People would rather follow a leader who is always real than one who is always right. – Craig Groeschel
In a recent commencement address at Dartmouth College, tennis star Roger Federer gave a captivating 20-minute speech. He summed it up this way:
Effortless is a myth
It’s only a point
Life is bigger than the court
It’s not often that you can find someone so succinct in helping others put life into context. But Federer pulled it off brilliantly.
In the case of Federer, he applied lessons from his former profession to a broader awareness of life. It’s a strong case for emotional intelligence. This is important because we often look in the wrong places to figure it out. And consequently, it makes no sense to us. But indulge me as I share a few thoughts on his main points.
Effortless is a myth
He pointed out in his speech, that there is no such thing as effortless. He worked extremely hard to make it appear effortless. He was quick to point out that he didn’t get to the level of success he achieved by talent alone. It required a tremendous amount of effort and work. He was pushed by his coaches, family, and even his opponents. His work ethic behind the scenes enabled him to be one of the all-time tennis greats we saw on the court.
Think about all the “overnight” successes you read about. Few see the long days and sleepless nights, few see the struggles that were overcome before everyone saw their success. What may appear to be effortless is the result of countless hours in the trenches working hard to make it appear that way. Any place worth going to is going to require a strong work ethic, grit, perseverance, and yes, effort. Click To Tweet
It’s only a point
One of the hardest things to learn in life is how to fail forward. In his speech, Federer spoke candidly about his losses. He said, “The best in the world are not the best because they win every point, it’s because they know they will lose again and have learned how to deal with it.”
The secret to Federer’s success and yours is found in knowing that you will not win every point. But you stay in the game, keep working hard, and guard your attitude. Federer added, “Negative energy is wasted energy.” When you understand that your failures and mistakes are just a point in the big picture, you can build upon them and come back stronger.
Life is bigger than the court
For Federer, life was meant to be lived outside the boundaries of the tennis court. He said, “Tennis could show me the world, but tennis could never be the world,” and this is how he intentionally set out to live his life. Be it travel, experiencing different cultures, or starting a foundation to serve others, he knew that life was bigger than tennis.
As you think and reflect upon your life, I would like to encourage you to take the same approach. Your life is more than the sum of the court you serve in. Commit yourself to serving a mission larger than yourself.
Final Thoughts
John Maxwell said, “Rich or poor, famous or obscure, young or old, anyone can be someone who gives more than they take.” This is the challenge we face and this is our aspiration as leaders.
©2024 Doug Dickerson
