Michael Jordan Success Story

The Michael Jordan success story

Childhood

Born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Jordan is one of the prime examples of hard work and ambition that beats natural talent.

After a brief childhood in New York City, Jordan's family moved to North Carolina at a young age, and the future superstar spent his early years playing soccer and basketball and grew up in both sports.

One of the changes in Michael Jordan's life came during his sophomore year of high school. Ambitious and greatly admired some of his basketball heroes, Jordan tried his school team. At five feet eleven inches - quite a respectable size for a young teenager - he wasn't tall enough to make it onto the team, and his coach had made it clear to him that he was incapable of representing the team.

That rejection sparked a fire in Michael Jordan, as it did with so many other athletes. Instead of joining the varsity team, he decided to play in the varsity junior section of the school believing he could prove his worth and eventually move up to the top ranked team. He certainly did - in his first year in the varsity division, Jordan averaged twenty points per game.

His coaches noticed him and transferred him to a higher-ranking team, in which Jordan also celebrated great successes. Without his initial disapproval - the idea that he's not good enough to be a star player - Jordan likely would never have applied. Even Jordan himself wants to think about that failure and how it helped him become the successful athlete he made.

After high school, Jordan went to college on a basketball scholarship and became one of the college's most respected and recognized basketball stars. He stayed near his average throughout high school, averaging seventeen points per game throughout his college career.

Karera

During his professional career in the late 1980s, Jordan became one of basketball's greatest stars. He was a leading force for the Chicago Bulls, propelling them to victory by battling a variety of opponents, including losing five games to the Detroit Pistons. During this part of his career, Jordan's average score reached a staggering 33 points per game.

"Some people want it to happen, some want it to happen, others do it." - Michael Jeffrey Jordan

Of course, every great athletic career has its ups and downs and Michael Jordan is no different from many others. At the height of his career, Jordan was accused of having a major gambling problem when newspapers photographed him spending money in Atlantic City and rumors circulating in the press. He quickly retired from basketball and decided to focus on his less successful baseball career.

In 1997, Jordan had had enough of baseball and decided to announce his return to the NBA in one of the world's shortest press releases. Consists of two words - "I'm back." -The press release shocked the NBA immensely and resulted in one of the top rated games on television. Jordan's career continued to flourish and he received the MVP award on his return.

If Michael Jordan's career shows anything, it's the amount of hard work and endless determination. He's neither the most genetically gifted athlete in the NBA, nor the most talented. It's not an endless success either - Jordan will be the first to tell you that he's failed multiple times. What he is is an individual who does not give up his goals and takes the necessary steps to achieve them.

Awards

Best NBA ESPY Player

1998

NBA MVP, NBA All-Defensive Team