4 Lessons From “The Greatest”
On 3 June 2016 one of the greatest and most inspirational sportsmen in history died.
For years I have read and watched everything I could find about him.
These are the four most powerful lessons and thoughts I learned from “The Greatest”…
First of all YOU have to see it..
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.“
Ali knew that he is made for greatness. He deeply believed that he is (going to be) the best there is in his sport - and he was never shy to let the world know… But apart from all the rhymes and jabs - he was a master of the inner dialog, the maestro of his own mind.
He saw greatness when nobody else saw him at all.
Ali was a sales genius marketing his own brand - long before the word personal brand was even invented. You wanna know what that looked like:
But don’t get that wrong: all the bragging would not have had the effect that it had, hadn’t his actions followed his words! But it started with the show and the marketing. He managed to become a famous person, a hero, a media phenomenon and a sports brand respected and admired for decades - to the very last day of his life and beyond.
(His worlds would not have been enough to do so - that is for sure. But his boxing wouldn’t have either.)
Preparation is everything
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
He trained like a machine (hating every minute of it). He was disciplined and mentally strong. Not just a showman. He delivered. And he only could because of his relentless preparation regime.
An example:
Once asked for the number of situps he does in a normal workoput he replied: “I have no idea. I start when it starts hurting.”
Being great inspires greatness in others
Ali became more than a boxer. He became a legend, a world known brand and an icon.
Because of his success, his personality and his courage…
I have no idea if Ali knew what we do today - but in retroperspective he managed to inspire athletes all around the plantet across all kinds of sports and over decades. He ispired sports brands, managers as well es school kids to believe in their their goals and to work hard.
To take away:
You may not box like Ali, you may not float like a butterfly or dance like the heavy-weight champ…
… but you can believe in yourself, market your band, prepare and perform like him!
And you can inspire those around you - by being The Greatest version of you!
Your m - dancing, floating, stinging…
dededos
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