Picking up where they left off dancing on stage, Baron tells Jama: "I think that's what dance has taught me is just like sports, be comfortable being uncomfortable."
Baron Davis is a two-time NBA All-Star who led the league in steals twice and now invests in 26+ companies. He founded Business Inside the Game (BIG), connecting athletes, creators, and entrepreneurs, and Sports, Lifestyle in Culture (SLIC), which empowers creators through original content and IP development.
Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
"I was just having fun. I was just kind of doing something that people wouldn't expect. I think it's overall just conquering the fear, like living outside your comfort zone." Baron's philosophy isn't just about movement. It's about taking action despite fear and learning faster by throwing yourself to the wolves.
Show Up Ready, No Matter Who Shows Up
"I was ready for 400 people but only four people showed up. If I'm ready like this every time, you never know when the 40 to the 400 are going to show up." You don't wait for perfect conditions. You show up prepared, stay consistent, and welcome whatever comes as a chance to learn rather than failure. Baron talks about the reality checks, the days that aren't the greatest. The question is: how do you overcome? How do you continue to push through? The answer is readiness. Present moment awareness. Always be learning.
The 5%
"The 5% in the corner having a good time become the gravitational pull for the other 95%." Change doesn't happen by convincing everyone. It happens when a core group is so aligned and energized that others naturally want to join.
Media That Honors People
Too much media focuses on "argumentative, debating, knocking people down" instead of honoring people's stories, their sacrifice, their full humanity. Baron's calling for media that celebrates the complete story. Where people come from, what they've sacrificed, who they are. "A lot of that makes up your story and your DNA." Quality and substance over noise.
Learn From Mistakes
"Here are the mistakes that I made...Here are the ways that I would definitely tell you to go the other way." The most valuable thing you can give someone isn't just your wins. It's the honest account of what didn't work, how you learned the hard way so they don't have to. Real roadmaps.
Baron's Leadership Lessons
"Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"
"Champions are made when nobody's around, when you're putting in the work behind closed doors"
"Throw me to the wolves. I learn faster when I'm around wolves and sharks"
"There is no failure, only incremental stages on the way to success"
Action Opportunities
Learn more: Business Inside the Game at bigsummits.com and @BIGsummits, SLIC Studios at slicsports.com, @BaronDavis on Instagram
Be part of the 5%: Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Practice curiosity. Show up ready. Give someone the ball.
Support entrepreneurs: Invest in companies from underrepresented founders. Attend BIG Summit events. Amplify creators through SLIC. Support companies that serve everyone, not just shareholders.
Chapters
00:00 The Power of Dance and Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
02:54 Cultural Shifts and the 5% Influence
05:53 Leadership vs. Individual Talent
08:40 The Responsibility of Storytelling
11:32 The Impact of Information Overload
14:34 Legacy and the Future of Culture
19:53 The Value of Storytelling in Community
22:17 Building Beloved Communities
23:51 The Shift in Community Engagement
26:20 Reevaluating Personal Values and Community
29:16 The Entrepreneurial Journey and Community Support
32:02 Navigating Entrepreneurship and Investor Relationships
34:56 Meeting People Where They Are
36:56 "There is no failure, only incremental stages on the way to success"
