Everyday Series | Season 1 | Significant Lessons Saturdays | 013 | Muhammad Ali

The NJ Podcast

In this episode, we unpack lessons from Muhammad Ali.

He was the loudmouth boxing legend from Louisville Kentucky who became the Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He was stripped of his titles for his beliefs and came back stronger and faster than ever before to become wildly considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. With his electric personality, fast shuffles, agility, and speed he mesmerized his opponents and the audiences. Ali is mine and many people's personal hero for his accomplishments, grit, and longevity. Three-time world champion, 56 wins (37 KO's, 19 decisions) and 5 losses, and the one champion who fought the best in what is known as the golden age of boxing, he is a legend, and here are some lessons Muhammad Ali taught me.

Confidence has its rewards

"I am the greatest"

Of all the athletes and figures in history, very few had the outspoken and portrayal of extreme self-confidence Ali had. Before every fight, in every interaction, and during every fight, he went in with self-confidence and boldness. The result of his self-confidence was multiple knock-outs, media endorsements, and championships. Self-confidence is a trait that has rewards that can take you all the way to become the best.

What you say or do is what you are making true

" I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."

Ali was a very outspoken figure and was not afraid of saying what he believed and act on what he said. Before his first fight with Sonny Liston, he said he would beat him and become the youngest heavyweight. He acted on what he said and he 'shook the world' when he beat Sonny Liston to become the youngest heavy boxer at that time. He said he was the greatest back then and now he is regarded as the greatest because what you say or do is what you are making true.

Don't focus on lost time - make the rest of your life the best of your life

"Don't count the days, make the days count"

After refusing to be drafted into the military during the Vietnam war, Ali was stripped of his title and banned from boxing in his prime for three years. In sports, three years is a very valuable time to be lost. However, Ali did not let the lost time destroy him. When he was allowed to box again, he engaged in the best fights of his career such as the "Thrilla in Manilla" with Joe Frasier and the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman. Ali became a true boxing legend after his ban was over - he did not focus on lost time and made the rest of his life the best of his life.

A strong adversary makes you a better champion

"It took Joe Frasier to make Ali a great champion"

Competition and adversity only serve to make the quality of our lives much better. Without competition and adversity, we can become complacent and not be pushed to our highest potential. Joe Frasier was the toughest opponent Ali ever faced and was the one who dealt him his first professional loss. The two would go on to have a rivalry that is still talked about today and one which Ali would lead 2 - 1. Ali became more persistent and more scientific a boxer because of the competition Joe Frasier offered him.

Preparation is painful but necessary

"I hated every minute of training but I said 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion."

Preparation and training is something that Ali was not a fan of but he deemed it necessary. He would normally train six weeks for a fight, and for the rumble in the jungle, he trained six months for the fight. For the fights he prepared for well he would excel; for those fights, he did not prepare for so much he would struggle a bit. With hard preparation we will often excel but if we cheat we may suffer. Preparation may be painful but it is necessary for good results.

Stand for what you believe in even though it may cost you

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life"

The US government was engaged in the Vietnam conflict and drafted Ali to join the conflict. Ali, as the principled man he was, refused and commented that he would not go abroad to fight in a war he did not believe in when his own people were suffering. The decision cost him three years of boxing but it gained him respect and reverence. There are beliefs that will be challenged but it is better to be hated for who you are than loved for what you are not. Stand for what you believe in even though it may cost you.

Defeat can only make you better if you don't quit

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even"

As prolific and fast as Ali was, he was still prone to defeat. He lost three marriages; he lost his boxing license for three years and lost five fights. In the midst of his losses, he gained persistence and inner power that propelled him to more victories. He outlasted Joe Frasier and outsmarted George Foreman because he grew from his losses. If you do not know how to get up from losing, then you are robbing yourself of development into someone better. Defeat can only make you better if you do not quit.

I have wrestled with an alligator. I have tussled with a whale. I have handcuffed lightening and thrown thunder in jail. Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone and hospitalized a brick - I'm so mean I make medicine sick. Last night I cut the light off in my bedroom, I hit the switch and was in bed before the room was dark - IMMA SHOW YOU GREAT I AM!"