A Historic Acquisition
On July 4, 2016 superstar forward Kevin Durant announced he was joining the 73-win and Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors. In an absurdity of riches, Durant joined two-time Most Valuable Player Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to give the team perhaps the three greatest shooters of all-time.
The Warriors would go on to win the next two NBA titles with relative ease. When a discussion takes place about the greatest teams in game’s history, the 2016-18 Warriors are at or the near the top of the conversation.
Achieving Mastery
The team’s head coach Steve Kerr was once asked what it was like coaching the team’s superstars. He said, “I watch Kevin Durant and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson everyday work on their shooting at the end of practice, and I just marvel at the attention to detail. Each guy has their own routine, and when we finish practice, they each go to their own basket, with their own coach, who goes through their routine with them.”
He then adds, “It’s every single day. They are pushing themselves and pushing each other. When you think, these are possibly the three best shooters on earth and here they are working on their craft, every single day with such precision and such dedication, that’s mastery.”
One desire all leaders have (or should have) is to achieve mastery in their area of influence. From Kerr’s comments, we learn five things which are required to do so.
Put In The Extra Work
Unfortunately, many people only put in the minimum amount required to do their job. These individuals will never achieve mastery because they don’t put in the lonely work no one sees.
Durant, Curry, and Thompson practiced hard. They put in the work required. But as talented as they were, they went a step further and put in extra work after practice.
Develop Great Attention To Detail (Precision)
Mastery requires precision. There should be no wasted movement. Masters have learned to edit their life and remove all non-essentials. They only focus on that which takes them in the direction of their desired destination.
Have A Plan (System) And Diligence (Consistency)
Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans fo the diligent lead to harvest, as sure as haste leads to poverty.” (NIV). There are two components to this lesson, a plan and diligence. You cannot achieve mastery without both. The three players mentioned had “their own routine” and put in the work “every single day.”
Hire A Coach
Everyone gets better with a coach. The three greatest shooters in NBA history had individual coaches. Tiger Woods had a swing coach. Tom Brady has a personal coach. Get the point. Whatever profession you are in, you will never achieve mastery without getting the right coach to help you.
Here’s a tip on selecting a coach, don’t get a generic “life coach”. Get a coach to help you in a specific area. If you are looking for a leadership coaching course, click HERE to learn about my 2-Minute Leader course. It will make you a better leader and is affordably priced to get it in your hands.
A Rival Who Will Push You
To achieve mastery, there needs to a person or organization which pushes you every day to get better. Masters of their craft are inherently competitive. As Curry, Durant, and Thompson competed with each other in practice, the weight room, film work, nutrition, rest, and being a good teammate, none were going to let someone else get the better of them. And they made each other the best they could be.
Having a rival in your company or industry is not a bad thing, it’s a gift.
In conclusion, if these five things are in place, you have a chance to achieve mastery in your field.
The Top 60 Leadership Quotes From 2021 Part 1 is my latest ebook. For many entering a post-pandemic environment, leadership looks completely different than the pre-pandemic world. People are more broken now. They are more uncertain. Fear and anxiousness are unwelcome constant companions. Cultures are more unhealthy. Relationships are more dysfunctional. Hope seems to be in short supply. Every day seems to bring a new hacking, natural disaster, or unexpected calamity.
Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.