RSS for blog
My 13-year-old son played in a tennis tournament in Arizona a few weekends ago and WON it! With great respect to my colleague Susan Brenner’s recent blog post, HE WON, HE WON, HE WON. 6-1, 7-5 to be exact!
He had been struggling to close matches recently, and I asked him what made the difference this time. His answer was “I didn’t look at the draw and I didn’t want to know about my opponent. I just played my game.”
That seems so straightforward, but is it really a formula for long-term success in his tennis matches — or in our adult working world? Unfortunately, I don’t think so and eventually his opponents will “out scout” him. And for me, my prospects won’t believe that I am a knowledgeable, integrated partner for their business.
His answer is so counterintuitive to what my husband and I try to teach him and his brother: Hard Work + Preparation = Success (in school, at work, in tennis). I know with my colleagues at Bright Horizons, we work with organizations of all shapes and sizes across the U.S. We pride ourselves on learning our prospects’ business, industry and competitors as we offer the best match for their employees’ and business needs. I believe our own credibility is tied up in learning as much as possible before walking in the door of a potential partner.
But, my son turned that upside down with Hard Work (tennis practice) + Just Go For it = Success.
Obviously, it’s really a balance that we all must learn to align successfully. Prep hard for the meeting (or match) but then “Keep an open mind” and “Don’t assume the answers” once in the room with prospects. Essentially what you think may work, may turn out to be completely opposite when you “get in the game.” Maybe remaining flexible in work and life is the key, and it is preparation that gives you opportunities in the first place.
Just don’t tell my son. For him (and for now), ignorance seems to be bliss…
