[Invitation] Learn Life Lessons From the Philly Playground

When the Chicago Bulls three-peated as NBA champions in 1996, 1997, and 1998, Michael Jordan was the star — the guy who scored more points, the one who sank the last second shots.

The unsung hero was Dennis Rodman — the guy who grabbed the rebounds.

When his teammates missed a shot, Rodman grabbed the rebound so Jordan and company could try again to score.

When his opponents missed a shot, Rodman grabbed the rebound so the Bulls could transform from defense to offense and score again.

You don’t see those rebounds on the highlight reel, but they’re the difference between winning and losing.

Legendary coach Pat Riley said it best: “No rebounds… no rings.”

“Shots are missed… prepare to rebound.”

So says Barry Kleiman in his book The Playground Principles.

Kleiman grew up in Philadelphia where he learned about basketball and life on the city’s playgrounds.

He later became a coach — basketball and business — and discovered: the “universal lessons learned on the court are also essential for success and fulfillment in every aspect of life.”

He shares those lessons in The Playground Principles.

In Chapter 7, he writes: “Whether on the court or in life, the ethos, resolve, and ability to position yourself for recovery before a shot is even taken — to recognize failure as an opportunity, to hunger for that second chance — are fundamental lessons in meritocracy.”

Amen, Coach Kleiman.

Kleiman is not talking just about “missed shots.”

He’s talking also about how we “rebound” from setbacks, losses, and challenges.

When future Hall of Famer Steph Curry was just starting in the NBA, ankle injuries nearly derailed his career.

Kleiman reveals what happened next:

“Curry didn’t simply rehabilitate, he completely restructured his approach to movement. He transformed his body mechanics, strengthened his lower body foundations, and refined his already remarkable shooting technique.”

Then Curry led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships in eight years.

“Prepare to rebound,” indeed!

Meet the “74-year-old kid from a Philly playground”

Tomorrow (Thursday, September 25 at 2:30 ET), Barry Kleiman will be our special guest as we discuss The Playground Principles at The Mastermind Book Club.

You’re invited to join us.

Every month, Ted Prodromou and I choose a great business book to read and discuss.

Club Members meet (usually on the fourth Thursday of the month) to discuss the book and how they might apply its lessons to their businesses and lives.

You don’t have to read the book to join the discussion. But you have to join the Club. No charge to join. You can do that here (and then you’ll get meeting notices with the Zoom link).