“If he had to mow the lawn, he would take his allowance and pay someone else to do it” – Michael Jordan avoided chores, opting to pay others instead

Michael Jordan found ways to get jobs done when he was young without much effort.

As a basketball player, there is no doubt that Michael Jordan succeeded immensely. He accomplished practically everything any NBA player could dream off. Unfortunately, his genius did not transcend when he shifted towards management.

Shifting from a player to an executive is not an easy task. Jordan never did common labor but always used his wits to get things done. In fact, as an adolescent, the North Carolina product never held a common job.

“Jordan had never held a job. He infuriated his father — he refused to do any work. If he had to mow the lawn, he would take his allowance and pay someone else to do it. He only had a job for one week of his life. And he quit it,” biographer Roland Lazenby revealed in an interview with the Washington Post in 2014.

The lone job that Michael allegedly held before his rise to basketball fame was cleaning swimming pools. Lazenby claims that Jordan hated water because of some drowning incidents he had witnessed in his youth.

Basketball changed MJ’s work ethic

For some, Michael’s ways when he was young seemed typical of anyone at his age. However, it was a different story for him when he played ball.

As a player, Jordan always wanted to do things his way. However, after a talk with Phil Jackson, MJ realized that his workload could be lighter if he allowed his teammates to work with him.

Jordan and the Bulls figured that out. Complimentary pieces like Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and John Paxson got into the act and helped out. Most importantly, Phil Jackson found common ground with the 6’6″ guard.

Jordan eventually realized that winning titles could be achieved through a good system and teamwork. He didn’t have to carry the full burden and just needed to trust his teammates. As a result, he won six championships with the Bulls.

MJ’s odd management philosophy had a different goal

With nothing more to prove, the next step for star players is to try managing or owning an NBA team. Given his track record, most believed Jordan would succeed.

Jordan got his chance at management with the Washington Wizards in 2000. He joined the team as a part owner and was named the President of basketball operations. His new challenge was to whip the Wizards into a contender. Michael knew what he wanted to do. However, the only problem is that he was allegedly uncooperative, according to Lazenby.

“He wasn’t real cooperative. He had negotiated things where he had less engagement; you know, fundamental flaws in his plan from the start,” the American journalist shared.

With MJ failing to work with the management team, the result was inevitable. Abe Pollin, the longtime owner of the team got pissed off at MJ and his management team and shocked the league by firing Jordan.

“The old guy was so infuriated by Jordan and his management group and their aloofness, perceived disrespect, that the guy who never fired anyone fired Michael Jordan,” Lazenby added.

Jordan never understood the reason behind his firing. He felt the franchise used him to gain traction but never accepted that his management skills were out of key.

“The gratitude that I was being given was, ‘Your services are no longer wanted or needed.’ So I felt like I was used, in a sense,” Jordan rued.

That disappointing stint with the Wizards did not stop Jordan from trying again. He would try again with the Charlotte Hornets, where he became a majority stake owner at one point.

Jordan uses his wits to get his hands dirty, something that he has been doing since he was a teen. Although it sometimes infuriates people, the bottom line is that MJ is a natural businessman.