What entrepreneurs can learn from professional tennis
For two weeks late this summer, I allowed myself to indulge in tennis - a lot of tennis. It was the U.S. Open.
I even checked off a bucket list item — attending the night session for two quarterfinal matches (cue the angels singing).
As I shared back In July, when the major in play was Wimbledon and the story was the run of American Christopher Eubanks, there are business lessons in tennis.
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Pump yourself up and work the crowd.
Players did both, and often. After winning a long rally with a seemingly impossible shot, they got pumped — arms, fists, faces. To motivate themselves for the next point.
And then they turned to the crowd, raised their arm, and they did a little cupped hand wave — yes, cheer louder, clap more. To feed off the energy of the crowd for the next point (and I can attest to that energy).
This is gameplay. It’s using yourself and those around you to get to the next right step in your business.
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Your competition will make you better.
Many of the players are friends off the court. Some are even tennis doubles partners who play together right after their singles match has ended.
On the court, they play every point to win. They use their opponent’s game to raise their own.
Use what you see others doing well to up your own business game.
And know that there are others doing the same with your game. It’s spurring them on.
NB: If you're getting pulled in too many directions by what you see on social, ignore the competition - please.
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The score is an interesting thing.
This point was made clear to me during two matches.
The first was the women’s quarterfinal I attended live. Karolina Muchová bested Sorana Cîrstea 6-0 in the first set.
You’d think this was a blowout set, but it wasn’t. There was one game that set that went to “deuce” a dozen times — basically resetting the game so the player who wins two consecutive points takes the game. It was a closer match than the score let on.
The second was watching a women’s semifinal at home. During the second set, one of the commentators noted that tennis scoring is odd when compared to other sports.
One of the players was in the lead in terms of games won, but the point total for each player was the same: 61.
How do you count “points” in your business? What is a win? What does success look like?
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They own their result.
Win or lose they own their result.
When they win, they thank their team.
When they lose, they rarely blame anyone else — their team or the other player.
They take responsibility for their performance — good or bad — using what they learned for their next outing.
This is a winning mindset.
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If you’re ready to up your game, I’d love to be the one in your corner.
Check out my Monthly Business Coaching Options.