How Playing Tennis Makes You A Smarter Entrepreneur
One of my absolute favorite sports to play is tennis. I may not be the best (especially recently since I’ve been playing against “private school” kids who have been playing their whole life), but it appeals to me on a lot of different levels. Aside from my “refuse to lose” competitive spirit, there is another more strategic aspect to tennis that has always been really stimulating to me. Just recently, I think I’ve figured out why:
Playing tennis is a whole lot like doing business.
Over the course of a long match, you have the ability to be down against your opponent, and then come back to win by observing and making adjustments in your own gameplay. This basically mirrors everything about the way I do business (you may remember me talking about half-time adjustments).
Let me give you an example: Nate, my former assistant and the CEO of my last book, has never beaten me in a game of tennis. He has had me down 5-2 TWICE and yet I never lost to him. In those matches, I took a step back after those first 7 games, and I reacted to what had already happened. I made the adjustments, targeted where I thought he was weak on the court, and was able to win 7-5 in the end (much to my happiness).
Mike Tyson once said “Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the face.” and I think that applies perfectly here. You think you have a business plan, you think you’re going to succeed, and then you’re out in the market and someone copies your product. Someone is better than you. Nobody wanted your stupid app. You’ve got to adjust.
Tennis perfectly embodies this because those initial games give you the ability to really observe your competition and understand where the weaknesses and strengths lie. Those realtime adjustments, the emotional composure, and the intestinal fortitude to come back after being on the brink of losing are crucial in business, and they certainly don’t hurt in a game of tennis either ;)
__
Thanks for reading! I'm going to be a judge on Miss America this weekend! Tune into ABC at 8pm EST for the pre-show. You can see more of my stuff at www.GaryVaynerchuk.com
Photo: David Lee / Shutterstock
Expert éco innovation | Economie circulaire | Energie & Nouvelles Technologies
8 年You are right. The complexity and the richness of this sport are infinite. Each match is the confluence of 2 people, 2 games, 4 brains with all the strategies and adaptation necessary in between. A match is before all, a match against yourself with a lot to do to adjust and keep control. Turns out to be much more brain demanding than many thinks :) Thanks for the interesting post!
Founder, direttore commerciale, executive coach
9 年Nice article; if you are also mentally trained and able to control your emotions you should improve the chance to adjust your strategy in business and on a court too!
Physics of Sports with Prof. Don R. Mueller.
9 年You might even get smarter by playing two-racket tennis (www.tworacket.com) or at least be better at doing several tasks simultaneously. Stimulate those neurons.
Web Developer & Digital Marketer | Expert in SEO, Facebook & Google Ads
10 年Such a wonderful post, thanks
CEO + Founder | Fractional CMO | CPG Brand Architect + Strategist | Wine + Spirits | Strategic + Digital Marketing | Nutritional Psychology
10 年As a competitive tournament Junior in USTA and college player, the discipline and focus needed for tennis has remained with me in life and business. A crucial element for me is the training to focus on "one ball at a time". Learn but set aside the past (bad shot, lost point) have the goal (I am to win), but focus in the point in the moment and execute. My nationally ranked daughter is also starting to apply the tennis principles to off court life, and the fortitude of the comeback she has so often exhibited on court is serving her well in other areas as well. Simply, tennis, business and life require the will to win, the grit and resilience to never give up, and discipline of preparation.