Chapter 1:

KOBE A=P(1 + r/n)^nt

Rise and shine! It was June of 1996, a West Coast Wednesdays on the 26th and far away from the glitz of the Hollywood stars, no smog, it was like momma cooked the breakfast with no hog… life was kicking off like a ICE CUBE song - “It was a good day”. And it was…Just south of Compton and in the Cal State Dominguez Hills basketball gym, the echo of the ball bounced, sneaker squeaks and nets snapped - me and Kobe were locked in on one of his Mamba workouts.

It had only been a few hours since Mr. Logo, the Legendary Mr. Jerry West the General Manager of the Los Angeles Lakers announced the historic move that took the NBA by surprise and decided to invest in a talented 17 year old kid with a dream, a golden smile and a chip on his shoulder to re-create the magical history the Lakers hold up as an organization.  

After a brief Press-Conference it’s no surprise where Kobe would be investing his time….the gym. The reality was nothing glamours, just me and Kobe in the gym dripping in sweat from a grinding workout. No celebration. Just Mamba Cost Averaging in full flex. I’ll never forget the level of focus and tenacity Kobe was on. Each drill was repeated over and over, the same move, the same game time focus and intensity, hunger and drive working every min. as if he was at the bottom of the league and had 399 NBA players to go through to get to that no.1 spot held by the GOAT. Like a Ninja in the night Kobe moved different from Day 1. Most teenagers these days if they were Drafted into the NBA and just traded to the Lakers would be out celebrating and basking in the false sunshine that they have “arrived”, not Kobe. Kobe was different. He left the Press conference and hit the gym for one of his many workouts. Embarking on his goal to become the greatest to ever play the game, Kobe was all gas and no brake from the day he entered the league to the day he left.

Outside the buzz and skepticism of a teenager drafted into the NBA by the Charlotte Hornets 13th overall pick there was much to prove. Yes, the compound interest in everything Kobe invested in as a teenager was showing it’s exponential gains but it’s hard to not wonder that after just fifteen days after being drafted the teenage experiment for Charlotte was over. Being one of the youngest to ever be drafted into the NBA they gave up on Kobe in an exchange with Lakers Center - Vlade Divac. Disregarded in just 15 days after being picked up can mess with anyone's mind and for Kobe it didn’t just put an added chip on his shoulders - the phycological affect for Kobe was a mix of excitement and killer instinct to prove who he was. Hungry. Driven. Focused. Relentless. Each drill was done over and over and over until it was perfected. There was a moment between drills me and Kobe talked about the trade and in only so many words the mental note was of excitement and also a message he sent with his eyes that said something like: “Dear: Charlotte Hornets...you done f*!%^%up! Thank you for NOT believing in me. Love Kobe!” 

Understandable, at the time, it was extremely rare to have any High School student-athlete make the jump and become a professional NBA player. The lack of experience, skill and physical strength at that age was a gamble for any organization. The idea that a 17 years-old kid could possibly be physically and emotional ready to play at the highest professional level and compete against some of the best grown adults in the NBA just didn’t seem like it could be a reality, but here just after one of the biggest trades in NBA history, Kobe was working out with me in the gym on just one of many daily workouts.. Wasting no time to prove that he didn’t just belong in the league, Kobe from day one moved with purpose to not only make the starting line up on the Lakers squad but put his stamp on the league and become one of the greatest to ever to play the game. The Original Mission. Like a CEO suited up for a big board meeting, Kobe was rocking his own suit, a fresh classic T-shirt with the NBA logo on the chest. Kobe had his glowing smile that echoed, “LFG!”.

Kobe from an early age understood what compound interest was and the power of dollar cost averaging, and as a person who took the concept and invested into his own life and into quantifiable action, it only elevated his game and the probability of what his return on the game of basketball would be.

To become the man, the myth and a the legend Kobe without hesitation understood he needed to invest in his craft and be consistent to the process, and put in the work to make this hoop dream to be the best become a reality.  

KIDS DREAM……

I share this Kobe story because it wasn’t just a special moment for him and his career, but a moment that says everything about who he was from day 1. I knew he was special, all NBA players are but there is something different about having talent and having extreme relentless type focus and mental clarity on what you “will” into existence vs. leave for chance. Big difference for those who have the gift and those who put it to work and maximize it to the fullest.

Quick intro about me, FPG — like Kobe, I grew up on-the-go and basketball was not only a game, but therapy to a life that was filled with constant geographical changes, new faces and unfamiliar surroundings. By the time I reached 6the grade, I had been in 8 different schools, 8 new surroundings, always starting over and over as “the new kid” with zero friends minus my little brother. By High School, I had been to 11 different schools. College was my 12th new school.  

What made basketball one of the most important things in my life was that it was always consistent and it was always honest, even if it was brutally honest. It always made me feel at home no matter where that court was. The court was home and as soon as I stepped foot on it, you’d understand. I was relaxed and walked around the court like I had been there before knowing where all the cookie drawers were. My language was relaxed. People who played on my team for just a game felt they had known me forever the way I spoke with them. It gave me a opportunity and invitation to meet new friends no matter where I was in the world. It also gave me the opportunity to stay out of trouble and challenge myself. Grow. Dream. Basketball was a magical key that could possibly unlock some doors that nobody in my family had yet to open such as college and or more. The ball was always the same size. The height of the rim was always 10 ft. The ages of the players and the languages they spoke would vary, but my hunger and dying passion to become better each day never stopped and it gave me a place I could ultimately feel at home. A place I could learn from making mistakes. Developing confidence by working on my skills through thousands of hours of hard work. Learning how to fall down at times but never give up.  Learning how to control my attitude and what I could not control. Saying goodbye to my friends and moving to a new school and new city was not easy, and not something I could control. I did learn that I could control my effort. My attitude. My choice in choosing to pursue excellence. When I was in High School an opposing coach sent my name to a couple brothers who ran an elite basketball camp for young talented players in the USA. It was held at Cal State Dominquez Hills. A skip just outside of Los Angeles. It was put on by the Pump brothers. Every major college coach and scout was there. The teams were put together randomly. Tayshaun Prince and Casey Jacobson were on my team. It was our first time playing together. I ran the Point. Casey played small forward / shooting guard. Tayshaun played like a Swiss Army knife and could play all 5 positions. Tossing him a few lobs in transition was always a good memory.

The reason I loved playing the point was because one of my favorite PG’s was Tim Hardaway, John Stockton, Rod Strickland, Jason Kidd and of course Magic. All of these PG’s could score but what set them apart was that they loved to ASSIST, and they were dangerous in doing so. I was obsessed with how they protected the ball, and how a excellent PG made anyone on the court playing with them a better player. They controlled the tempo, understood their teammates strengths and weaknesses. They understood how to lead and execute. When adversity hit and there was still time on the clock, they dug down deep in the trenches and would lead their team in the most amazing way. Some of the other young campers were there was Gilbert Arenas from Arizona All-Stars, Richard Jefferson, Carlos Boozer from Alaska and a bunch of other players that played at a higher level. It’s no surprise Gilbert and I were breaking the rules when it was “curfew”. Man, some funny stories running around the campus like we were on some covert mission. Gilbert just as funny then as he is today. Bro was rocking a White Tommy Hilfiger windbreaker that had ketchup stains he snatched from under the bleachers. Almost gave us away running around that night. Oh man, some good memories for sure. Most of the players at the camp never made it into the NBA but had more talent that anyone knew what to do with. All day we worked on specific skills and later in the day we’d be in game mode. Running shot clock. Time to have fun and let it fly. It was a kill or be killed mindset as I was playing with the best in our age on the planet.  

That Thursday, I got into the gym early to get some shots off before we kicked off the day. At the far end of the gym I noticed another kid who was on the court that I had not seen at camp before. What made me focus extra hard on him was the fact he had a number of chairs and cones placed in different areas on the court. The kid was in game speed, high intensity, attacking the court and elevate right before the chair for a jump shot. There was a trainer with him fielding balls and passing it back out to him after each attempt. A student of the game, I watched and took mental notes on what he was doing. I never had chairs out on the court like that to weave between before pulling up. Finally the kid took a break. He walked over to the bleachers by the court I was on. I let the kid know I appreciated seeing his work ethic and routine. He thanked me for noticing and put his hand out to shake and said, KOBE. I leaned back and then it hit. I laughed and said, “I see you”! The black cat had some competition coming. It was almost like we became instant friends.  

For the youngsters reading this, back then we didn’t have the internet. We didn’t have cell-phones to scroll and read all the new updates. For hoopers we had only a few credible sources. One was SLAM magazine. Even a broke kid like me always found a way to get my hands on one. That was our internet. SLAM would highlight the talent that was on the rise across the country from Shea Cotton to Kevin Garnet, Tracy McGrady and other mythical players in High School before anyone knew who they were. Kobe was a name that was talked about as he was taking the leap and going from High School to the NBA. Before meeting Kobe, I had only seen a few photos of him in SLAM, but not outside of that. When he said his name, it took a minute before it clicked. This was Kobe Bryant, who was just drafted into the NBA. 

Wasting no time after a press conference, Kobe wanted to get to work and was in the gym getting after it. Investing his energy and time into the goal he shared he wanted to achieve. The goal to someday be the best to ever play the game. His effort and investment to better himself and his craft would compound over time and prove that it works. 

After the workout me and Kobe laughed and talked about how amazing it was going to be that he’ll get the opportunity to play against Jordan and some other NBA superstars. You have to remember,  we were both just h.s kids who looked up too all the NIKE commercials and had the Jordan posters hanging on our walls.  

There was a moment when we got super serious and I looked Kobe in the eye and told him he was representing our generation. I’ll never forget his response. Without hesitation Kobe shared that his mission was to become the best to ever play the game. The deepest sincerity, he wasn’t joking when he said it. He dreamed it and believed it. The squint in his eyes and a genuine smile inked it. Together we just laughed like how teenagers do and from the most fitting place “the gym” — aka the office, we celebrated the dream that he was going to be playing in the NBA and against some of our favorite players. Talking about wild when you’re thinking about the posters you have on your wall and that you’re going to be stepping onto the court to compete against them…The jump was real. The distractions as well. We discussed the grown man party life. He was only a few years in from having his drivers license, I was only fifteen, but it’s different when you are in the league. I looked up to him like a big bro. I was just so happy to see this dream come true — he was entering the NBA!!!!! People who know Kobe know when he’s dreaming about what he is going to do, he would lick his chops like he was really about to eat a meal. Kobe was hungry to bring his bag of talent to the league and let them know he was not just a 17 year old kid but a basketball player dedicated to become one of the best to ever play the game. The one and only Black Mamba. 

From Kobe, I’ve always been inspired by so many lessons and qualities he shared that translated on & off the court when it comes to discovering who we are and what it takes to be excellent. Kobe knew it better than anyone else that to master anything or have the opportunity to be good at something, you needed to have a plan. You needed to have a disciplined approach. Drive and dedication to master the fundamentals balanced with the patience to develop the craft and learn new skills so one can grow. Kobe from that day on made a lasting impression on my life. His process. His disciplined approach. The way he carried himself in times of adversity. Most important, his consistent effort to invest in developing himself. Focused. Job Not Done mentality. Consistently working on his game to become the best to ever play. Over time all that hard work compounded into Olympic Gold Medals, multiple NBA Championships, regular season MVP honors, All-Star games and countless accolades.  

April 13th 2016

Kobe sent a goodbye kiss to the game he loved. That night he ended his NBA career with a legendary performance orchestrating a 60 point win against the Utah Jazz. Living out his dream with open eyes, he said farewell in one of the most legendary ways. 

The consistency Kobe had set him apart from any other player. When you hear other NBA players talk about Kobe it’s always some wild story about how they got to the gym at 5AM only to find out he was just finishing up his first workout and starting his second. 

Like many of you who are professional athletes, you understand that the only way to become a pro is by putting in the hours to better your craft. Natural athleticism only gets you so far. You have to be relentless. Constantly investing in your game and putting in the time. Living in the gym. Fully consumed. Obsessed in taking your God given abilities and reaching new heights. Even then when chasing excellence, there are road blocks and the unexpected happens along the way. After countless games of adversity, you develop the grit to preserver. Just as the same rules apply when it comes to investing in yourself and your skills in your sport to obtain a certain outcome, this also holds true off the court and in a different world. A place called compound interest or what I like to say, Mamba Interest. 

Becoming the FPG.

The Game of Basketball…I’m forever grateful. A place I was coached and trained to take my natural skills and abilities as far as I could take them. It gave me a home to go to when my life was upside down. A safe place where I belonged, even in a new city or new school as a kid. Basketball taught me so many life lessons and has helped shape who I am today. The lessons of Teamwork. Leadership. Hardwork, Humble and Hungry. It allowed me to Dream knowing that with the dedication of significant physical, mental, or emotional effort to achieve a specific goal, it would be attainable. Mental health, I always had more joy as a PG passing the ball and seeing my teammates score. The surprise look on their face when I tossed them a dime for a unexpected bucket, amazed I was able to see them, their efforts and magically set them up for success. Yes, I could shoot but the sheer joy I had as a PG to assist others to score I would always lead with, an instinct I hold onto today.

Being a part of the 96% who don’t make it from College into the NBA, the Point Guard instincts never left. Kobe and his Mamba Mindset inspired me as a Point Guard to take that same instinct, drive, passion and work ethic in assisting others and apply it into a new game of life. It lead me to commit and dedicate myself to learning a new style of X’s and O’s and play with a different kind of scoreboard. Through consistency, discipline and the willingness to push beyond my comforts it allowed me to embrace and discover talents I didn’t know I had to become a Financial Point Guard. Focused in this new gym aka “The College of Financial Planning” it lead me on a journey to develop, hone and invest in learning a new “game time” set of skills that have lead me to become a professional, Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor.

Running the point purpose driven and passing the ball to set my teammates and their families up for success is the ultimate win. Understanding how there is a lack of education amongst my people in the areas of developing healthy financial habits drives my passion to assist those with this interactive educational book. It leads my focus and passion as a FPG to give back and do what I do best as a PG and assist. I believe every kid should be able to dream big and in the new landscape of College Athletics and NIL to professional athletes and complex needs and goals, I believe it’s even more crucial to workout and learn some of the fundamental skills and concepts. If you’re reading this just know I’m extremely happy and excited for you to take part in this new gym. A place where FREE GAME does exist, a safe place you can come and workout in your free time or plan and devote a few min. of your day to learn some new skills and habits that you can apply in your daily life and with your financial team.

THE GYM :

NEXT in LESSON 2 we will hit the gym and workout what COMPOUND INTEREST is and how it works. The last lesson of this chapter we will explain how DOLLAR COST AVERAGING works. Let’s go!!