Look, we’ve all been there. We were young, passionate, thought we knew everything, thought the older generation was out of date, and you couldn’t tell us anything. And then we got HUMBLED. And I mean REALLY HUMBLED. Life has a way of doing that.
From generation to generation, this appears to be the leadership journey. Humble, patient, and respectful young leaders are often the exception.
Jeff Pearlman is the author of the new book Three Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil And The Crazy Years Of The Lakers Dynasty. I feel this will book will become the defining document on this era of the Los Angeles Lakers. This book is simply fantastic. It is raw, powerful, insightful, and will cause you to never look at Kobe Bryant the same way again. You can purchase the book by clicking HERE or on the image provided.
To say that early in his career Kobe was a challenge would be a massive over-simplification. Coach Phil Jackson also coached a young Michael Jordan but Kobe presented an entirely unique series of challenges. On page 172, Pearlman records the following thoughts from Jackson:
“But Michael was receptive to criticism,’ Jackson said. ‘He wouldn’t always agree, but he would hear you out. Kobe didn’t have that. I did a lot of studying about juvenile narcissism, and juvenile narcissists are the worst, because they think they only deserve the best. They want to be the leaders. They don’t accept counseling or advice. You can’t criticize them. Kobe was a juvenile narcissist.”
The following are 5 Signs You Are A Juvenile Narcissist we glean from Jackson’s assessment of a young Kobe:
- A Juvenile Narcissist Is Entitled – “they think they only deserve the best.”
- A Juvenile Narcissist Demands Leadership Positions And Opportunities – “They want to be the leaders.”
- A Juvenile Narcissist Is Not Open To Coaching – “They don’t accept counseling”
- A Juvenile Narcissist Does Not Accept Or Seek Out Advice – “or advice.”
- A Juvenile Narcissist Cannot Be Criticized – “You can’t criticize them.”
Entitlement, Demanding Leadership, Not Open To Coaching, Advice, or Criticism. If this describes you, you are likely a juvenile narcissist. But there is hope. You can humble yourself or be humbled by life. Either way, you will be humbled.
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