Why Athletes Make Great Entrepreneurs

I’ve been enjoying all the action of Rio. I love the Olympics, and the incredibly exciting atmosphere they create. There’s nothing more stirring than watching the world come together in a supportive environment that celebrates the human spirit.

From the Olympics to cheering on my children, sport has always moved me. It’s been a constant positive and influence in my life. When I was young, I didn’t make the grade in class, but my saving grace at school was sport. I excelled at rugby, cricket and track and field, but sadly when I was 12 years-old, I tore the cartilage in my right knee so badly playing football that I had to have an operation. You can imagine how upset I was when the doctor told me that I couldn’t play or compete again for a long time. 

When I did make my return I found a passion for tennis, and dreamt of playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon. I didn’t quite have the talent to make it as a pro, but have been a keen amateur all through my life. I love the intensity, the artistry and the excitement of a great tennis match – and it’s a wonderful way to keep fit and relax too. If you ever want to track me down on Necker Island, if I’m not on a kiteboard I’ll be on a tennis court.

The mental side of tennis has always enormously appealed to me too. While you have an opponent on the other side of the net, the most challenging adversary is yourself. You have to get into the right frame of mind in order to perform your best, and need to be able to put setbacks behind you instantly. In effect, the discipline and determination it takes to compete as a professional athlete is not unlike what it takes to be an entrepreneur. 

A lot of things learned through sport are transferable into other aspects of life. I certainly found that the skills I’ve acquired playing tennis have been beneficial to my business career. One key lesson I’ve learned, which applies far beyond the court, is to treat each point separately. Forget the last mistake and move onto the next challenge. Tennis, like business, moves so quickly that if you dwell on the past for even a few minutes, an opportunity will have passed and the moment will be lost. 

An elbow injury put me out of play for the latter half of last year, so when I took up my racket again I had to work hard to improve my backhand. I practiced with our coach on Necker Island to break down the specifics of the stroke, and repeated numerous exercises to both strengthen my wrist and my technique. I carried out drills designed to push me into positions where I need to use it repeatedly. Soon I learned that perfecting my backhand is a lot like my business strategy – it saw me focusing on four specific areas: recovery, early preparation, confidence and practice. 

In this regard, I believe that athletes make great business people. Which is good because in elite-level sport, the time period for success is short, and retirement is long. But life after sport offers a great opportunity for reinvention. That’s one of the things I love most about sport and business: the opportunity for redemption. Lose a tie break? Another set is coming up to change your game. Miss an important opportunity to invest or get an idea off the ground? Another opportunity will present itself soon enough.  

So, what’s my advice for athletes seeking to succeed in the professional world after retirement? Treat business like sport – follow your passions, keep an open mind to new opportunities, and refuse to take no for an answer.

More posts on this topic:

• Athletes are built for more than sports. Here’s why we need to become businessmen, too. — Andre Iguodala
• How I bounced back from #120 to #2 on golf’s money list — Mark O’Meara
• Why your career in sports doesn’t end after retirement. Here’s how I learned how to do even more. — Jennie Finch
• Why Women in Sports is Better for Business:  My Experience Training for Marathons — Dambisa Moyo
• Going professional: Why you should never stop thinking like an athlete — Eric Spiegel
• I won Olympic gold — and had to learn how to lose — Stephanie Trafton
• How my Olympic experience helped me start my own business — Mary Andrews
• From the Olympics to Home Depot: How I made the transition after breaking a world record — Kevin Young
• How to Incorporate “The Olympian Way” into your workplace — Marilyn King
• I spent eight years working towards the Big Leagues, but what’s most important is what comes after. — Dan Black
• What Olympic training taught me — and why we each embody Olympian values — Kimberly Carlisle
• My career after my career: Why athletics makes me a better entrepreneur — Wladimir Klitschko