I just saw a video of Roger Federer giving a commencement speech at Dartmouth College this week. I wanted to share some of the points he made.
First of all he definitely reflected what it was like to be a professional tennis player. It was only the second time he had ever been on a college campus. He left home at 15 or 16 to lived in a facility dedicated to tennis; he mentioned that for a period of time he was very homesick. But then his perception changed and the world became his home.
He was known for traveling with his family and making every stop another opportunityto learn about the heart of the area they were visiting. His approach was that tennis wasn't everything - family was. His family visited museums and had field trips to learn about the area and they continue to do that to this day.
In his early career, he lacked self-control and was known for his temper including throwing his racquet. His family and coaches helped hum become the face of class and elegance.
There was a period of time when he dominated men's tennis and he ended up with 103 tournament victories. I loved to watch him play tennis.
In his talk, he made three points about life. He used the points about tennis but they apply to life.
His first is that "effortless is a myth." He was known for making it look easy. "The truth is I had to work very hard to make it look easy." Hard work is the foundation of confidence and success. In the end nothing is as easy as it looks. When going for a goal it;s helpful to know what it will take to become great. It has been said it takes 10,000 reps for a shot to be mastered.
The second point is that it's only a point. Roger won 1,526 singles matches which amounted to 80% of his matches. Yet he only won 54% of the points. In life, you will lose points over and over again. But do not dwell on a lost point. This can lead to a mindset of self-doubt and negative energy. The point is lost; it is time for the next point. This leads to clarity and focus knowing you are one step closer to a win.
Last is having a life beyond the court. It is about serving others. It is about working with your personal team brought to spirit to grow with the next limitless opportunities. Remember as John Donne wrote, "No man is an island." There is a balance to life that must occur to move forward.
Thanks Dr. Roger for the beautiful tennis lesson. Yes, at one point he gave a quick lesson on the forehand demonstrating with his racquet. Just classy............
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