How Great I Am: New Fight, New Mindset.
“Bad!
Been choppin’ trees
I done something new for this fight…
I’ve wrassled with an alligator…that’s right!
I done wrassled with an alligator
I done tussled with a whale
I done handcuffed lightnin’, throwed thunder in jail
That’s bad…
Only last week I murdered a rock,
Injured a stone,
Hospitalized a brick.
I’m so mean I make medicine sick!
Bad!
Fast…Fast!
Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom,
Hit the switch, was in the bed before the
room was dark!
Fast!
And you, George Foreman-
All of you chumps are gonna bow, when I
Whoop him.
All of ya!
I know you got him, I know you got him
Picked…but the man’s in trouble.
I’mma show YOU how GREAT I AM!
-Muhammad Ali
The Rumble in the Jungle.
On October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire the undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman would take on the challenger, Muhammad Ali (then known as the former heavyweight champion). The numbers and predictions were in favor of George Foreman, a man of great power and strength.
Last night, the poetic words from Muhammad Ali came to mind. I heard them before, surely, but this time I realized something new. I realized that Muhammad Ali was scared. He too knew that this fight would be unlike any other. He would have to deploy different tactics in order to come out victorious. Even more—and this was the “aha” moment for me—Muhammad Ali was NOT talking to George Foreman; he was speaking (or yelling really) to himself. He was encouraging himself.
Rope-a-dope
There was no way for Muhammad to avoid the power that George Foreman would bring to the fight. The man was indestructible. So, in an effort to come out victorious, what does Muhammad decide to do? He employs a tactic known as rope-a-dope, in which his goal was to completely exhaust George Foreman. He knew George Foreman did not have endurance or cardio on his side. A great concept, only, in order to win, Muhummad had to experience pain and discomfort. Strategically, Muhummad would have to receive blow after blow from George Foreman. With an audience of 1 billion viewers worldwide, it was a hard right coming from Muhummad Ali during the 8th round that finally took George Foreman down.
Organized-Chaos.
There are many ways to describe what we, as a world, are experiencing right now. Of course, pandemic is being used. Interesting times is another. This is crazy shit, was another one I heard. Personally, I am using the words organized-chaos. I have learned that when it feels like life is throwing you in a fight with the world’s heavyweight champion, you have two options:
The first option is to submit, surrender to fear and be beaten. This also looks like complaining, calling and retelling the same miserable story to other miserable individuals. It looks like finding ways to prove to yourself that things aren’t going to work out. I must say, the first option is much easier.
The second option, is to allow your greatness to be revealed out of the process. The second option involves being honest about your feelings (if you’re scared, admit that you’re scared), but then, you move forward. When you reach for the second option, you see that in order for you to move to that “next level” (whatever that is for you), that you’re gonna have to get a little dirty and uncomfortable. The second option views any chaos or challenge, as organized…as needed and necessary to take you to the next level.
Muhammad Ali knew what he wanted (to come out on the other side as the world’s heavyweight champion) and at the same time, he was also realistic. He didn’t deny George Foreman’s power and strength. He knew this fight would require a different kind of approach and perspective, unlike anything he’d experienced or done before. If he were to win, he couldn’t bring an old mindset to a new fight. In the end, he suffered some for sure, but he came out on the other side as a Champion again. In the end, his GREATNESS was revealed out respect to the process.
What tactics will you employ to get through this season of life? Will you just complain and drag your feet OR will you be proactive and develop a champion mindset towards life?
Remember, it’s always up to you.