Back to the Basics Part II: Learning for the Win
“It’s about learning… to win, you have to learn. And learning takes
precedence over winning.”
— Kobe Bryant
Last month, I shared a Kobe Bryant interview video with my Grounds and
Landscape team. The 11-minute clip was packed with practical lessons for
leaders who want their teams to perform at the highest level.
Kobe was curious — could he ever be as great as Magic, Jordan, or Bird?
Learning became his secret weapon. He studied basketball in every detail
— how to move quicker, play faster, and even how to grip the ball with
more strength. He talked with the greats to gain insights from them.
When asked how long he engaged in learning, his answer was simple:
“Every day.”
The same truth applies to us as leaders:
Am I curious about being one of the best in the Grounds and Landscape
industry?
It’s not about intelligence — it’s about curiosity, drive, and persistence.
To encourage this mindset, I began hosting small leader-to-leader sessions
with my team — all 105 of them. Kobe created a place in his mind called
“Goat Mountain”, where the Greatest of All Time lived. He was curious if
he could be on “Goat Mountain.” I think he was.
After we watched the video, someone mentioned “Goat Mountain,” and it
sparked a great conversation about what it means to be the best — and
what that looks like in landscaping of a college campus.
The truth is, when we’re learning, we share those insights with our team.
When we’re not learning, we tend to share our frustrations.
Which would you rather hear?
Many of us enjoy biographies because we get to learn from the greats —
and that’s the same opportunity we have every day at work.
Keep learning, keep curious, and keep sharing those insights.
— Jeff
