LeBron James Changed His Shoes!!!

Real Talk with Judge Dawson


It was Game 5 of the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference finals, the Indiana Pacers where continuing to give the Miami Heat a very challenging night.  Most people who watched the game agree that the Pacers “should’ve” been up by at least 10 points before the half time.  However, due to mistakes, missed shots and fouls the game was close.  In the third quarter of the game LeBron, once again, showed that he is still a focused and determined young man by scoring or assisting in 25 of the Miami Heat’s 30 points for that quarter.  Following are the three things that LeBron James did to turn that game around and act like a Cycle Breaker.   As you will see, we can apply these same actions to our lives to be the best that we can be and avoid negative interaction with the legal system.

LeBron engaged in serious reflection and analyzation.  Specifically, LeBron shared choice words with his team that included cursing as well as encouragement.  When we are faced with challenging situations.  When life is not going in the direction that we want it to go, it’s time for serious reflection and analyzation.  I tell people in my Court everyday that going to court, going to jail or getting in trouble should not be a regular part of your life.  These situations should not become normal.  If they are normal to you then its time to go in different direction.  The first step in going in different direction is to do what LeBron did, engage in serious reflection and analysis.  You don’t have to curse anyone out but you have to take a hard look at your situation and expect better for yourself.

LeBron went into the locker room and changed his shoes.  LeBron took the ceremonial step of changing his shoes.  Now of course the story from the media was that his other shoes were defective in some way, but that’s not how I saw it.  In fact, after watching LeBron play for many years in Cleveland, I knew that he was engaging in a ceremonial yet motivational action.  By changing his shoes, he was releasing himself from the person he was or performance that he gave in the first half.  He was telling himself that this is a fresh start, a new beginning and a new opportunity to be extraordinary.  For us, we need to ceremonially change our shoes.  It can be a change in our environment, or changing our telephone number so that he/she can’t call us anymore.  When you take the physical step to disconnect from something that you want to walk away from, you are setting yourself up to win.

LeBron gave it 100% and took full responsibility for the outcome.  In a post game interview LeBron said that his teammates seemed like they were “waiting” for something to happen.  So in order for the team to achieve their greatness he had to put the team on his back and carry them to the win.  In our lives we must take 100% responsibility for the situation that we find ourselves in.  You can always blame someone else, but you can not control the other person.  The only person who you can control is you.  Therefore, it’s a waste of time blaming someone else when you can not do anything about them.  I know from experience how it is sometimes hard to take responsibility.  I know a person who was fired based on poor performance but convinced himself that the employer discriminated against him.  That person will never change or better himself because he is in denial about his problem area.  By taking 100% responsibility, you are forcing yourself to change the only thing that you can - YOU.  Then, after you take 100% responsibility, give it everything that you’ve got.  Work hard toward achieving your goals.  Put it all on yourself.  Make it so that if you don’t win, you can only blame yourself.

LeBron James came out in the third quarter of game 5 and turned it on.  He tapped into his greatness when he 1. reflected & analyzed his situation, 2. ceremonially changed his shoes and 3. took 100% responsibility for where he was and decided to put his goals on his back and work to achieve his desired outcome.

Being a Cycle Breaker, thereby changing your life, your family and your community takes hard work and dedication.  You deserve better than going to jail and being caught in the legal system.  Stay in the game and remember that Cycle Breakers Finish First.

East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission is to use every ounce of his body to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  To receive a copy of his newsletter reach out by:
judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com
www.Judgedawson.com