Sinking the Final Shot

“I've missed more than 9000 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 failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Nearly everyone, at one point, will think about the issue of popularity. Through growing up in school, taking on jobs, and through other social outlets, it is clear we all have the desire to be well liked; but at what cost?

It’s simple: for every additional person we become friends with; for every new relationship we try to maintain; and for the social image we all work so desperately hard to improve; with each new person we meet, social interaction becomes more and more limited. After all, time is limited.  

So the question arises: Who are we doing all this for?

This is where we run into a potential problem.

Coming into and maintaining popularity can seem wonderful. Having people around you who want to interact, hang out, and enjoy your company couldn’t be seen as a downside to becoming popular. Or could it?

With so many friends, how well does each person know you? For many, their relationships will only run surface deep. Interaction will remain limited, and contact with these “single serving friends” will be promptly lost. For a few, however, you may develop a close friendship. These close relationships are what will provide your life with meaningful happiness. These people are the ones who will be there for you when you’re in need. They are the ones who work with you through hard times in life. These are the ones who help to see you succeed in your endeavors. They ultimately wish the best for you. These select few will remain a part of your life, as both sides will recognize the importance of maintaining contact no matter what curveballs are thrown your way. From the previous quote, these friends could easily be equated to Jordan’s teammates.

“26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.”

Twenty-five times Jordan let his team down, yet their trust within him remained the same. Jordan’s team had his back. They trusted that he would put every bit of his effort into sinking the shot, and even after numerous failed attempts they continued to throw him the ball. His teammates were few in number. Jordan’s fans were many. At the end of every missed shot, I can only imagine how disappointed some of his fans might have become. Inevitably, some would remain loyal whereas some would not. Those fans whose loyalty disappeared when Jordan didn’t sink that game-winning shot are just like those shallow relationships we acquire that run only surface deep.

We all let the problems of popularity concern us. I too want to be well liked, envied, and admired by others. But at what cost?

Life isn’t about the number of relationships you acquire, but rather the few. Find those who will help you grow as a person, care for you as an individual, and bring you meaningful happiness. To the relationships that only run surface deep, let them come and go, as that is simply a part of everyday life. However, it’s important for us all to never become fixated on maintaining these shallow relationships. It was Jordan’s teammates who helped lead him to numerous MVP titles. It was his team that helped him become great. For those of us that aren’t pro-basketball stars, we have to focus on the few who can help us achieve greatness in our lives. It’s important to remember who these people are and to never forget who matters most.