TRYING IS COOL

I’ve told the same story over and over in regards to me discovering writing. I don’t think I write profound shit but some people disagree. People read what I write and tell me it’s great work. After hearing this for 5 years I just left it at that and never built anything upon it. When people would ask me for advice about writing I would nonchalantly speak as if I was gifted and I really couldn’t offer them anything because it was something that just happened. It was a slick cocky attitude I carried. After so many people gassing me up subconsciously I thought “Why even try? I’m great without trying.” 

Those are the thoughts of underachievers. 

Alright maybe not underachievers that’s harsh. Those are the thoughts of someone complacent in the tier they’re in. Someone that is comfortable. Being comfortable is an illusion and that it’s own subject entirely so I’m not going to dive deep into that but someone who is comfortable is always on the cusp. There is never a breakthrough until they become uncomfortable. When you’re comfortable why try? You’re already where you want to be. Why is trying not cool? What’s the thought process behind it? 

People think there is some type of mythos behind not trying. Rappers display this the most. I can tell you some phrases that a rapper will say that will make them seem cooler because they don’t try. 

“I don’t write my lyrics.” = You wrote on your phone and paper. You are inferior to me.

“I just started rapping 3 months ago.” = I achieved in 3 months what you achieved in 6 years. 

“I don’t really listen to anybody music” = I can never be influenced by anything. I am the influence.

When you hear an artist say anything like this it’s a lie. They believe that if they portray that it is no effort to live the extravagant life they live it adds a mystique to their personality and talent. If they tell the public that they worked on one song for 2-3 weeks people may judge them differently. Saying that they didn’t really try is a safety net for the judgement they may receive for their art. If the public loves their work it makes the artist look like a genius if he created the art in 10-20 minutes. If the public hates their work the artist has an excuse of creating the art in 10-20 minutes. There’s a liability in trying. The liability is that you will be held accountable. This is where we are as a society. 

I came across an old Kobe interview and it wasn’t lengthy it was about 2 minutes long. I loved hearing him speak because he cared so much about everything he was involved in. It wasn’t just basketball Kobe was obsessed with. He was addicted to trying. It’s what separated him from his peers. 

When Kobe came into the NBA he had peers just as talented as he was maybe even more. What separated Kobe from the pack was his attention to detail and his obsession with preparation. The stories are well documented. Kobe would put the most hours into his craft. He practiced. He won championships and was back in the gym preparing for the next season 1-2 weeks later. 

Kobe was not afraid to let people know that he tries to be a winner. Yeah Kobe could’ve became a hall of fame talent just off his talent alone but that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted to be the last man standing in every season he played in. He came into every season in shape. He studied all his opponents. When he was alive he could probably break down every opponent he faced that’s how prepared he was. 

Kobe understood that the beauty was in the preparation and success was bred in the days and nights he didn’t have a game. You know how many players party all night or do absolutely nothing and drop 30 night in and night out? Half the league. When they do this they get complacent because they see that they can not prepare or care for practice and still produce but they’re ringless. The preparation shows in the playoffs. The practice pays off in the playoffs. This is why Kobe and Shaq didn’t win 8 championships. Shaq hated practice. Shaq won rings being out of shape all season. So he figured it was okay to keep doing it but when he became a step slower and heavier his drop off happen immediately. Could you imagine Shaq with Kobe’s mindset? He would be the greatest player ever. 

Remember Allen Iverson’s iconic press conference about “Practice” right? As a kid I thought that was the most gangsta shit ever. That’s how good Iverson was. He was a generational talent and it was him stating that I’m so prolific that practice not shit to me. When those lights come on and those fans are screaming in the stands I’m dropping 35 in my sleep. I raise the question again. What if Iverson had Kobe’s mindset about preparation and practice? He would have rings. The things we loved about Iverson were the same things that contributed to him not winning the title. 

Iverson said “How can I make my teammates better by practicing?” That was the issue right there. Jordan gambled and drank all night and still treated practice like a playoff game. Kobe was like Jordan without the drinking and gambling. LeBron spends a million on his body in strength and conditioning. LeBron leadership skills are never questioned because he puts in the most work on the team and they see it. Teammates see this and they step it up. If they see the franchise player wanting to win and playing and practicing like it’s their last it’s going to make them look dumb for not trying. How Lebron has everything he want in life and he playing like he doesn’t have anything and you don’t have half of what he has and you’re still complacent? 

You might be gifted. It might be easy and a breeze but that will only take you so far. I noticed this about myself and writing. I started taking pride in preparing and studying writing skills. I started studying interviewers and moderators to get better at podcasting. I know I don’t have to practice and I can still create great things but 30 point games get old when I look down at my hand and it’s ringless. Trying is cool. Preparation is cool. Me saying “Preparation isn’t me” is an excuse and a cover up of being afraid to try. If “trying” isn’t you then winning what matters isn’t you either. 

Try. 

Peace