disruptive talent: lebron james... what we can learn.

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Let me start of by saying that I am not a Sports Fan. I seldom ever watch sports. Not because I do not like the thrill of competition, but I seldom have the time to consume sports, so I do not indulge. Over the past 24 hours however; I can not help but be overwhelmed by the amount of media surrounding the decision of Basketball Star LeBron James. What I am about to say may be a little controversial or even "disruptive" BUT I would not be doing anybody a service by not saying it... It needs to be said... 

The Foundation

LeBron James born December 30th 1984, Nicknamed "King James", which is important for us to understand, if for NO OTHER REASON than to grasp the fact that LeBron belongs to what is affectionately known as Generation Y, those born between 1982 and June 1995. This small, discreet, yet relevant fact gives us a deeper context to the decision(s) that this young Basketball Star is making at this point of his career.

Generation Y, or "Echo Boomers", have been the topic of MUCH discussion in the Corporate world for many years. Here are some facts about this intriguing generation... 

  • 48% of them believe in God, yet 23% of those polled do not claim a religious denomination 
  • Also known as the "Boomerang Generation" many of them pro-long leaving the nest
  • Most define adulthood by their "abilities" and "characteristics"  -vs- traditional "rights of passage" 
  • This is the communication generation, the rise of social interactions makes this generation more "connected" than generations prior
  • The heightened need for social interaction inherit of this generation makes them more "peer-oriented" 
  • Expression and acceptance is rated VERY HIGH on the social barometer for this generation 
  • Technology is at the center of this generation, 97% of students own computers and 94% own cell phones 

These are all interesting facts about the Echo Boomers, however; as it pertains to the recent decision made by James, I find these facts to be even MORE interesting than the ones above... 

"Echo Boomers like to shape their work environments to match their lifestyles -vs- shaping their lifestyles to match their work..."

  • Unemployment among Echo Boomers is high all over the world
  • This generation is often called the "Trophy Generation" or "Trophy Kids" and this derives for their involvement in competitive sports
  • No one loses and everyone gets a "thanks for participating" trophy which symbolizes "entitlement" 
  • Echo Boomers like to shape their work environments to match their lifestyles -vs- shaping lifestyles to match their work

This generation is one of the most dynamic generations we have ever seen in my opinion. The high rate of unemployment as it pertains to this generation is stapled to this generations vigor as it pertains to settling. The Millennials, Generation Y'ers, Echo Boomers do not settle, they would most rather shape their destinies -vs- having their destinies shaped for them, and they will "shape" at all cost EVEN if it means staying home with Mom and Dad until this "shaping" is complete. They are connected to one another, and their peers have a lot of influence in their happiness. This generation is a generation of "winners", heck, they always win!! Even if they don't score as many goals or hit as many buckets as the team they are competing with, they still get a trophy. 

We have to understand that LeBron James, though the media has totally hyped his decision making process up to epic proportions, he is only 25 years of age, no fault against him, but it is a reality... He is in-fact a Millennial. LeBron is not one to settle, he wants to win, and it's shown in his gameplay. Since drafted in 2003, by the Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron has been an aggressive contributor to not only the Cleveland Cavaliers but he has been an aggressive contributor to the game of Basketball and the NBA. Averaging 29.1 points per game, 9.3 rebounds and 7.6 assist, LeBron is a proven Contender.

The Disruption

Fans have known LeBron James as a Competitor and the people of Cleveland have always known him as a Hero, however; they have never seen him as a Disruptive Talent, and this is where I get passionate...

LeBron James, in my mind, is the classic case of a Disrutptor or Disruptive Talent, the breed of talent that I rave about. The type of talent that changes the course of things forever. In a very non-traditional way LeBron broke the mold. In the history of Basketball we have never seen a player step down from a throne to join forces with his/her peers for one common goal... The art of winning. A writer in the Indianapolis Star Bob Kravitz says this... 

"He can never be Michael Jordan now. He can never be Kobe Bryant, or Larry Bird, or Magic Jonson or Tim Duncan or any of those players around whom franchises built championship teams..." 

Well I say this...

NOPE, he won't be.

BUT he will be LeBron James, a player that broke the rules, took destiny in his hands, designed a tremendous value proposition based on HIS desired outcomes, all while stepping out of the box. I don't know a LOT about basketball, but I do know this... In the history of the game, or at least to MY knowledge, no other player has done what he is doing. Taking a lesser paycheck, teaming with would TRADITIONALLY be "foes", building "allies" and designing a team optimized for one thing... Winning. THIS IS DISRUPTIVE. This changes the game forever. AND as we travel into the future of the sport, unless the powers to be write contacts and make rules to keep it from happening again, this "peer-to-peer team design" model might be the evolution of a very competitive sport. And who will be noted as the "Game Changer"? The "Disruptive Talent"? LeBron James, NOT Michael Jordan, NOT Larry Bird, NOT Kobe Bryant or any other... It was LeBron James that headed a revolution that will go down in history.

So, maybe LeBron will not be what the traditional Basketball Players before him were, and perhaps he is the seed for a new paradigm... We will see. We CAN say that he SHOULD have had more "LOYALTY" , but this generation has not seen much of that at all. From the Corporation to the Basketball floor, loyalty on BOTH ends of the spectrum has been compromised, so in that - I admire this generation for having the discernment to see that organization to individual loyalty is dead. In-fact if you go to the Cavaliers site on NBA.com you will clearly see that Dan Gilbert showed HIS loyalty to his former "King". Provided that LeBron made a choice more "in-line" with HIS wishes, I can bet we would be reading a totally different letter... 

The corporate world has been going through Disruption for quite some time... The emergence of the Creative Economy has shaken the very fibers of how we do business and the NBA is not immune. LeBron James is showing us this, right here and right now. LeBron James designed a solution with two other players Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh that would project him to a better outcome, one that he is envisioning. This is highly, creative and very disruptive. 

What can we learn... 

You are in fact a "Free-Agent" just like LeBron James, a Linchpin. You have the ability to disrupt the market you are in. Rather you are a Conformist OR a Disruptor hinges on your ability to make the tough decisions in the face of tradition, and status quo. LeBron could have stayed in Cleveland, and played into the wants and the needs of those around him, OR he could have done what he did... Challenge the tradition, break the rules, design for success, and start making a map that unfolds as he goes along -vs- following the one that Cleveland laid out for him...