean? Well, it's starting from scratch, right? Because when you play for 20 years, I played for 20 years, you reach a certain level. You're like, okay, wait a minute. I have to start again at the base of a mountain. and try to climb the top of this mountain.

First of all, what mountain am I climbing? I don't even know like what the am I going to be doing? It's very scary. It's very scary. Even for you? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And the thing that helped me actually was hurting my Achilles because that forced me to sit there and say, okay, the day could be today that your career is over.

First of all, what mountain am I climbing? I don't even know like what the am I going to be doing? It's very scary. It's very scary. Even for you? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And the thing that helped me actually was hurting my Achilles because that forced me to sit there and say, okay, the day could be today that your career is over.

Now what do you do? You have these ideas about doing something with your life after basketball. But what if today is the day that you, that's it, now what do you do? So I had all this time sitting there with my Achilles injury and contemplating and thinking, and I said, I better get to work.

Now what do you do? You have these ideas about doing something with your life after basketball. But what if today is the day that you, that's it, now what do you do? So I had all this time sitting there with my Achilles injury and contemplating and thinking, and I said, I better get to work.

I struggle with it at first because the first question I asked, which is the wrong question, is what's the biggest industry I can get into?

I struggle with it at first because the first question I asked, which is the wrong question, is what's the biggest industry I can get into?

Yes, money thinking, saying, okay, athletes are saying you can't make more revenue when you retire. This is your source of your income is here. I said, okay, that's a challenge. What can I do?

Yes, money thinking, saying, okay, athletes are saying you can't make more revenue when you retire. This is your source of your income is here. I said, okay, that's a challenge. What can I do?

I did, I did. And so I started, I went for a ride and I said, okay, stop thinking of it that way. You're thinking of it the wrong way. Why'd you start playing basketball? Because I loved it. All right, what do you love to do? Oh, I love to tell stories. All right, let's do that. And then that's where it started for me.

I did, I did. And so I started, I went for a ride and I said, okay, stop thinking of it that way. You're thinking of it the wrong way. Why'd you start playing basketball? Because I loved it. All right, what do you love to do? Oh, I love to tell stories. All right, let's do that. And then that's where it started for me.

And then on top of that, it became things like we started learning more about the financial industry and about players going broke once they retire and saying, okay, how can I... How can I minimize the chances of that happening? What are things that I can do to invest my money smartly? Also help control some of that outcome to a certain extent. And that's what I called Mike Rapoli.

And then on top of that, it became things like we started learning more about the financial industry and about players going broke once they retire and saying, okay, how can I... How can I minimize the chances of that happening? What are things that I can do to invest my money smartly? Also help control some of that outcome to a certain extent. And that's what I called Mike Rapoli.

Mike Rapoli was an entrepreneur who built Vitamin Water, Pirate's Boot and some other companies and started learning from them.