Let Discipline Be Your Destiny

A note to young leaders.

Let this be your mantra for 2025: “Discipline is destiny.”

Five years ago this week, Kobe Bryant, the former NBA superstar, died tragically in a helicopter accident. Kobe will be long remembered for his legendary work ethic and self-discipline.

Former Lakers head coach Byron Scott said he once found an 18-year-old Bryant shooting in a dark gym two hours before practice:

“I heard the ball bouncing. No lights were on. Practice was at about 11, it was probably about 9, 9:30. And I go out to the court and I look, and there’s Kobe Bryant. He’s out there shooting in the dark. And I stood there for probably about ten seconds, and I said, ‘This kid is gonna be great.'”

During the 1999-2000 season, Kobe broke his wrist. Former Lakers teammate John Celestand was excited, because he thought with Kobe injured and living over 30 minutes away from the practice facility, he could finally beat Kobe to the gym. Instead, when he got in the next morning, “Kobe was already in a full sweat with a cast on his right arm, dribbling and shooting with his left.”

Kobe Bryant never let anyone out-work or out-hustle him. Neither should you.