Embrace 'The Miss' - how Michael Jordan became the GOAT

Aug 5 / Haedon Smith
We all know the highlights, the championships, the dunks, and the undeniable success of Michael Jordan.

But what if his strategy wasn't about the wins, but about the misses?

"I've missed more than 9,000 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.

I absolutely love this quote. And there is something in it for everyone. Perhaps even the foundation of a successful business strategy?


Fail Fast

Jordan's 9,000+ missed shots are the ultimate example of "failing fast." He didn't spend a lifetime perfecting one shot in a vacuum. He took thousands of attempts, learned from each one, and refined his technique in real-time. In business, this could translate to rapid prototyping, testing and learning. For example, instead of spending years building a perfect product, launch a minimum viable product (MVP), test, gather customer feedback, learn and iterate quickly. 

The Growth Mindset

A fixed mindset sees failure as a personal flaw. A growth mindset, as Carol Dweck describes, sees it as a learning opportunity (google her Ted talk). Jordan's ability to keep taking the game-winning shot after missing 26 times shows an unwavering belief in his ability to improve.

This is a crucial leadership trait for business. You can start today by creating a culture where employees aren't afraid to take risks and make mistakes. The world has many wicked problems and challenges that require creative and innovative solutions. Empower your team to test (and fail), don’t stifle them.

Foster a mindset of "we're not there yet." Acknowledge that the business, like an athlete, can always get better through effort and persistent action.

The Resilience to Pivot

The 300 lost games and 26 missed shots weren't career-ending events for MJ. They were moments that forced Jordan to adapt his strategy, to train harder, and to find new ways to win.

When the need arises, be ready to pivot your business model, strategy, or product when the market demands it. Don't be afraid to change course if the data shows your initial approach isn't working.

Build resilience into your work and life. Every business faces downturns, lost deals, or failed projects. True success comes not from avoiding these moments, but from how you respond to them. Analyse what went wrong, make a plan, and come back stronger.

In the End

Success isn't about avoiding failure. It's about collecting enough failures to learn the lessons you need to succeed. Michael Jordan's misses are as much a part of his legacy as his championships, and they offer a powerful blueprint for building a resilient, innovative, and successful business.

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