Mamba Mentality: Becoming the best version of myself!

As a young lady in a fast-paced world, I’m constantly on the hunt for inspiration and guidance. As a product Management student at AltSchool, I have access to top-notch sessions and weekly motivational content. All thanks to the community manager, I get to learn great ways to look at myself; today, she urged us to embrace the “Mamba Mentality”.

Like always, I jumped on the internet and studied Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality”.

The first thing that popped up showed that it was about winning in basketball. I almost closed my tab and moved on with my life, but then I saw it was about striving to become the best version of myself. It’s a code for anyone wanting to rise above, leave their mark, and write their legend.

Forget just winning — the Mamba Mentality is about becoming the best version of yourself. I picked some lessons, and I will be sharing some of them here. Have a great read:

Preparation

Kobe’s dedication to his craft was legendary; he outworked everyone because he took time to train himself, prepare and practice. This means I need to do a lot in the background, study, interact and be ready to face any challenge. As a PM, I apply this to my understanding of users, markets, and competitors to craft a unique user product experience.

Drive

The mamba mentality revolves around drive and the ability to keep pushing regardless of what happens. In the second quarter of 2023, I decided never to settle for less and always push beyond my limitations. Since then, I have broken up with mediocrity and started dating excellence. This has helped me exceed my expectations, constantly iterate, and continuously pursue my vision.

Adaptability

Kobe made it clear that the game never goes exactly as planned, hence the need to adjust to unexpected occurrences. This taught me to be open-minded, learn how to make split-second decisions, and capitalise on opportunities. The world is fast changing, and there is no room for anyone unwilling to adapt to changes and find new ways of doing things.

Teamwork

No one is an island, and becoming the best version of yourself doesn’t warrant you cutting off everyone and being alone. According to Kobe, life is not a “one-man” show, meaning we need others to grow and improve. He understood the power of teamwork, trusting and empowering his teammates to contribute their unique strengths. Henceforth, I desire to communicate better and encourage others, especially those on my team, to gear towards allowing everyone to participate and contribute to the growth of any project.

Confidence

Believing in yourself is an important step to becoming better. This allows you to try the impossible and step into place with an unshakeable belief that you will dominate. One common misconception about confidence is that it is flawless, but today, I realised you can be confident, still have flaws and become a better version of yourself.

So, as I navigate this exciting world, I’ll keep Kobe’s Mamba Mentality close to my heart. It’s a reminder to obsess over becoming better by preparing and accepting change; just like Kobe, I refuse to settle for anything less than legendary.

Now, it’s your turn! What do you know about the Mamba Mentality? Would you love to embrace it? Share your opinion in the comment session below. Let’s keep the #MambaMentality alive!