I grew up and still live in a Los Angeles suburb. I am also a huge Laker fan.  Kobe Bryant was the first athlete who came into the NBA younger than I was. So, I was saddened by the loss of Kobe and his daughter, Gianna. I watched his whole career both on and off the court.

 Part of my process as a writer is to study the mindset of successful people and, since I love sports, I often look to athletes and want to understand their mindset and how they go about being elite.

 Kobe Bryant definitely had a unique mindset and it safe to say that it was next level. In fact, there was even a name for his mindset that he gave himself- Mamba Mentality.  Mamba Mentality was truly unique to Kobe Bean Bryant.

 Here are just a few examples of the Mamba Mentality.

 Kobe always had a vision of what he wanted and why he wanted it. He simply wanted to be the best that he could be and he didn’t want anything to get in the way. Instead of living in Beverly Hills or the Hollywood Hills, he lived in Orange County, just south of Los Angeles.  According to reports, he didn’t want to be distracted by the trappings of Los Angeles.

 Whatever he did, he wanted to do it at a high level. When he retired from basketball, he gracefully transitioned into storytelling. This mindset earned him an Oscar. Many people would just dabble in other interests, but Kobe went full force. 

 Next, there was no other player who played through injuries like Kobe Bryant. He played through almost any kind of pain. Even when he hurt his Achilles, he went back in the game and made the free throws.

 These are just a few examples of the Mamba Mentality. He gave me many positive memories of excitement and joy.  As I write and speak about mindset, I’m constantly influenced by Kobe Bryant.

 Summary:

 The loss of Kobe Bryant has been felt around the world, as his influence stretched far and wide. He was an elite athlete with an amazing mindset that we should all learn from.