{"id":16347,"date":"2024-02-09T10:50:30","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=16347"},"modified":"2024-02-09T10:50:30","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T15:50:30","slug":"nba-legend-magic-johnson-shares-the-path-to-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2024\/02\/nba-legend-magic-johnson-shares-the-path-to-success.html","title":{"rendered":"NBA Legend Magic Johnson Shares the Path to Success"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"magic<\/a>
Kathy Hutchins\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the Los Angeles Lakers set off for Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Earvin “Magic” Johnson asked the flight attendant if he could sit in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s seat. The rookie point guard knew the team was doubtful about their chances of beating the 76ers with team captain Abdul-Jabbar, who was out with an injury.<\/p>\n

However, Johnson set off to change their outlook. He sat in the very first seat on the plane, where Abdul-Jabbar always sat, and as every other Lakers player walked past him on their way to their seat, he repeated, “Never fear, Magic is here.” It was intentional, and he proved it. In Game 6, Johnson scored 42 points, including hitting all 14 of his free throws. Johnson also had 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and one blocked shot. Johnson said during a talk at NRF 2024: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, “It’s about mindset and attitude. The next day, we beat Philadelphia without Kareem.”<\/p>\n

It was that undeterred attitude that defined him as a leader on the basketball court, as he became the only player in NBA history to be named MVP during the NBA finals as a rookie. It’s the same mindset and attitude he seeks out when recruiting people to join his investment company, Magic Johnson Enterprises.\u00a0He said while speaking with Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner, “I only hire people like that. The same type of mindset, the same type of dedication, the same type of discipline, the same type of focus. That’s what I want. I want people running with me that have that same mindset.”<\/p>\n

With Magic Johnson Enterprises, the former NBA player formed partnerships with companies like Starbucks and Sony Pictures, underpinning his role as an entrepreneur. Both ventures “served as catalysts for redevelopment in urban communities and are widely recognized as the corporate blueprint for engagement and success with urban consumers across America,” according to the company’s website.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Earvin “Magic” Johnson (@magicjohnson)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n