What is the Common Denominator Between Tennis, Tamara, and Amazon?
Most of you have likely come across the emotional farewell message from legendary tennis player Roger Federer posted on X, paying tribute to Rafael Nadal upon his official retirement. Nadal, arguably the greatest player to ever hold a racket, literally "cried" during Federer’s final professional match. This moment wasn’t just about sportsmanship—it was about the mutual respect and friendship shared by two fierce competitors who dominated the tennis world for over two decades.
As a tennis enthusiast for 20 years, I’ve observed this remarkable respect isn’t exclusive to Federer and Nadal. It is a hallmark of the tennis world as a whole, where players often uplift one another even while competing at the highest levels. Why is this so common in tennis?
Why Respect Thrives in Tennis
In my view, tennis fosters respect because it is an individual sport, where players act and think independently. They learn early that hating their rivals or wishing them to lose does nothing to improve their game. Instead, they focus on personal growth and winning through relentless self-improvement.
This growth mindset has led many players to realize that success isn’t a zero-sum game. If more players excel, the sport thrives, offering greater joy, satisfaction, and even financial rewards for everyone involved. It’s a powerful reminder that collaboration and mutual success can coexist, even in competitive environments.
Similarities Between Tennis and Business
The principles that drive respect and growth in tennis are strikingly applicable to the business world. Just as tennis players switch rivals and adjust their strategies over time, professionals in the business world often “change jerseys,” moving between companies or industries. This impermanence reminds us that rivalry is temporary, and wasting energy rooting for others to fail is counterproductive.
Instead, focusing on personal growth, innovation, and achieving your goals is the path to lasting success.
“Wealth creation is an evolutionarily recent positive-sum game. Status is an old zero-sum game. Those attacking wealth creation are often just seeking status.” Naval Ravikant
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The Growth Mindset in Action
Federer himself credited Nadal with pushing him beyond his limits, to the point where he changed the size of his racket to keep up with his rival. Instead of focusing on making Nadal lose, Federer focused on becoming better, understanding that success in tennis can be a positive-sum game. Both players could thrive and achieve greatness without diminishing each other.
This mindset—seeking glory without wishing others to fail—is a hallmark of sustainable success. Aggressive, cutthroat tactics that aim to eliminate competition reflect a short-term “status-seeking” game. Such behavior produces few meaningful winners and suffocate innovation, mentorship, and economic growth.
Lessons for the Business World
Imagine a world where business leaders emulate Federer’s approach: competing to win rather than sabotaging others. Such a mindset would drive the creation of meaningful products and services, open up markets, and elevate knowledge-sharing and talent quality.
Fortunately, we already see examples of this mindset in the business world. Tamara’s co-founder and CEO Abdulmajeed Alsukhan exemplified this when, during an interview with Abdullah Almudeifer in the famous Alliwan talk show, he expressed no fear of new entrants to the BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) market in Saudi Arabia. Instead, he welcomed competition, saying, “The market is open, and the cake is large.” This attitude underscores the belief that collective growth benefits everyone.
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Similarly, Amazon embodies this ethos with its “Leadership Principles,” particularly the concept of “Customer Obsession.” Their CEO explained it succinctly: “I keep an eye on my competitors, but I am obsessed with my customers.” This focus on serving customers rather than fixating on rivals ensures long-term growth and innovation.
Whether in tennis or business, the growth mindset teaches us that the real competition is with ourselves. By striving for excellence without seeking others’ downfall, we create environments where everyone can thrive. Let’s take inspiration from Federer, Nadal, and forward-thinking leaders like Abdulmajeed and Andy. When we focus on winning our own race, we can drive innovation, foster collaboration, and build a better, more prosperous future for all.