2024 is a year of competition for me. I was told that it was the year of the Mamba, The Kobe year. I thought because it was Kobe year that this year would be full of success, wins and the best year of my life, but that absolutely did not happen. 2024 was fucked up to say the least! For me it was the year of completion, 99% of the things that completed in my life were things I didn’t know were completing. I didn’t understand why they were completing and for the most part, they were things that I didn’t want to complete. I had to really sit with this and process what the Kobe year really meant. What is the Mamba Mentality? Who was Kobe Bryant, what did he truly represent? Most people look at the championships, the wins, the banners in the stadium, that’s how they identify success. When I look at my 2024 there are no banners, no championships, other than my kids and I being healthy, what other wins did I have? Where are my championships? I had to really dive deep into that question. What I realized is that the year of Kobe for me was about overcoming, picking myself up, starting over and fighting through pain, fear, and the unknown. I see how Kobe became a champ. I see what made him confident. I see how he overcame the darkest moments in his life. Confidence doesn’t come from success! Confidence comes from surviving failure! When we survive failure, that shit builds us, it molds us into a force that can literally move anything if we learn from it. That is what the Kobe year is for me. It’s the Mamba Mentality! How are you going to come back from the shit that tried to take you out? How are you going to maneuver through all that 2024 put in your path? Yes, 2024 was full of some good moments for me, but good moments are for an ordinary life. When you want an extraordinary life, good moments aren't enough to move the needle. Being a 5 time champion is what most people will remember Kobe for. Me? I will remember him for the mental and emotional barriers he had to break through to become a 5 time champion, an MVP and a leader. I will remember him for fighting the battles that we didn’t see. The focus and determination it took to get up everyday and be great no matter what he was facing.

Looking forward to mastering the game of life with you all!