“These young guys are playing checkers. I’m out there playing chess.” Kobe Bryant was one of the most differentiating people in professional basketball. One cannot deny Bryant’s success at the highest level of basketball event if you didn’t like the guy. In addition to his NBA MVP award and five NBA championships, Bryant helped lead Team USA to two gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Here are five of the legendary superstar’s best quotes, which every black entrepreneur needs to know because it gives an into his mindset, help you share some of his Mamba Mentality and you can apply it to your business ventures.

Work Ethic

“I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.” 

Negativity

“Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.”

Teamwork

“The important thing is that your teammates have to know you’re pulling for them and you really want them to be successful.” 

Failure

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.”

Resilience

“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

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