There’s always debate about who sits at the top when it comes to greatness on the court, but when the conversation shifts to building a legacy beyond the game, one name usually stands alone: Michael Jordan. Long after his playing days, Jordan’s influence in business and branding has only grown, turning him into a blueprint for athletes looking to build something bigger than sports.
Naturally, plenty of players would love to tap into that level of insight but those close to him say his advice isn’t handed out casually. Recently, a Super Bowl champion shared a glimpse into what it actually takes to get that rare guidance, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how one of sports’ most private icons chooses when and to whom he passes along his hard-earned lessons.
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The person sharing the story is none other than Emmitt Smith, the three-time Super Bowl champion who recently opened up on the “NXT Chapter” podcast about a memorable conversation he had with Michael Jordan. Explaining why he was able to pick Jordan’s brain he repeated what Jordan told him saying, “Well, look what you did, you picked up the phone and you called me and you wanted my advice on something. Most people don’t pick up the phone and call. Most people don’t ask. So why would I pour into someone that is never going to ask.”
Smith said Michael Jordan told him that the fact he came asking for advice showed he was ready to listen, learn, and make changes if needed.
Jordan explained that he doesn’t go around giving guidance to people who haven’t asked for it, because in his view they aren’t truly ready to hear it yet. According to Smith, Jordan believes a lot of his knowledge goes untapped simply because many athletes never take that first step and seek it out themselves.