Last weekend, I watched a new documentary about legendary 2.16m-tall former National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player Shaquille O’Neal. In addition to his impressive sporting accolades, he also holds a doctorate in education, specifically in organisational learning and leadership, with a specialisation in human resource development.
The documentary is about his work, from having had a Reebok sponsorship that included his own customised shoe during his playing days to now having taken over as president of Reebok Basketball, with fellow NBA legend Allen Iverson as his deputy. His challenge is to bring back Reebok’s popularity and market share of the 1990s and early 2000s and compete against industry heavyweights such as Nike and Adidas.
O’Neal’s son Shareef, also featured in the documentary, is an aspiring basketball player, but suffered a setback as a result of surgery in 2018 to repair a congenital heart defect. Shareef is determined to get back into playing the game, but what struck me was a diary session in which he said: “I’m not my dad. He is a once-in-a-lifetime player.”
This got me thinking about children who grow up with parents who are larger-than-life superstars like Shaq, whether in the corporate world, sports, entertainment, politics or whatever chosen field. How does this impact on the trajectory of their children’s career paths?
That statement by Shareef about not being his dad made me think that it could go one of two ways. He could either be inspired by his dad’s work ethic and achievements, using them as fuel to forge his own path to equal or even greater success, or he could feel overwhelmed by the towering legacy, his confidence worn down by the impossible task of living up to it.
When I was growing up, I often heard that a child’s objective in life should be to pick up where their parents have left off and do even better than they did as an adult. Although I agree with the sentiment, it is not to say that children need to follow in their parents’ footsteps in order to do this. I think each person is meant to chart their own path.
What I feel is worth emulating, and certainly in Shaq’s case, is a similar commitment to a good work ethic and the pursuit of excellence – in whatever career Shareef and all the other Shareefs of the world pursue.
What is important for children of greats and those considered to be role models is to satisfy themselves that they are doing the absolute best they can with their various talents, opportunities and skills. Trying to shape oneself in someone else’s image is ultimately a losing battle and limits the ability to fully realise one’s own potential. Now, that is not to say one cannot be inspired, but one must never wish to be someone else.
Interestingly, in the documentary, Shaq also reflects on this as he talks about the athletes who inspired him and the qualities he drew from them to shape the player he ultimately became.
He also makes the critical point that staying true to yourself is essential because people can always sense inauthenticity – a lesson that could save many from wasting years trying to be someone they’re not.DM
This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.