How Did Michael Jordan Beat ADHD?

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Aug 30, 2024

There are many challenges with ADHD. If unmanaged, it can spiral into missed opportunities and underachievement. MJ developed processes to become the world’s greatest basketball player using his ADHD’s strengths to avoid its weaknesses.

HOW?!

There are a few superpower traits of ADHD. One of them is hyperfocus. When a person with hyperfocus finds that thing they are passionate about, it consumes them. They get into a flow state, and they obsess over it so much that everything else in their lives suffer. Hyperfocus is a result of a lack of control over executive function. But it’s this curse that also brings the blessing of complete devotion to the craft.

Jordan’s ADHD

It’s not known when the rumor mill of MJ’s ADHD diagnosis started, but there were clues. As a child, Jordan was a multi-talented athlete in 3 sports: baseball, football, and basketball. Early on in his career, he had a choice to thrive in all 3 sports, but that would not have been wise. If he had, he likely would have been good in 3 sports, but never the greatest. When he chose to focus all of his efforts in basketball, he was able to become the greatest player to have ever lived.

Michael Jordan tried his hand at pro golf after retirement.

Perhaps it was a constant battle of priorities because as it turns out, post-retirement, he tried his hand at golf and baseball. But he never was able to replicate the hyper success that he had in basketball. At that point in life, he was already a mega-millionaire with hundreds of business opportunities and endorsements, with a family to care for.

Ultimately, MJ’s Dreams Came True

With the accolades he received from becoming an NBA superstar, Jordan parlayed that into highly successful endorsement deals, apparel lines, and the eponymous Air Jordan shoe collaboration with Nike. Eventually, he became a billionaire and owner of the NBA franchise the Charlotte Hornets.

His hyperfocus paid dividends. Now he had the money and infrastructure to retire while allowing his assets and team to work for him.

Focusing on his greatest strength of basketball provided resources and processes to make his other dreams a reality. This wouldn’t have happened if he spread himself too thin by juggling multiple things at one time.