THE MAMBA WAY
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The Inspiration
As strange as it may sound, Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant have played a major role in my coding journey. They're two men that I'm sure no one associates with tech in general, yet alone coding. However, they've both been the reasons I've gotten this far.
Since I can remember, I've had an interest in computers. As I grew older I became interested in all things tech but never knew the pathway that would lead me there. Over time I would play with different computer programs, constantly change and update my MySpace profile, and that was about the extent of it...until 2019.
In 2019 the world lost Nipsey Hussle. I'd heard of him before but prior to his death I had only taken notice of him because of some recent articles regarding his investments. The day he passed I learned of his investments in his community. One of his biggest contributions to that community was tech resources. I devoured interviews and articles of all things Nipsey and I was amazed at his entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and his involvement in tech that included (but wasn't limited to) The Marathon Clothing Store and Vector90 co-working space. I was inspired from that moment on and followed every single bread crumb I could find to lead me here.
Fast forward to 2020.
The world lost NBA legend, Kobe Bryant. Soon after the world shut down and was never the same. It gave people time to reflect and question themselves. The question I kept coming back to is, "What do I want? What if I couldn't fail?" I decided to sign up for my first coding course. I soon realized that it takes more than signing up to accomplish a goal. It takes a certain mentality. A Mamba Mentality.
Just as I did with Nipsey, I found Kobe interviews and articles EVERYWHERE. Literally, everywhere. In those articles and interviews I found gems. Gems that I needed to keep going. When I was tired, bored, over it, frustrated, etc., that mentality pushed me forward. There'd always be a video that would be exactly what I needed to not give up.
It wasn't long before I realized that both Nipsey and Kobe were giving me what I needed along this journey. I needed to know that The Marathon Continues. It doesn't matter how long it takes, just run your race. Pace yourself. Keep your eye on the prize and keep moving. I also needed to know that it's imporant to rest at the end, not the middle. Go after what you want and most importantly, NO EXCUSES. Do the work. Give it your all. Go after what's yours.
These two men have given me what I need to push through. To dream bigger than ever and to believe in myself. Not only myself but also to believe in things that are bigger than me. DEDICATION, HARD WORK, plus PATIENCE. There's no easy way. I just have to remember that TMC THE MAMBA WAY.
Click on the images below for motivational clips.
KOBE
"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do."
- Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant (/ˈkoʊbiː/ KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020)
Kobe was an American professional
basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in
the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of
all time. Bryant won five NBA championships, was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of
the All-NBA Team, a 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP),
and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Bryant also led the NBA in scoring twice, and ranks fourth in league
all-time regular season and postseason scoring. He was posthumously voted into the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. (Wikipedia)
"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."
- Kobe Bryant
NIP
“Instead of trying to build a brick wall, lay a brick everyday. Eventually you'll look up and you'll have a brick wall.”
- Nipsey Hussle
Ermias Joseph Asghedom (August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019)
He was known professionally as Nipsey Hussle
(often stylized as Nipsey Hu$$le), was an American rapper. Emerging from the West Coast hip hop scene in
the mid-2000s, Hussle independently released his first mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, to moderate local
success, which led to him being signed to Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records. (Wikipedia)
“Most important thing is to get rid of doubt. If you got doubt in what you’re doing it’s not gonna work."
- Nipsey Hussle