Soaring Higher.

You’ve heard it a million times. Being out beyond your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Putting yourself in places of uncertainty and challenging your capabilities is where you truly grow. When we confine ourselves to what we already know and feel comfortable with, we limit our potential. It is like walking around in circles on a familiar path. You might feel good about not tripping, but you don’t really get anywhere either.

I recently watched “The Last Dance” on Netflix about Michael Jordan’s journey. After being cut from the varsity basketball team, he became determined to improve and decided to practice every day. He turned his weaknesses into strengths and demonstrated that mastery requires continuous effort and a willingness to learn. By the time he graduated, he was a key player on his high school team, leading them to a state championship and establishing himself as one of the top prospects in the nation.

His drive propelled him to the University of North Carolina, where he quickly became a standout player. He led his team to a championship win in 1982, famously making the game-winning shot. His exceptional talent and relentless work ethic ultimately led to his selection as the third overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, marking the beginning of his professional career and setting the stage for his rise to greatness.

Before Michael joined the team, the Bulls had qualified for the playoffs only twice since 1976 and had hired and fired eight different head coaches, one of which had the job for just one game. Despite the team's struggles, Jordan's presence was immediately felt, as he quickly became the heart of the Bulls’ offense, showcasing his scoring ability and fierce determination to turn the team into a contender.

By the time he clinched his first NBA championship in 1991, Michael Jordan had established himself as the best basketball player in the world. After reaching such an extraordinary peak, one might wonder where someone like him could possibly go from there. Was there really more for him to learn? I don’t know. But he still practiced every day and continued to win five more championships.  

He also earned six Finals MVP honors, five regular-season MVP awards and consistently led the league in scoring, finishing his career with an impressive average of 30.1 points per game. Jordan is a global icon, not just for his athletic achievements but also for his influence on the game of basketball and sports marketing.

Even after becoming the best in the world and maybe the best player ever to live, there was always something more to master, a new level to reach, and further challenges to overcome. Learning doesn’t always require stepping into the unknown. It can happen when you're pushing beyond what's already been achieved, perfecting the details, and proving there are still records to break. So, maybe today’s fortune got it partially right as it says, "If you understand what you're doing, you're not learning anything."