The 20 Best Michael Jordan Quotes That Apply to Business
Michael Jordan is a former professional basketball player turned businessman. He was born in New York in 1963, and he is best known for playing 15 seasons in the NBA and winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls basketball team. Now, he is the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. According to Wikipedia, Michael Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures of all time, as he has endorsed many products and he has the Jordan brand of shoes. His other business interests include an automotive group, several restaurants, and a golf course. As Jordan has been so successful in both sport and business, he is considered an influential and inspirational figure. Here are the 20 best Michael Jordan quotes that apply to business.
20. On Embracing Every Opportunity
“In college, I never realized the opportunities available to a pro athlete. I’ve been given the chance to meet all kinds of people, to travel and expand my financial capabilities, to get ideas and learn about life, to create a world apart from basketball.”
In this Michael Jordon quote, he talks about the opportunities he had due to being a professional basketball player and how he had not expected these opportunities. You can also apply this quote to business, and the unexpected opportunities that may come your way. Sometimes, you will make your own opportunities. On other occasions, an opportunity may seemingly appear out of nowhere. You should embrace any opportunities that come your way, as you may never have the same opportunities again.
19. On Staying Motivated
“Every time I feel tired when I am exercising and training, I close my eyes to see that picture, to see that list with my name. This usually motivates me to work again.”
To progress and succeed, it is essential that you can remain motivated. Michael Jordan recommends focusing on the prize to help you do this. Think about the end goals that you are trying to achieve and how you need to get there. This will give you something to work towards.
18. On Continuous Learning
“Learning’s a gift, even when pain is your teacher.”
You will continue to learn throughout your life, and not just while you are in formal education. The more you learn, the greater your chances of success. You will find opportunities to learn in many different ways, including from your own mistakes and experiences. Take every learning opportunity that comes your way.
17. On Standing by Your Decisions
“Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again.”
Decision-making is an important skill for leaders and business owners. It is your responsibility to make major decisions about the business, so it is important you can make sound decisions with good outcomes. Once you have made your decision, you must stand by them and not backtrack. Be confident in the decisions you make and don’t let others influence you.
16. On Working Hard
“If you do the work you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.”
This Michael Jordon quote is included in a list on Addicted 2 Success. It is all about how successful people only get where they are through hard work. If you want to become successful, then you cannot expect success simply to land on your doorstep. It is something that you must continuously work towards. If you are not willing to put in the effort, then it is unlikely that you will enjoy success.
15. On Staying Focused
“I would tell players to relax and never think about what is at stake. Just think about the basketball game. If you start to think about who is going to win the championship, you’ve lost your focus.”
Focus is a key element of success. You must know where you want to go in life and what is needed to get there. Once you know what you want and what you need to do, then you must focus on achieving your goals. If you lose focus, then you are unlikely to reach your full potential.
14. On Overcoming Obstacles
“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. “
Business is full of ups and downs, so you can expect to face a range of obstacles along your journey to success. Do not let the obstacles you face deter you from continuing on your road to success. When you face an obstacle, consider the ways that you can overcome the problem. You may need to think outside the box to find the best solution.
13. On Not Giving Up
“If you quit once, it becomes a habit. Never give up.”
No matter what happens or how tough things get, you should never give up. Michael Jordan believes that quitting is something that can become a habit if you do it just once. Instead of quitting at the first sign of trouble, work your way through the problems. If you quit too soon, it is potentially something that you will regret for the rest of your life.
12. On Working on Your Weaknesses
“My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.”
Nobody is perfect, and every person has a range of strengths and weaknesses. Knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie is the first step in self-improvement. If you can identify your weaknesses, then you can also work out how you can improve in these areas.
11. On Finding Positives from Negatives
“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”
Suffering some negative experiences is inevitable, both in life and in business. However, you should try not to see these negatives as a huge downfall or a failure. All types of negative experiences are an opportunity to learn, so you should also see them as positives. Without negative experiences, you will not learn what you should not do. It is also possible that without the negative experiences, you would not make improvements to yourself or your business.
10. On Striving for Success
“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.”
Listed on Goalcast, this Michael Jordon quote applies to business because it encourages you to strive for success. It takes a lot of effort to become successful, so you must be willing to put in the work. Successful people also have a positive attitude. They do not embark on a business worrying about failure; they embark on a business expecting success.
9. On Achieving Your Full Potential
“Look me in the eye. I have something more important than courage. I have patience. I will become what I know I am.”
This quote is a shortened version of what Michael Jordan says in the 2013 ‘Become Legendary’ commercial. It is about achieving your full potential. Only you will know what your full potential is and what you need to do to fulfill it. Therefore, you are responsible for your own destiny.
8. On Having No Limits
“Never say never. Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.”
Limits are something that can hold you back. Setting limits on your success may prevent you from achieving more. Therefore, you should not worry about setting limits. Always strive for more than you originally think is possible.
7. On Always Trying
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something, but I can’t accept not trying.”
The fear of failure is something that deters some people from putting their ideas into action and launching their own business. However, this can lead to you wasting your life wondering what you could have achieved if you had the courage to put your ideas into action. By having the courage and trying to fulfill your dreams, you will know that at least you have tried, even if you fail.
6. On the Importance of Your Team
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
This Michael Jordon quote highlights the importance of teamwork. Even if you are a business leader, your team will make a valuable contribution to your success. This is because they will each bring different strengths to the table. It is vital that you can get your team working together towards shared goals for your business to run efficiently.
5. On Using Your Failures for Success
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve filed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Failures are something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. There is no shame in this, and you can turn them to your advantage. Use them as a learning experience by analyzing why the failure occurred and how you can avoid similar situations in the future. You can also use your failures to make you stronger and more resilient.
4. On Having Self-Belief
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”
If you do not believe that you can achieve something, then it is unlikely to happen as you will not give it your best effort or feel passionate. On the other hand, if you believe you can do something, then you are halfway to achieving it. Similarly, other people are more likely to have belief in you if you have belief in yourself. If other people believe in you, it gives you extra motivation to keep you going.
3. On Short-Term Goals
“I approach everything step by step… I had always set short-term goals. As I look back, each one of the steps or successes led to the next one.”
A common mistake that people make is to set themselves one large, long-term goal. This is a mistake for several reasons. First, having a huge goal can make it seem unachievable. It can also seem like it takes forever to achieve that goal. Another reason it is a mistake is that you may lack clarity about how you are going to attain the goal you have set. It is for these reasons that it is crucial to set yourself short-term goals. They will act as stepping-stones to your main goals, and they will keep you motivated as you will achieve them quicker.
2. On Why It Is Never Too Late
“My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said you never know what you can accomplish until you try.”
Even if you did not fulfill your dreams when you were younger, it is not too late to do something about it now. You will not know what you can achieve until you have tried. Do not be afraid to take the chance. Even if things do not turn out how you had hoped, you can take pride in the fact that you have given it your best shot.
1. On Making Things Happen
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
According to Entrepreneur.com, this is one of the best Michael Jordon quotes that apply to business. It is about making things happen if you want something in life. It is nobody else’s responsibility to make sure that you achieve your dreams. This is solely down to you. If you want to achieve something, rather than just sitting thinking about it, take action.
