Bo Cruz in Netflix's Hustle

And seven things you can learn from the story

I was hungry and bored on a Monday night. I served my food but I wanted to see a movie while I ate. I didn't want to read a book or listen to a podcast. You know that moment when all you want to do is to chill, eat, relax and have fun, right?

While doing this, I stumbled on Netflix's hustle. If you have seen Hustle, you can skip the summary part and move straight to the lessons. If not, you may consider reading the summary to understand the context.

Summary of Netflix's Hustle.

Hustle is a story of how Bo Cruz moved from being a construction worker who made extra cash playing basketball on the streets to becoming a player for the Boston Celtics. 

Image credit: Netflix.com

Stanley Sugarman's dream was to become a Coach. Being a coach would give him time for his family and he wouldn't have to constantly cross seven seas and oceans in search of talented basketball players. His dreams were realized when Rex Merrick, the owner of 76ers  appointed him as an assistant coach. That didn't last as Rex died that night. His son, Vincent Merrick took over and demoted Stanley after three months. He equally tasked Stanley with the task of finding the missing piece(the next superstar).

Stanley got back to his former form of traveling in search of the best talents. One of the days, after being entertained by one of his friends in Mallorca, Spain, he stumbled on Bo Cruz, a construction worker, who was playing basketball that day. He played basketball on the streets as a way of earning extra cash. While he played, the crowd cheered, and Stanley recognized his abilities. He knew he had found what he had been looking for.

But, there was a problem. No one knew Bo Cruz.

Stanley Sugarman tried so hard to convince his boss, Vincent at the Philadelphia 76ers to take him up but he wouldn't do that after considering reasons like Character, Competence, and professionalism. 

22-year-old Bo had anger management issues, criminal records, and a lovely daughter. Bo Cruz played with construction boots and had not played a professional basketball game for 8 years.

Despite Vince's disapproval of Bo Cruz, yet, Stanley paid to bring Cruz to the US, telling Cruz he will be signed by the Sixers or enter the NBA draft. Cruz did not know what had transpired between Vince and Stanley.

When Vince refused to sign Bo, Stanley quitted the 76ers to prepare Cruz for the NBA Draft Combine. The NBA Draft Combine is done prior to the NBA Draft. During the combine, players are tested medically. Their athletic abilities are tested too and only those who are invited have the privileges of attending. So, the combine was six week away. Teresa; Stanley’s wife and Alex: Stanley’s daughter assisted by preparing meals and taping workouts. 

After several calls, Stanley was not able to get Bo Cruz to the NBA Draft Combine. Earlier, Stanley showed Alex a video of his Basketball superstar friend, Dr. J. That video went viral. Since Bo needed certain people to see him, Alex thought maybe, going viral could help.

So, the Sugarmans got the help of Dr. J:Julius Erving to create a viral video of "the #BOA Challenge.” At the #BOA challenge, where Basketball players, attempted to score on Bo for mind-blowing cash prizes ranging from $50,$100,$500& $1000. Dr. J agreed. So did the players. They could not resist the offer. The prizes were mind-blowing.

While they played, Alex recorded it. So did other young people who watched the challenge. It didn't take long for the #BOA challenge to go viral. Bo Cruz went viral too. He became known. People saw that he was talented. Consequently, he was accepted into the NBA Draft combine. Stanley brought Lucia, his daughter, and Paola, his mom to the US so they could cheer him. Family is everything, you know.

The game started with Bo shining and displaying as usual until Wilts Kermit begins talking trash about Bo's daughter and mother, so he eventually breaks, pushing Wilts down, and storming out.

The unfortunate thing was that everyone was watching. He was on national TV.

It was as if Bo's journey was over. He packed to go back to Spain. Stanley accompanied him. While they were at the airport, Leon Rich called Stanley to tell him about a private game for players and certain people. Immediately, they rushed to the Basketball court.

Wiltz Kermit was invited too. However, Bo came back to play this time with a greater mental strength. During the game, Kermit tried so hard to get at him but he couldn't. He didn't. Bo had mastered his core.

In the end, Bo ended up playing for the Boston Celtics while Stanley Sugarman realized his dream of being a coach. Kat, Rex's daughter, and Vince's sister re-employed him as the assistant coach for the 76ers.

Such a happy ending isn't it?

The dream was so real that I thought it was a real story only to find out it was just fiction!

Seriously, the screenwriters, Taylor Materne and Will Fetters should be celebrated.

Drum rolls for them, please.

7 lessons from the story

As I wrote in the first issue of this publication, I like to see stories as footprints that are capable of guiding humans. Through stories, you learn what you should do and what you should not do.

Let's talk about the lessons.

• You need to be visible to "certain people."

Certain people here, means the right audience. That is, people that would appreciate what you do and what you are doing.

Certain people just need to see you play.

Best known beats the best when the best is not known- Obiajulu Onyema.

For Bo Cruz, it was the leaders of the basketball teams. But there he was. Plenty of talent but unknown to the right people.

How about you? Who knows what you have got? Are you in the face of the right people, or are you collecting some bucks for something that should make you a superstar?

• You need a coach

We all do. You need someone to train you and teach you. A coach brings the best in you. Bo Cruz was talented. But he needed a coach to train and teach him to refine his talents. He needed to work on his emotions, attitude, and skills. That's exactly what Stanley Sugarman helped him to do. 

• You need to obey your coach

I can bet that if Bo Cruz refused to submit to the disciplines and training by his coach, he won't have made it to Boston Celtics. He would still be lacking in character and professionalism.

• You need to be trained professionally.

You see that vision book of yours lying on your table, right? I want you to open it. I want you to understand that for you to become who you want to be, professional training is not an option. Your character, manner of conduct, speech, and skills has to be shaped.

• Tech is powerful. Leverage it.

After Stanley discovered Bo Cruz, he had a hard time getting him in front of the faces of certain people. But after the #BOA challenge. He made it to the NBA draft combine. Everyone got to know about him. He went viral! Which was what was needed. Social media is a powerful tool. The internet is a powerful tool. Leverage it.

• Emotional intelligence is key.

Bo got to the NBA draft combine. Finally, he was playing in front of the world. He was doing fine till Wiltz Kermit began to say unfriendly things about him. He lost it and almost attacked Wiltz. He stormed out of the Basketball court. That would have been all for him if a private game wasn't organized.

You need to manage your emotions and not allow people to get to you.

You can't control what people say to you or about you but you can control how you react to it.

It's not easy but it can be learned. 

• Maximize your youth.

You can't be in the NBA draft if you are over 22 and from overseas- Stanley Sugarman

It's okay if it's not your dream to be in the NBA draft. But, here is the thing. Some opportunities have age barriers attached to them.

For example, I learned of the Queen's Commonwealth essay competition when I was 20. It is only for young people aged between 15-18 years. I was so disappointed. When I was between 15-18, I didn't know such stuff existed.

Ignorance is not an excuse. Maximize your youth. Google! Research! Be informed.

Friend, I can talk about the lessons I learned from this movie for a whole day. But I shared only 7 so you won’t be overwhelmed with knowledge.

You can watch the movies to get extra lessons that speaks exactly to your situation. Hustle is a great movie. Indeed, movies are great tools for quality education.

Watch hustle here.

Oh, while you think of how you would be visible to the right people. I want you to know this.

For Stanley to have seen Bo Cruz or recognized his talent, Bo was at least faithful with his hustle. He was playing. So the gist is to do your thing. You don't know who is watching. You also do not know when an opportunity will come knocking at your door.

APOLOGIES AND ANNOUNCEMENT

I am sorry I didn't write to you last week.

Please,  expect a make-up letter from me on Thursday.

Voices will be live every Sunday.

Sunday is the first day of the week. The idea is to send you stories that will inspire you and give you a head start for the week.

Please, don't forget to share and forward it to your friends.

Questions for you

1. Based on what you learned, what is the one thing you would stop doing today?

2. What is one thing you would start doing now?

Happy new week!

I can't wait to hear from you!