Micheal Burt is this big shot former women’s basketball coach. Apparently, he’s pretty amazing and has done all kinds of things like writing fancy-schmancy books, giving speeches that’ll make your brain feel like it just won the lottery, putting together these unforgettable events, and peddling more coaching programs than I can count.
Did I mention the man’s selfie game is stronger than Flex Tape? ‘Cause it is. Have a look at his Instagram. It’s like a reality show about a guy who just can’t get enough of himself.
Anyways, here’s how he reached a freakish level of success. In a word, fear.
When the pandemic was about to ruin everything, he didn’t just roll over and give up. No, no, no. He looked that virus right in the eye and told his wife, “I ain’t goin’ out like this. I ain’t workin’ 30 years to get to this level just to lose it all. And I’m gonna find another gear.”
Micheal saw Covid as a competitor, keeping him from getting where he’s trying to go. That’s what activated his “prey drive,” as he calls it.
Unfortunately, he never really finishes the story. My man’s mind is like a toddler in a toy store, bouncing from one shiny object to the next.
Now he’s on a tangent about comparing yourself to others. “See, a lot of people tell ya don’t compare yourself to other people,” he says. “Is that what ya hear? Yes or no? ‘Cause comparison creates unhappiness. But here’s what I would tell you: Find the best people in the world and compare yourself to them. Live in the gain not in the gap. But you need some competition. You need to look up, don’t look down. Compare yourself to the people above you.”
Damn. Coach Micheal bringing all these nuggets of wisdom. Here I am – no dipping sauce.
“You know why I’m building the Greatness Factory in downtown Nashville?” he meanders.
“‘Cause the energy in downtown Nashville. It activates my prey drive. It makes me think bigger. Right? I wanna be right down in the middle of all that action. I wanna hear the music playin’ ’cause that is exposure. Okay? And exposure is, ‘Man, I’ve seen something.’ And once you’ve seen something, you can’t unsee it,” he says.
So check it, back in the day when Micheal was just starting out, they paid him peanuts: $250 a day plus a measly $40 for meals. Like, come on, how are you supposed to eat anything decent with that kind of chump change? (Unless you’re a connoisseur of Taco Bell cuisine, in which case, carry on.)
And don’t even get him started on the dump hotels he had to stay in. Clarions, Howard Johnsons. Ugh. Like, is that a stain on the comforter or just a weird pattern in the fabric? (Deep down, you know the truth.)
Now Micheal’s preaching about those of you who work from home. You’re wearing your slouchy pants that say, “I give up, but fashionably.” No structure, no schedule, wondering why your business is stuck in neutral with no forward motion.
Sound about right?
That’s ’cause you lack environment, you lack exposure, Micheal suggests.
“We all start with good intentions. We wanna do better. You need a relationship with a coach – that’ll push you, challenge you, create tension in your life, encourage you,” he says.
No idea where this is going but I doubt Micheal does either.
“See, we start with good intention. And then we fall off the wagon. Then we experience guilt. ‘Dang, I’m not at my best.'”
“I talk about ‘because goals.’ That’s when you do something even when you don’t feel like it. Here’s one of mine: because I wanna be the best. And so, that’s how I crank the engine every day.”
Bro, I have no idea what I just listened to. I feel like I need to rinse my ears out after that garbage.
Who would pay this guy for coaching?