The Nonchalance of Nikola Jokic is Inspiring

I stayed up past bedtime to watch the Denver Nuggets win the NBA title. I'm a very committed Hawks fan, but I was rooting for the Nuggets as a fan of the sport. Their style of play and having a center that can pass the ball better than most point guards is truly something to watch. 

Nikola Jokic's post-game comments on the court stood out to me then. The 2x MVP and (at that point) Finals MVP was happy but not going nuts. His immediate reaction to the win to the person interviewing him was:

"The job is done. We can go home now."

No trash talk. None of the "people have been doubting us" types of lines you usually hear. He plainly stated a fact. And you could tell Jokic genuinely meant it. 

Jokic saw his role as a job. He wanted to be the best in his job that he could - I mean, you can only win an MVP and an NBA title if you are committed to your craft. 

But you could tell it wasn't how he defined himself. Basketball was a big part of his life but wasn't his biggest priority. That mindset didn't break, even when it arguably could have, and nobody would have thought worse of him. 

Even the Joker's brutal honesty about his job and success is something that many people resonate with. The MVP came across as a man of the people here while also not minimizing the success. His main message is that "this is a good thing, but it's not everything." Check out where this clip starts (6:29 - 8:24) and his reaction to the parade and his perspective on success:

I honestly love that perspective. 

What’s my main takeaway?

Nikola Jokic is very good at what he does. When he is "at work," he cares a lot about his job. He wants to succeed. But it's not everything. It's not what defines him. 

Only some of us will ever hit a peak of success like Jokic or other MVPs winning something on a world stage. But we may take our 9-5 too seriously. In our heads, even if we don't admit it, it is everything. That job title is what defines us. Our success may be how we literally define ourselves when meeting new people. 

When/if all of it goes away, it can be devastating. If your occupation is your life and it's taken away from you, it's losing something significant. I've even argued that sometimes caring a little less about your job will make you perform better. 

I imagine the Joker doesn't take it too seriously. Should we take a lesson from him in defining success?