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If you watch the NBA, keep a close eye on Nikola Jokić. We’ve never seen a 6’11” player impact the game like this—passing, shooting, running the break like a guard. Watch how he changes everything. Generational talent. Pure joy to watch!

I witnessed Kobe Bryant’s work ethic firsthand → and it changed how I think about greatness forever.

Most people want to win.
Kobe? He wanted to work.
That’s the difference.

Back in 2007, I had just finished coaching the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I was invited to attend the USA Basketball practices in Las Vegas.

I saw Kobe’s superhuman work ethic in action and it was something I’ll never forget.

Around 3:30AM, he called the trainer.

He wanted to get some shots up before the team workout.

They trained.
Lifted.
Did cardio.
Hours passed.

Later that morning, the rest of Team USA showed up for practice.

The trainer walked in and Kobe was still there.

Soaked in sweat. Still shooting.

“Just wanted to make 800,” he said.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭.

Not the kind that shows up on highlight reels.

The kind that shows up in the dark... when no one’s watching.

As a coach, I’ve seen a lot of talent walk through the gym.

But the ones who rise?

They’re built different.
They fall in love with the work.
They show up early. Stay late.

They grind when no one’s clapping, because it’s who they are.

Grit isn’t a buzzword.

It’s a choice you make when the lights are off and the crowd’s gone home.

𝐒𝐨 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬:

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲’𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠… 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧?

#Grit #MambaMentality #KobeBryant #Leadership #GID #GritIntegrityDesire #CoachingLife #BasketballMindset #HighPerformance #MarkGottfried

Adversity doesn’t build character. It reveals it.

When everything’s going your way, it’s easy to look like a leader.

But when the wheels fall off? That’s when the truth shows up.

What showed up for me was 𝐆𝐈𝐃:

→ 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐭 to keep pushing when we were counted out.

→ 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 to make the right call—not the easy one.

→ 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 to stay locked in, even when no one believed in us.

I’ll never forget the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

NC State barely made the cut. We were on the bubble.

Critics doubted us. Some fans did too.
But that team had heart and hunger.

We leaned into the work. Trusted the process.

And we made it to the Sweet Sixteen.

Not because we were the most talented.
Because we refused to fold.

And it’s not just personal experience → research backs this up:

🧠 A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬, especially when dealing with uncertainty and rapid change.

𝐆𝐈𝐃 isn’t just a mindset. It’s a lifeline.
Especially when things get hard.

𝐒𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟:

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

#GetItDone #GID #Leadership #CoachingMatters #Mentorship #PersonalGrowth #CollegeBasketball #MotivationalLeadership #LessonsThatLast #BeyondTheGame

Had an incredible time at the sold-out opening stadium game with @rhodeislandfc! Proud to be part of this team and excited for what’s ahead! ⚽️ #RIFC

I’m incredibly thankful and excited to be part of @rhodeislandfc! The grand opening of the new stadium was unforgettable. Looking forward to the first-ever match in this amazing stadium tomorrow! ⚽️

New episode’s out! I sat down with the incredible Angela Gargano—former college gymnast, American Ninja Warrior, fitness coach, and keynote speaker. She shared how she accidentally found herself on the Ninja Warrior stage, and how a devastating ACL injury turned into a powerful journey of resilience and identity. We talked about mindset shifts, overcoming adversity, and her “What If It All Goes Right?” framework that’s helped so many find strength through struggle. This one’s packed with purpose—don’t miss it!

Podcast available now on Youtube, Spotify, Apple, and Google. Full episode and more available at www.coachmarkgottfried.com
Link in bio! 🎙️🙌🏼

#CoachGottfriedShow #AngelaGargano #Resilience #MindsetMatters #WhatIfItAllGoesRight #americanninjawarrior

Loved watching the Dodgers win today! 👏🏼⚾️

Sick. Dehydrated. Exhausted.
And still → 38 points in the NBA Finals.

Game 5. 1997.
Michael Jordan could barely stand.

He had the flu (or food poisoning—depending on who you ask).

But he laced up anyway.

And delivered one of the most iconic performances in sports history.

Why?

𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎.

And when you’re built different → you show up different.

That’s what integrity looks like.

It’s not about doing the right thing when it’s easy.

It’s about doing it when every part of you says, “Sit this one out.”

I’ve coached a lot of great players.

And the ones who stand out the most?
They’re not just talented.

They’re dependable.
Accountable.
Steady.

They understand this:

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐲𝐦.
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲? 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭.

Jordan didn’t have to play that night.
But he did.

Because greatness doesn’t wait for perfect conditions.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮:

What does “showing up” look like in your world… when no one would blame you for not?

That’s where real leadership lives.

#Integrity #Leadership #MichaelJordan #GID #GritIntegrityDesire #HighPerformance #TeamFirst #BasketballLessons #CoachingMindset

Life will knock you down—count on it. The real question is: what do you do when it happens? Can you get back up? Can you find the light again?
Leigh often reflects on the blessing of being born in a free country, with opportunity others fought for—something he never takes for granted. At a certain point, talk fades, and action matters. If all goes well, next month marks 15 years of continuous sobriety. No announcements needed—just let the work speak.

Don’t miss this incredible episode with @leighsteinberg out now! Link in bio. Podcast available now on Youtube, Spotify, Apple, and Google. Full episode and more available at www.coachmarkgottfried.com

We missed 17 straight shots. Down 10. And for the first time all season… my team looked broken.

March 2004.

We were facing Stanford, the #1 team in the country.

They were 30–1.

We came in 17–12. Underdogs. Overlooked.

At halftime, we were down just three and confident.

But the second half hit hard.

Brick after brick.
The scoreboard wasn’t moving.

And when they came to the bench, I saw something I hadn’t seen all year:

Heads down.
Shoulders slumped.
Hope fading.

That’s when I said it:

“This is a Get It Done Moment."

“You’ll have a lot of these in life.
When nothing’s going your way.
When momentum’s gone.
This is where you find out who you are.”

We talked about being unselfish.

Executing.
Fighting together.
And figuring out how to get it done.

As they left the huddle, I heard it.

“Get it done. Get it done.”

Over and over. Like a rally cry.

And they did.
We fought back.
We played for each other.

And we beat Stanford—the #1 team in the country.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐈𝐃 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭.

Not just basketball.
Life.

When things fall apart → lean into grit.
Lead with integrity.
Fuel it with desire.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞.

Where in your life do you need that mindset right now?

#GID #GitItDone #GritIntegrityDesire #MarchMadness #Leadership #BasketballMindset #Adversity #MarkGottfried #CoachingLife

LET’S CONNECT!

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