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Sweet Bites for May 16, 2025

Mind Candy is a newsletter on practical philosophy and human flourishment—aka how to live “the good life.” Each month we tackle a new theme.

This month we’re exploring the theme of Potential.

Welcome to another edition of Sweet Bites, Mind Candy’s bite-sized newsletter with thought-provoking finds to send you into the weekend with.

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🍰 Mini Bite

The Bulls were down with less than 30 seconds left in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Championship game.

Michael Jordan had missed several shots and was running on fumes.

His coach, Phil Jackson, pulled him to the side and told him exactly what he needed to hear in that moment: They were down, but not out. Follow through on your shots. The ball is going back to Utah, you know their setup, strip the ball and score.

Down by three, Jordan followed his coach.

Utah setup just as expected —

Jordan seized, stripping the ball and stealing it in the same move.

As the seconds ticked away, Jordan made his way down court and took his shot—now known as The Shot—making it in with nothing but net.

The Bulls would win.

“He did it. And it was a great steal. And he went down and scored on the same play…” Jackson would later reflect. “And that sequence was the culmination of young minds that were working together.”

Jackson saw what Jordan couldn’t. Yes, Jordan was tired but he was also getting lazy with his form. Jackson reminded him, and also laid out the rest of the game. He didn’t say if Jordan makes the shot, he said when Jordan makes the shot, establishing confidence of not only Jordan’s ability but also the expectation. He didn’t need to belabor the point, or scream. Just simply point out what he was seeing and let the player do what he’s best at.

The actor Gary Oldman once received a similar tip from Christopher Nolan while filming one of the Batman movies. After a take, Nolan walked up to Oldman and after a second of reflection said, “Let’s do that one more time. There’s more at stake.”

“And I went ‘Yep, got it. Let’s do one more,’” Oldman said. “That’s a fantastic piece of direction. I don’t need to know the ins and outs of the whole universe. I just need to adjust the volume on it. Not vocally but the energy or the dynamic of it.”

When we’re lucky enough to have those good coaches, mentors, or friends in our lives who can truly assist us, we’re working in a symbiotic relationship. You see what each other have to offer. You focus on bringing out the best in each other.

Two minds begin to coalesce as one.

Sometimes we’re competing, sometimes we’re talking, sometimes we’re rooting. The tools and tactics that we utilize vary from situation to situation but the underlying goal, is the same: bring forth the individual’s potential.

This is how our potential is brought to light through others. Not just through hard work and practice, but patience and relationship building. Learning your partner’s habits, seeing their flaws, picking out what they don’t see. It’s a two way street. Both parties have to be invested and the relationship needs to be tight. But when this happens, when you can combine talent with proper guidance, potential springs forth like no other.

As Steve Jobs once said, “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.”

Together, we raise the level of expectation and achievement. Together dreams of potential become reality.

🧘🏻This Week’s Monday Meditation

🦉 This Week’s Wednesday Wisdom

📰 Article Worthy of a Read

Understanding and unlocking your human potential By Allaya Cooks-Campbell

In this article for BetterUp, Cooks-Campbell outlines ways we can achieve our potential. She frames the article through Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which culminates in actualization.

“There’s a tendency to think of human potential — or, in fact, every effort at personal growth — as linear and bottom-line-focused. Human potential is a unique journey in the sense that both the journey and the goal are “the point.” In other words, there’s really nothing to “get to” or “accomplish.” The goal is to live in a way that’s congruent with the best version of yourself — a you that you’re proud to be every day.”

📚 Wisdom

“Good leaders don't automatically favor low performers of high trust nor do they immediately dump high performers of low trust. If someone's performance is struggling or if they are acting in a way that is negatively impacting team dynamics, the primary question a leader needs to ask is, "Are they coachable?" Our goal, as leaders, is to ensure that our people have the skills- technical skills, human skills or leadership skills—so that they are equipped to work to their natural best and be a valuable asset to the team.”

Simon Sinek

Source: The Infinite Game

🎥 Video Worth Watching

Adam Grant discusses potential as a part of Google Talks.

Think someone you know would enjoy these? Hit below to forward and spread the love.

Until next time,

D.A. DiGerolamo

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