NBA star Kobe Bryant discusses day with Apple's Jony Ive set up by simple cold call
Future basketball hall-of-famer Kobe Bryant is planning for life beyond the court, and takes it upon himself to cold-call some of the smartest minds in business for advice. Among those he's spoken with is Apple's famed chief designer Jony Ive.
Bryant sat down with Bloomberg and spoke about his day with Ive and what he learned from Apple. The National Basketball Association player admitted that he's not afraid to ask "simple" and maybe even "stupid" questions to people like Ive as he looks to gain some of their expertise.
"I went up to Apple, spent the day there talking with Jony and just kind of picking his brain about products and things like that," the L.A. Lakers shooting guard said. "What makes them who they are and why. Very, very curious about that and understanding that."
Ive said he has also spoken with Oprah Winfrey, Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker, and political pundit Arianna Huffington, all known for their own considerable successes in business.
Bryant has invested millions in the sports drink BodyArmor, and is looking to make further investments. At 35 years old and with a series of injuries that held him to just six games last season, the five-time NBA champion is looking to establish himself for his next moves when he inevitably retires.
From talking with Ive, Bryant said there are a number of similarities in what he does on the court and what Apple does in creating new products. He noted that Ive may have an end goal when he is designing a new product, but he must think sequentially in order to achieve that goal.
"It's no different than building a basketball game," he said. "You start with where you want your game to be, what would make your game most unstoppable or hard to deal with, and now you work backwards from there and you start building it one piece at a time, one move at a time, one counter at a time."
Bryant revealed that Ive also took interest in his basketball mind when the two spent a day together. According to Bryant, Ive was curious how the longtime Laker prepares, studies and views the game.
Bryant sat down with Bloomberg and spoke about his day with Ive and what he learned from Apple. The National Basketball Association player admitted that he's not afraid to ask "simple" and maybe even "stupid" questions to people like Ive as he looks to gain some of their expertise.
"I went up to Apple, spent the day there talking with Jony and just kind of picking his brain about products and things like that," the L.A. Lakers shooting guard said. "What makes them who they are and why. Very, very curious about that and understanding that."
Ive said he has also spoken with Oprah Winfrey, Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker, and political pundit Arianna Huffington, all known for their own considerable successes in business.
Bryant has invested millions in the sports drink BodyArmor, and is looking to make further investments. At 35 years old and with a series of injuries that held him to just six games last season, the five-time NBA champion is looking to establish himself for his next moves when he inevitably retires.
From talking with Ive, Bryant said there are a number of similarities in what he does on the court and what Apple does in creating new products. He noted that Ive may have an end goal when he is designing a new product, but he must think sequentially in order to achieve that goal.
"It's no different than building a basketball game," he said. "You start with where you want your game to be, what would make your game most unstoppable or hard to deal with, and now you work backwards from there and you start building it one piece at a time, one move at a time, one counter at a time."
Bryant revealed that Ive also took interest in his basketball mind when the two spent a day together. According to Bryant, Ive was curious how the longtime Laker prepares, studies and views the game.
Comments
You recall the story of Steve Jobs as a teenager cold calling an exec from HP to talk about electronics?
In the first case they jump on it for the PR value, in the second case you land on the blocked numbers nuisance list.
I'd cold call. What's the worst that could happen?
Agreed. If you're a household name, why not take advantage of it? I wouldn't, but that's only because I'm an introvert who doesn't relish conversations with strangers.
My first advice would have been not to cold call these people but that clearly has worked out in spades.
I doubt he could just "cold call" Jony. Surely, he must have had some kind of relationship with him. If that were the case, I'm just gonna walk right up to Jony at my gym and discuss my next steps in life.
I wonder if the reason for his success is that he received daily massages with beer.
If you rape a girl and offer her enough money to drop the charges you get to be an Apple spokesperson.
Hmm... go figure.
Minor difference between a celebrity "cold call" and a Joe Shmoe cold call.
In the first case they jump on it for the PR value, in the second case you land on the blocked numbers nuisance list.
It's not celebrity (as such). Exceptional people (Like Jony) are typically very busy, but they will typically take a (cold) call form someone they consider exceptional because they don't see it as a waste of time.
I'm not sure he would have even taken a call from a "Housewives of" or Jersey Shore star, no matter how great his or her celebrity (much less mentor for a day.) But on the other hand I would bet he would take a call from Meryl Streep or Robert De Niro (or Shaun White, Tarantino, Scorsese or... ). Some celebrities are such because of their exceptionalism, others just by chance.
Convince someone you are exceptional and you (normally) will have little trouble getting them to talk to you. (as Steve did when he cold called Bill Hewlett)
Neither Kobe nor Jony needs "PR value" from the other.
It's not celebrity (as such). Exceptional people (Like Jony) are typically very busy, but they will typically take a (cold) call form someone they consider exceptional because they don't see it as a waste of time.
I'm not sure he would have even taken a call from a "Housewives of" or Jersey Shore star, no matter how great his or her celebrity (much less mentor for a day.) But on the other hand I would bet he would take a call from Meryl Streep or Robert De Niro (or Shaun White, Tarantino, Scorsese or... ). Some celebrities are such because of their exceptionalism, others just by chance.
Convince someone you are exceptional and you (normally) will have little trouble getting them to talk to you. (as Steve did when he cold called Bill Hewlett)
EXACTLY!
I wonder if the reason for his success is that he received daily massages with beer.
Very nicely done
Future basketball hall-of-famer Kobe Bryant is planning for life beyond the court, and takes it upon himself to cold-call some of the smartest minds in business for advice.
He might consider getting a college degree like Shaq.
My first advice would have been not to cold call these people but that clearly has worked out in spades.
One of the most terrible things in this world is to be on (either end of) a cold call. Unless, of course the mere fact that you are who you are is enough to make the person receiving the call excited. I pretty certain this was not your average cold call. It probably went something like this:
KB to agent: I'd love to speak to Jony Ive
KB's agent to Apple: This is KB's agent. He'd love to speak to JI.
JI's secretary to JI: KB wants to speak to you.
JI: Cool! Tell him to call.
JI's secretary to KB's agent: Tell him to call.
KB's Agent to KB: Call him.
KB: Cool!
etc
Let me see... If you tell your wife she can't hang with black basketball players you get banned from the court for life.
If you rape a girl and offer her enough money to drop the charges you get to be an Apple spokesperson.
Hmm... go figure.
Go look up "spokesperson" for starters.
Bryant mentioning a conversation with an Apple employee in an interview doesn't come close to qualifying. Now the paid shills for Samsung doing the selfies they post at various events for money? Spokesperson. Or do you see Bryant as an Oprah Spokesperson as well?
Go look up "spokesperson" for starters.
Bryant mentioning a conversation with an Apple employee in an interview doesn't come close to qualifying. Now the paid shills for Samsung doing the selfies they post at various events for money? Spokesperson. Or do you see Bryant as an Oprah Spokesperson as well?
I'm not sure you grasped the real point of what he was saying.
Seems reasonable. But it does make me think of the story of Jobs wanting a glass screen for the original iphone at the last minute. He called the main switchboard at Corning and asked to speak to X (I don't remember the name but it was a high up or maybe the CEO of Corning). The operator didn't believe it was Jobs and said she'd take his number and have her boss call. Guy at Corning decides to return the call by calling Apples main switchboard (instead of the number Steve left) and asking to be put through to Steve Jobs please. Apparently they both got a kick out of that tit for tat.
Story is from memory so if I get some details wrong someone please berate me for it