The Path To Your Goals Could Be A Short Term Retirement

The Path To Your Goals Could Be A Short Term Retirement
Written by Bryce Smith

Just recently I picked up a basketball for the first time since my playing days in Europe (I played collegiately about two years ago). I dribbled a little bit, shot a little bit and realized that I could still move the way I used to. I may have lost a little skill here and there but fortunately, CrossFit has kept me in pretty good shape where I think I could give the old me a fun game. This got me thinking about Michael Jordan’s comeback from retirement.

I’ve seen many athletes move away from the game for a while and return with a vengeance. At this point, it has little to do with physical abilities, and a lot to do with regaining the itch to prove something and maximize one’s potential. So many athletes train day in and day out without having that break. This leads to overtraining and lack of motivation and being away for a while leads to a new desire and a re-ignition of the fire within.

Michael Jordan stepped away from the game of basketball on March 18,1995, to play minor league baseball. He lacked the motivation to push himself to that next level because he had felt that he reached the pinnacle and proved everything he wanted to prove. He said he no longer had anything to prove. This is a great learning lesson for us all, as it helps us to understand that extrinsic motivation has an expiration date. He needed to be driven from within and develop intrinsic motivation to help him get back to that level.

This is what Jordan said about his return to the NBA, “I tried to stay away as much as I could,” Jordan told the press corps after his first game back against the Pacers. “The more active that I was in other sports really kept my mind away from the game…but when you love something for so long…I think at the time that I walked away from it, I probably needed it mentally more so than anything. But I really truly missed the game.” As you can see, all of us need a break sometimes. It allows both your body and mind to recover and appreciate the many other aspects of life.

Jordan went on in his first season back by cramming in seventeen games over the final five weeks. He famously scored 55 points at Madison Square Garden in his fifth game back, and averaged 26.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists on 41.1 percent shooting. Not too shabby after 528 days away from the game. He later went on to win three more NBA championships and is considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

For many of you who have tried everything to reach your goals, have you ever tried completely stopping? Stop lifting, stop training, and just go on a little vacation. Go on adventures, smile often, laugh a ton, drink, eat, and sleep like a bear in hibernation. Upon returning, you may find that you either lost weight or you are motivated to begin attacking your goals. Why does this work? I have no clue, but it may have to do with playing often and sleeping like a champ. It goes back to that famous saying that Robb Wolf always talks about, “Sleep as much as you can without getting fired or divorced.” Let’s call it the “play and sleep formula.”

Sometimes, the path to your goals is a short retirement.

References

1)    Aschburner, Steve. “Jordan’s First Retirement, 20 Years Ago, Hit NBA Hardest « NBA.com | Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith.” NBA.com Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith. N.p., Oct. 2013. Web. 26 Aug. 2015.

2)    John, Dan. Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning. Santa Cruz, CA: On Target Publications, 2009. Print.

3)    Zwerling, Jared. “Untold Stories of Jordan’s Comeback.” Bleacher Report. N.p., Mar. 2015. Web. 26 Aug. 2015.