So what on earth does becoming an A-list blogger have anything to do with the great basketball star Michael Jordan?
This is a very valid question and to find the answer we must look beyond the sport itself and focus on Jordan’s mindset and mental attitude both on and off the court.
There is no denying that Michael Jordan is one of the most well-known and successful athletes in the history of professional sports. His biography on the website for the National Basketball Association states: “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time.”
As bloggers, we probably won’t be endorsing any sportswear or winning slam dunk contests but we can greatly benefit by using the mindset and attitude model responsible for Jordan’s mega successful career as a template for our own blogging success.
Would you like to move up the ranks and become an A-list blogger?
Yes? Then learn and apply these lessons taught by the great one himself.
1. Use rejection as a reason to make yourself better, not as an excuse for failure
Many people don’t know that Jordan was once cut from his high school basketball team. Taking light of the rejection, Jordan continued to practice and worked hard to develop his skills. Needless to say, he had no problem making the team the following year. Ironically his high school gym is now named after him.
Being rejected is not easy for anyone. In the world of blogging, the rejection could be the form of an opportunity to guest blog, a JV partnership or even dealing with that dreaded negative commenter. Never take rejection and criticism personally, just go back to the drawing board and if necessary, change whatever needs to be changed or take the time to practice skills not quite up to par. Be passionate about your work and when you’re ready, come back better and stronger than ever before.
Keep in mind, at some point everyone gets knocked down. I'm sure every A-list blogger can share similar stories. It’s easy to stay down and make excuses, but those who succeed are the ones who get up, dust themselves off and keep going after what they really want.
“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.” – Michael Jordan
2. Take advantage of your strengths but don’t neglect your weaknesses
Michael Jordan became the first professional basketball player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 3000 points in a single season. He was a very effective weapon on offense but he knew he had other skills that needed improvement. Jordan went to work and focused on improving his defensive game. In 1988 his hard work paid off as he was named the NBA defensive player of the year and was the first ever player to lead the league in both scoring and steals.
Whether we possess certain skills ourselves or rely on outsourcing to experts, as bloggers and online marketers we must have access to many different talents and skillsets. This could include everything from business management, marketing and customer service to technical skills like web design and video production.
It’s okay to be a “Jack of all trades”. Just don’t spread yourself too thin. It’s impossible to be an expert at everything.
Personally take on certain tasks or projects that align with your strengths. These will be tasks that you enjoy, excel at and can accomplish efficiently.
Next, identify your weaknesses and the weaknesses of your business or blog. Do what needs to be done to correct them or better yet, turn them into strengths. This could mean hiring a mentor or coach, learning new skills yourself or even delegating and outsourcing certain tasks to professionals.
“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” – Michael Jordan
3. Be unique and stand out from the crowd
When Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984 they had an ugly losing history and were a very unpopular team, barely drawing an attendance of 6000 fans to each home game. This all changed as Jordan’s fierce competitive style along with his incredible jumping ability and hang-time wooed fans and sportswriters throughout the league. The Bulls went on to win 6 NBA championships throughout Jordan’s career.
One thing is for certain; if you’re blogging in a highly competitive niche, then don’t expect to stand out by using the same strategy as everyone else. There are no set guidelines or rules telling you how to become an A-list blogger but you need to think outside the box and do something different that no one else does. This could be as simple as hosting a game or competition or maybe giving away something of incredible value to your visitors. As an A-list blogger you will need to position yourself as a subject matter expert by backing up theories and advice with solid proof and occasional case studies. Be trustworthy, authentic and bold, and don’t be afraid to express personality in your writing.
“If you accept the expectations of others, especially the negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.” – Michael Jordan
Still want the status of A-list blogger? You are in control of your own destiny.
Through intense hard work, determination and the right mindset, there are very few things that can prevent you from getting what you really want. This is true for anything from professional sports to building a successful business to getting the washboard abs you've always wanted. Whatever your goals are in life, “be like Mike” and invest no less than 100% of your mind, body and soul into achieving those goals. Don’t be afraid of failure; expect it to happen because it usually will.
The difference lies in how you overcome the failure. Will you just complain about it and make excuses or will you take initiative and continuously keep trying until you find success?
“ I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
Your turn!
What are your thoughts about the points made in this article? Feel free to share your success stories about how you overcame failure or rejection. What steps are you taking to become an A-list blogger?
image credit: Steve Lipofsky basketballphoto.com via Wikimedia