What can your agency or consultancy learn from tennis great and 8x Wimbledon champion Roger Federer?

What can your agency or consultancy learn from tennis great and 8x Wimbledon champion Roger Federer?

Federer delivered Dartmouth’s 2024 Commencement address.

There, he shared powerful lessons applicable on and off the court.

One really struck a chord with me.

During his speech, Federer talked about his tennis career.

He mentioned that he played 1,526 singles matches.

Federer remarkably won nearly 80% of them.

But here’s the even more surprising part.

He only won 54% of the points played in those matches.

This means, that even the best tennis players only win slightly over half of the points.

But top performers learn not to dwell on every single shot.

Federer shared that when he made a mistake, he would tell himself:

“It’s only a point.”

This mindset allowed him to focus on the next point instead of getting stuck on the last one.

In life and work, you will face setbacks.

You might lose a client, fail a project, or miss a target.

It’s important not to let these setbacks define you.

Learn from them and move on.

Each new task or project is another opportunity to succeed.

Staying focused and committed to the next goal is crucial.

Federer emphasized that losing is part of the journey.

Even champions lose points, matches, and sometimes tournaments.

What makes them great is their ability to bounce back.

Accept the loss, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

Resilience is what defines true success.

You won’t win every pitch.

Not every campaign will be a hit.

When setbacks happen, don’t dwell on them.

Learn from each experience and move on.

Each new pitch, campaign, or project is your next point.

Approach it with intensity, clarity, and focus.

This is how you grow and succeed in the long run.

Whether you’re on a tennis court or in a boardroom, remember Federer’s advice.

“It’s only a point.”