Michael Jordan Vs. The Matthew Effect

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“I’ve failed over and over again in my life.” Most people probably do not associate failure with Michael Jordan, but this quote shows that, in some part, he does. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. (Jenson 203). Michael led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in 1991-93 and also in 1996-98. (“Michael Jordan.” The). There are two theories on why people achieve success, one of them is grit, which is passion and perseverance for long term goals. (Duckworth 33). The other theory is the “Matthew effect” where you have many opportunities in life that help you achieve your goals. (Gladwell). Michael Jordan shows more grit than the “Matthew effect” because his passion and perseverance for basketball, not his parents guidance along the way made him successful, because he mostly taught himself and practiced what he knew to become better, Jordan has achieved success because of grit.
As Angela Duckworth says, “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long term goals.” (Duckworth 33). During Michael’s freshman year he tried out for the varsity basketball team …show more content…

(Jenson 203). Michael’s parents James and Delores Jordan always taught him to do work with determination and to do his best. (Jenson 203). Yet Michael had more grit than opportunities because he didn’t listen to what other people had to say. He did what he wanted to do and taught himself most of what he knows how to do. Finally, out of all the things that happened throughout his career, he shows grit because he learned the way he wanted to, not how everyone else wanted him to. He also has grit because he always ends up succeeding no matter what he does, and while he had supportive parents his rejection from the basketball team -twice-shows that he didn’t have as many opportunities as most

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