Additional Coverage:
- Michael Jordan, 63, credits one trait for making him great: ‘It keeps me young’ (businessinsider.com)
Michael Jordan says his legendary competitive drive still fuels his success beyond basketball.
In a recent interview with CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, the 63-year-old basketball icon opened up about how his relentless competitiveness continues to shape his life as a NASCAR team owner and beyond.
“I’m a very competitive person,” Jordan explained. “I think I’m cursed.
I’m cursed with this competitive gene that anything that I do is from a competitive lens. In some ways, it keeps me young and aggressively thinking positively.”
Jordan emphasized that his competitive nature influences even the smallest daily routines. For example, he joked about needing to get ready in the bathroom before his wife, Yvette, so he can make it to the golf course on time and manage his busy schedule that includes dropping off their children.
Despite calling it a “curse,” Jordan views this trait as a vital strength. “That’s just the way I am, and I try to use it in the best positive way that I can,” he said.
Reflecting on the origins of his mindset, Jordan said, “I think that my appetite to prove as a kid created this competitive thing within me that has transcended and taken over everything that I do.”
He added that this drive has been key to his success, explaining that some people reach the brink of achievement but struggle to push past it, whereas his competitive edge has helped him overcome those hurdles.
Though he has retired from basketball, Jordan brings the same intensity to NASCAR. When faced with setbacks, he treats them as learning opportunities.
“We learn. Any successful person has had to deal with failure at some point.
We don’t let it get us down,” he noted. “I do not like losing, but I’m not afraid to lose.
I learn from losing.”
Jordan’s competitive spirit places him among other elite athletes who credit a strong mindset for their achievements. Golf champion Rory McIlroy, for example, manages performance anxiety by considering the worst-case scenario, reminding himself that “I’m not going to die on the golf course.” Meanwhile, gymnast Simone Biles has said her fiercest competitor is often herself, driving her to continually surpass her own achievements despite pressure from fans and critics alike.
Michael Jordan’s story is a powerful reminder that the mindset which fuels greatness on the court can also inspire success far beyond it.
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- Michael Jordan, 63, credits one trait for making him great: ‘It keeps me young’ (businessinsider.com)