“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” -Muhammad Ali
Born Cassius Clay Jr. in 1942 Louisville, Kentucky, Muhammad Ali was the greatest heavyweight fighter in the history of boxing. He was a transformative figure who transcended sports. Ali, an American boxer and international icon, was a legend of his time. He became a worldwide force, and the people's civil rights champ, who craved the spotlight but defined his own persona.
As his career grew, so did his voice. He understood how to connect the prospect to the product. Muhammad Ali always knew how to deliver on his promise of value, making him the greatest marketer. Muhammad Ali was the most charismatic athlete, whose trash talk was legendary. He didn’t just beat his opponents he would tell them how he was going to do it.
His last fight would be with Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed in his early 40s he never let the disease define him. And in a moment that many across the world would remember, he put the disease on the ropes to light the 1996 Olympic flames in Atlanta.
Here are four things that Muhammad Ali lived by that could help you become the Muhammad Ali of your marketing.
Believe in yourself
There will always be naysayers. People will always be rooting for you to fail, but if you stay humble and believe in yourself, then anything is possible. Ali's success was greatly built on his unceasing belief in himself. He practiced psychological warfare - he had such a great belief in himself that his opponents couldn't help but to accept it as truth. So much so that most of them lost the fight before the bell was rang for the first round. Muhammad Ali proclaimed himself ‘the greatest”, believed in it, then backed it up.
Spend time developing what you have to offer
If only some of us would spend more time developing what we have to offer, than we do talking about it. Muhammad Ali was focused, disciplined and relentless. He declared he was the greatest but had to go through some stuff to finally make it happen... Ali’s success was a lifetime in the making. Many make claims that they never backup, poor products with awesome marketing. But like Muhammad Ali said, “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.” He said he was the Greatest and worked tirelessly to make it fact.
Don’t take yourself too seriously
Unlike some, Muhammad Ali’s trash talk made him likable. His sense of humor became the symbol of his intelligence, eloquently displayed in his poetic expressions and prolific ability to compose rhymes. Ali made people like him by not taking himself too seriously. However, that didn’t mean he didn’t take things seriously.
Never compromise your principles
In 1967, Muhammad Ali took a moral stand against the Viet Nam War as a conscientious objector. Ali laid it all on the line, and was stripped of his title and exiled from boxing at the height of his career. He refused to conform regardless of the consequences… And the world loved him for it! He displayed tremendous courage that even the people who didn’t like him, had to respect him. It wasn’t easy, he could have saved his professional career but he believed in a cause and paid the price by not compromising on his principles.
What is your favorite Muhammad Ali moment?
Nicole Williams is the owner of Nicole Williams Collective and Nicole's Lifestyle Lounge, teaching women to build kickass personal brands and events that are stylish, honest, and an authentic expression of who they are.