The truth is, Michael Jordan needs no introduction, but the NBA legend deserves one.
Born in Brooklyn in 1963 and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Jordan went from a teen who didn’t make his high school varsity team to one of the most incredible athletes in the history of sports.
During his sophomore year at Laney High School, he did not get a spot on the varsity roster and was relegated to the JV squad. Jordan went home, locked himself in his room and cried. But once he got that out of his system, he spent his entire summer training harder than everyone else. When the day came for tryouts junior year, it was on. Jordan went on to average over 25 points a game. By his senior year, he was a McDonald’s All-American—and we all know what happened next.
Jordan became a six-time NBA champion—winning five MVP awards, earning two Olympic gold medals, starring in the 1996 blockbuster Space Jam and becoming a hero for millions of kids—including me—who wanted to be “like Mike.”
And we can’t forget about the sneakers: In 1984, a scrappy little running shoe company—Nike—had an employee named Sonny Vaccaro who pushed the fledgling brand to put their entire $250,000 basketball budget on the third pick in the NBA Draft.
Jordan didn’t even want to take the meeting—he preferred Adidas, which was the cooler shoe at the time. But his mom—Deloris Jordan—forced him to get on the plane and listen to their pitch, telling him, “You may not like it, but you’re gonna go listen.”
He listened and Deloris pushed for something unheard of: She negotiated his contract to stipulate that he’d earn royalties on every pair of Air Jordan sneakers sold.
Nike’s goal was to sell $3 million worth of Air Jordans over four years. In year one, they sold $126 million. And today, over 40 years later, they make $3 million in Air Jordan sales every five hours.
If you’ve seen the movie Air—and if you’re like me, you’ve watched it more than once—you know this story gave you chills. (I actually watched it twice in 24 hours.) But what makes Michael Jordan truly special isn’t just about what he accomplished on the court—or how many digits are in his bank account. His beliefs about failure, persistence and what it takes to be great have inspired millions to never give up—no matter what anyone else says—and work hard for their dreams. And that’s why Michael Jordan is today’s quote of the day.
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Quote of the Day by Michael Jordan
“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler on Getty Images
Deeper Meaning of Michael Jordan’s Quote: Persistence
Think about how many times you’ve talked yourself out of trying something because you were afraid of failing. A new job. A big move. A conversation you’ve been avoiding. We’ve all been there. And that’s exactly what makes Jordan’s words so powerful—because they’re not really about basketball.
When Jordan says he can accept failure, he’s not just being humble. He means it. This is a man who missed over 9,000 shots in his career. Who lost almost 300 games. Who was trusted to take the game-winning shot 26 times—and missed. He said as much in his famous Nike commercial: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
But the part of his quote that hits the hardest? “I can’t accept not trying.” Because failure means you were in the game. Failure means you showed up. Failure means you cared enough to take the shot—even knowing you might miss. Not trying? That’s the only thing Michael Jordan considers unforgivable.
And that mindset didn’t come from nowhere. It came from a mother who refused to let her son skip a meeting that would change his life. “My mother is my root, my foundation,” Jordan has said. “She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.” Deloris Jordan didn’t just negotiate a sneaker deal—she taught her son that you never leave an opportunity on the table. You show up. You try. And you let the results take care of themselves.
Whether you’re starting a new chapter in your career, chasing a dream that scares you or just trying to get through a tough week—Michael Jordan wants you to know that it’s okay to fail. It’s okay to miss the shot. Just don’t ever stop shooting.
More Quotes From Michael Jordan
- “My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.”
- “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
- “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
- “The game of basketball has been everything to me. My refuge. My place I’ve always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace.”
- “My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.'”
Next, Quote of the Day: Paul McCartney on Finding Light in the Dark
