War Stories: Turning Down Michael Jordan's Bulls

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The year was 1995 and I’d just started in Management Consulting. Those first few months were interesting, exciting and (very) busy. I hadn’t been staffed on a project as yet, so I busied myself by helping several partners with proposal development and pitch work. That involved lots of research, coordination of different perspectives and inputs across the firm, and plenty of deck preparation.  

As a result, the hours were long. A typical day started at around 8 am and if I wrapped up by 9 or 10 pm, that was a ‘good’ day because it meant I could get a decent night’s sleep. (In fact, I remember one evening wrapping up at 7:30 pm and wondering what I was going to do with all this free time.) This wasn’t just weekdays - weekends were almost the same.

Eventually, I got into the rhythm and work became my one and only priority. Even when I had free time, I made sure I was around and available in case I was needed. I intentionally wouldn’t make plans that involved me being unavailable for more than an hour or so - even in the evenings. I was “on call”, you could say.

One Friday, about a couple of months in, a friend of mine who knew the hours I’d been keeping, called with a proposition: “I’ve got 2 tickets to see the Chicago Bulls this evening, and we’re going.” She said I needed a break, this would be fun and wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Now remember, this wasn’t just any basketball team. This was “The Bulls”: Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, and more. This was the greatest team ever with the greatest basketball player ever. This was a chance to see greatness in the flesh, the likes of which I probably wouldn’t ever see again. 

So I thought about it - and said “No”. 

Why? Because, well, I had to be available. I had to be “on call”. What if a partner needed to find me? I mean, it was too early in my career at the firm and I had to make a good impression. All these perfectly valid reasons (in my head) and more. So, despite her (vocal) protestations, I said no.

Looking back now, I find it incredulous that I opted out. Partly because I was turning down a chance to hang out with a good friend who was looking out for me, wanted me to take a break and have some fun. Partly because I turned down the chance to see one of the greatest teams ever, and to watch a living legend play. 

But also partly because I realized I had a complete inability to step back and disconnect, even when it was necessary for me. Because in my desire to perform and be viewed as committed and valuable, I completely put aside my own personal interests. And I did so to an extent far greater than what was actually necessary. 

The fact is that no one would have missed me if I’d taken an evening off and been unavailable, particularly on a Friday night. And if they did, well then, maybe they were the ones who needed to deal with it (especially since I’d been working crazy hours 7 days a week anyway). 

But I didn’t consider any of that. I simply said no and hung out in the office, doing work on presentations that didn’t have to get done that night. Like an idiot.

The point is, some level of balance is important. Compartmentalization and downtime is important. Taking the chance to see Jordan play was important. So while it’s important to be committed and do what needs to be done, and sacrifice things in doing so, it’s also important to look out for yourself.

I get that, in your twenties, that level of perspective can be hard to come by, especially when you’re trying to establish yourself. But you need to set some boundaries somewhere, and take at least a little bit of time for yourself. It’s absolutely necessary. 

Lessons of life, I suppose, especially in retrospect. You learn, and you move on. Which is what I’ve tried to do.

But, man, I wish I’d gone to the game....