Netflix’s HUSTLE (2022) is the story of Stanley Sugarman, a veteran professional basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. He lives from hotel to hotel around the world in search of the next big star. However, what Sugarman truly yearns for is to be promoted to the position of an assistant coach to have a more settled family life.
Then, he discovers Bo Cruz, a raw but talented street basketball player while he was in Spain. Sugarman sees this as an opportunity for him to be promoted to his dream position. So, he prepares him for the NBA draft. Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems as Sugarman has to overcome many obstacles to reach his goal.
Adam Sandler takes on a more dramatic approach playing Sugarman, and he absolutely slam dunks his role here. As for Juancho Hernangomez, he puts on a very sincere performance as Bo Cruz. As of this writing, Hustle has become Adam Sandler’s most loved movie with both fans and critics on Rotten Tomatoes, sitting fresh on the shelf at 93%!
This movie teaches us the 4 P’s of character traits we need to embody if we want to achieve our long-term goals.
1. PASSION – Have Clear Goals
The clearer and more specific your destination, the easier it is to break it down into a set of concrete daily steps you can take.
That said, you need to be obsessed with your why: Sugarman said to Cruz, “Obsession is gonna beat talent every time”. When you are sold out to your goals, just like how Sugarman was with wanting that coaching position so badly, you will become equally obsessed with making it work and seeing it succeed.
2. PERSEVERANCE – Never Give Up
Once you’re committed to a goal, trust me, obstacles will be thrown at you. It’s like the universe is testing your commitment.
Sugarman faced a multitude of hurdles getting Cruz into the NBA draft: his boss was against him, he ran out of funding and he had to deal with a lack of support from those around him. Instead of succumbing to these roadblocks, he persisted and kept adjusting his moves towards achieving his goal.
3. PUSH BOUNDARIES – Take Risks
Sugarman risked his job by bringing Bo Cruz to America without the approval of his head coach. It pushed Cruz and Sugarman outside of their comfort zones and forced them to innovate to reach their goals of playing and coaching in the NBA respectively.
Not only does taking risks boost self-confidence, but it can also increase the confidence of those around the risk-taker because they feel they are worth the risk.
4. PATIENCE – Good Things Take Time
Eventhough there was a tight time frame to prepare Cruz for the draft, Sugarman understood some things can’t be rushed – like the daily training programme he put Cruz on. He didn’t cut corners and he respected the process.
You need to understand that achieving your goal is going to require patience and if you’re mentally prepared for it even before the gun goes off at the starting line, you are going to get a lot further.
In summary: Find the right coach/mentor to guide you throughout your journey because they will challenge you with new perspectives. They will accelerate your growth. They will keep you accountable to your words and goals and encourage you along the way. They don’t give up on you just like how Sugarman never gave up on Bo Cruz.
