Last year, Naomi Osaka was ranked in the top 100. In a relatively short amount of time she won two grand slams and became #1 in the world. We cheered and celebrated. Then she lost. And suddenly, we wondered and questioned. Quite honestly, we were perplexed and confused because when champions fail, we question everything.
Most of us understand that failure comes with greatness. However in Osaka’s case, there was a very significant component that added to the turmoil —- Osaka recently parted with her coach. If you follow tennis even slightly, you already know this, which makes the conversation even more complicated. Was it the split? The media attention? The new status? Self doubt? A really bad day? A superior competitor? Age? None of the above? All of the above?
These are the questions we asked outwardly, but what questions was Osaka asking? If we were to explore the mind of a champion, we’d probably find many, many losses tucked away in a compartment called fuel (that stuff that keeps us going). That’s because champions understand that defeat and failure are a part of the journey towards establishing themselves as champions, whether it’s on a court or off. How many defeats and losses do you think the greatest champions in sport, business, and life had before they became the best?
Do you think they spend a lot of time disputing themselves and every decision? That’s way too easy to do. Champions redirect themselves, focusing less on the failure and more on the lesson:
- How do I grow, learn, and improve from this?
- What do I need to work on/what additional skills do I need?
- What does it take to win next time?
- What can/ should I do differently?
- How soon can I get out there again?
Champions go back, they study, they practice, they get better, they move on. Sure they question themselves. that’s a part of the process, but the questions look different and they don’t stay stuck there. That’s why they’re champions.
Are you a champion ready to compete at your highest level? Join us for Match Point: The Courage to Compete, March 30th.
