Baby Steps to Glory: What Michael Jordan and Daniel from the Bible have in common

Hi there and welcome back!

I’ve always wanted a life filled with adventure and excitement - a life of doing great things and developing relationships with amazing people. Being the Disney freak I am, my anthem for many years was that iconic line from Belle: “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell.”

And yet… I’m a highly introverted hermit who has to make herself go to the gym as a forced socialization exercise. So, what happened?

The Narratives That Boxed Me In

I think I believed too many bad narratives. Yes, I am naturally introverted, but what was this anxiety that flared up at the mere thought of meeting a friend for coffee?

I’ve struggled with deep-seated insecurities. I’ve felt invisible. Unwanted. Like people only engaged with me out of politeness - not because I was truly liked or likable.

Also, let’s be real: I’m a big ol’ scaredy cat.Heights? Nope. The ocean? Too deep. Snakes? GET BEHIND ME, SATAN.

I let my own brain get the best of me. When I thought, “Man, skydiving would be amazing,” my brain piped up with death statistics. And I listened. I let my brain win.

Over time, I boxed myself in - physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.

The Truth About Greatness

A few years ago, I read a book that challenged me deeply. (I’ll include the title at the end.)

One part talked about Michael Jordan - one of the greatest basketball player of all time - and it absolutely shattered the myth that greatness is something you're just born with. They showed example after example of high achievers who weren't innately gifted in some supernatural way. What they had was single-minded focus. They trained. They practiced. They worked harder than everyone else. They kept their eye on the prize.

That’s it.

Michael Jordan wasn’t great because he had something you lack. He was great because he was relentlessly focused on becoming great.

Daniel in the Lion’s Den… at 70?

Now let’s talk about something on the spiritual side.

I was reading through the Bible and marveling at the amazing things people experienced with God, especially in the Old Testament. People like Moses, Noah, Esther, and Daniel had such wild, miraculous lives. I remember thinking, “Well sure, that’s because they were prophets or special or something.”

But then I got stuck on Daniel. The lion’s den. His friends in the fiery furnace. Dreams, visions, prophecies… wow. What a life!

But then I noticed something: these things didn’t happen overnight. Daniel’s story played out over decades.

He interpreted his first dream at around 20. He was thrown into the lion’s den at around 70. He lived to be over 80.

For most of his life, he wasn’t performing miracles - he was just… working. He was a slave. An exile. A faithful, godly man doing his job in a foreign kingdom.

What made Daniel extraordinary wasn't a superpower. It was his daily, unwavering commitment to seeking God.

Scripture says he turned his face toward Jerusalem to pray three times a day, every day. That’s how his enemies knew exactly where and when to find him and report him to the king - which is what landed him in the lion’s den.

He was that reliable. That dedicated.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Here’s the big takeaway.

Whether it’s Michael Jordan perfecting his jump shot or Daniel praying in exile, greatness comes from daily, consistent effort. Not some magical spark.

They were focused. Resilient. Disciplined. They did the little things. Over and over and over again.

That’s the heart behind my coaching philosophy: Baby Steps to Glory. It’s not about overnight success. It’s about daily, intentional effort toward a clear goal.

You might be working on becoming more productive. Or getting your finances in order. Or deepening your relationship with God. No matter what it is - baby steps are the way there.

We tend to see the reward and forget the work. But greatness is built in the daily grind.

So whether you’re trying to hit a personal goal, build a new habit, or grow spiritually, I hope you’ll take a page out of Daniel’s book. Or heck, even Michael Jordan’s! Show up. Do the work. Trust the process.

Glory isn’t in the grand moment. It’s in the baby steps you take every day to get there.

Who inspires you with their dedication? What “baby step” can you take today? Let me know in the comments!

Book Recommendation: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.