“Mamba Mentality is a constant quest to find answers. It's that infinite curiosity to want to be better, to want to figure things out,” Kobe Bryant on the philosophy behind the "Mamba Mentality."

This way of life is a mindset that is simplistic yet its values/personal benefits exceed the amount of work you put in. To live without fears such as intimidation, in order to reach a mental state of pure confidence. It calls for complete mental focus, devotion to your specific craft, and willingness to live with the opportunity costs of following this mindset.

He dedicated himself to eliminating distractions, letting himself fall in love with his craft (enabling him to work effortlessly). Repetition was key to his success but his mindset set his skills in stone. Kobe’s job was to shoot and score, which he was ridiculed constantly for what people believed to be too much shooting.

He responded in 2015 by saying, “Too much is a matter of perspective. Some people thought Mozart had too many notes in his compositions.Let me put it this way: I entertain people who say I shoot too much. I find it very interesting. Going back to Mozart, he responded to critics by saying there were neither too many notes or too few. There were as many as necessary.”

To better himself, Kobe reshaped his perception of the life he lived and chose not t worry about what others may think. At the end of the day, you are the only one who can pick yourself back up. You are the only one who will push towards goals, you don’t need motivation. I’ve learned from Kobe’s Mamba Mentality to never worry about disappointing others.

That even when you sport the same jersey, people desire different things due their personal perspective. Through this Mamba Mentality, I was able to understand individualism in the way that being misunderstood is the downside of individuality.

That nobody will understand my thoughts, my fears, my pains. That nobody can and nobody will walk over me, for I will always dish out respect to those I cross paths with.