This Week I Learned
What Roger Federer Taught Me About Mastery and Resilience
Sports shape us in ways we often don’t realize, offering metaphors that resonate even with those who've never played. I was reminded of this during Roger Federer’s commencement speech at Dartmouth’s 2024 graduation ceremony. His insights offered three key lessons that apply far beyond the tennis court.
Lesson #1: Effortless is a Myth
Federer highlighted that true mastery involves making the difficult look easy. This illusion of effortlessness is the result of relentless practice and dedication. Have you ever noticed that when you’re with the best salespeople, it doesn’t feel like you’re being sold? Watching Tiger Woods sink a 10-foot putt at the Masters makes us all think we can put the perfect touch on the fastest greens. When you watch a concert pianist play a complex piece effortlessly, it's easy to forget the years of practice and countless hours of repetition behind each flawless performance. Excellence is truly about the hard work behind the scenes. ,
Federer put it best when recalling a humbling moment:
"The wakeup call came early in my career, when an opponent at the Italian Open publicly questioned my mental discipline. He said, “Roger will be the favorite for the first two hours, and then I’ll be the favorite after that.”
I was puzzled at first. But eventually, I realized what he was trying to say. Everybody can play well the first two hours. You’re fit, you’re fast, you’re clear... and after two hours, your legs get wobbly, your mind starts wandering, and your discipline starts to fade.
It made me understand... I have so much work ahead of me, and I’m ready to go on this journey now.”
To achieve this level of effortless performance, one must prepare exhaustively and have multiple strengths to rely on, especially on challenging days when nothing seems to go right. This combination of grit and resilience is a talent in itself.
Lesson #2: It’s Only a Point
Federer shared a humbling statistic: despite winning nearly 80% of his matches, he only won 54% of the points played. This teaches us to focus on the bigger picture and not dwell on individual setbacks.
"When you’re playing a point, it is the most important thing in the world. But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you."
This mindset is crucial, particularly in high-pressure situations. Whether in athletics, where players must forget their misses, or in business, where setbacks are inevitable, the ability to move on and focus on the next opportunity is vital.
Years ago, I did door-to-door sales. Sounds glamorous, right? It’s pretty much exactly what you think it would be. You spend 9-10 hours a day knocking on doors under the hot sun, interrupting people’s dinners, their pet projects, and sometimes their only time to relax. I was verbally berated, constantly rejected, and even had a gun pulled on me. In that line of work, making one or two sales a day meant you were successful and could earn pretty good money over the summer.
To succeed, you had to reset mentally between every door. If you approached someone sulking or feeling bad because the last person insulted you, you could guarantee they wouldn’t become a successful sale. So, you had to reset your mindset continually. In other words, you often had to hear 50-100 "no’s" before you could get a "yes." And that "yes" would only come if you approached it as the most important pitch of the day. If you lost that sale, the next pitch became the most important.
Lesson #3: Life is Bigger than the Court
Federer emphasized the importance of a well-rounded life, finding fulfillment beyond single achievements. This can include valuing your profession, travel, culture, friendships, family, and community. His advice to graduates was to embrace new experiences and give their best in everything they do.
"I’m here to tell you... from the other side of graduation... that leaving a familiar world behind and finding new ones is incredibly, deeply, wonderfully exciting."
This reminds me of a close friend and former colleague who left a successful job where he had been fast-tracked for a top position in the company. He took great pride in the success he’d had and the recognition he received, but he didn't feel challenged in the way he wanted nor did he feel like he was succeeding at home. In time, he “graduated” from that job and took a position with a different firm where he had significant upside, but it was with people he didn't know, doing work he hadn't done before. Initially, he was excited about the opportunity, but ten weeks later, he called me, considering returning to his former job. In talking with him, I iterated on a graphic I’d once seen to make it more relevant to his situation and sent it to him.
This visual helped him understand that his struggles were a natural part of the transition process. He had to mentally commit to leaving the familiarity of his last job in order to see the opportunities given in this new lifepath.
To reinforce the idea, I shared the concept of "burning your boats" from Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, which states, "Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. Only by so doing can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win, essential to success."
When we last spoke, he was heading to Japan to snowboard with a snowboarding legend and one of his childhood extreme sports idols. By embracing new experiences and giving his best, he has found great success in his role, become a more present parent, and achieved a well-rounded and fulfilling life, just as Federer advised.
Embracing the Journey
Federer’s wisdom underscores a broader truth: success is not just about winning. It’s about the journey, the resilience to overcome setbacks, and the ability to find joy and meaning in all aspects of life.
True mastery, resilience, and fulfillment come from hard work, the ability to move past failures, and finding joy in the journey. As we continue to grow and strive for excellence in our professional and personal lives, let’s keep these principles in mind. And above all, let’s be kind to one another and enjoy the ride.
Our success in life and business is built on the collective efforts of many. Whether on the court, in the office, or in personal endeavors, let’s remember to appreciate and value every member of the team.
As Federer said:
"Whatever game you choose, give it your best. Go for your shots. Play free. Try everything. And most of all, be kind to one another... and have fun out there."
If you want to watch the full speech, you can view it below.