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#21 | What Tennis Teaches Us About Business | Upgrade Your Zoom Appearance | Request for Startups

Personal:

Summer is almost here, and I've started my tennis lessons again. I try to play every day if I'm not travelling.

There's a lot to learn from professional sports, even if you're not playing competitively.

Here are some surprising lessons I've learned from tennis:

  • Find a good coach. A good coach can quickly improve your performance. In business, if you're struggling, experts can save you time and boost your performance.
  • Don't overthink. In tennis, overthinking too much about your technique can lead to failure. In business, overthinking can lead to anxiety and indecision, hurting your performance and potential.
  • Take your time. In tennis, it's essential to slow down when hitting the ball. In business, it's important to slow down and think clearly before reaching your goals. Also, think about the 80/20 rule.
  • Self-awareness. Research shows that when we understand ourselves better, we're more confident, creative, and make better decisions. This is true in tennis and business.
  • Be dedicated. Becoming successful might take time. Discipline and dedication are key.
  • Practice makes perfect.

Cool Gadget:

Opal Camera for your laptop.

Tiny details matter for your appearance online. In a world where many physical meetings are replaced by online ones, it's an excellent investment to make your appearance as realistic as possible. I've noticed that when I have Zoom calls with good-quality camera/lighting, I somehow feel more engaged and pay more attention. It works. So, I am considering upgrading my visual Zoom appearance with a high-quality laptop camera.

Media:

To Watch: Break Point on Netflix

I know it seems this issue is all about my recent tennis obsession:-)

The Netflix show about a tennis season shows us what strength, resilience and courage mean.

The series highlights how everyone entered the sport at different times and from various circumstances, but all with a common goal: TO WIN A GRAND SLAM.

More Lessons:

  • Focus on your own game. There will always be people who are better or worse off, doing different things and judging you. Your sole task is to focus on your path.
  • Trust yourself and your talent. Trust your expertise. Focus on your best work, and things will favour you. Follow your instincts and enjoy the game.
  • Self Doubt is Normal. Even the best players in the world have self-doubt. It's completely natural. The key is to learn the tools to work with self-doubt rather than let it stop you.

Learnings:

YC Requests for Startups: Since 2009, YC has occasionally been writing an " RFS—Request for Startups," where partners share ideas they believe are key areas for the future. Hopefully, this RFS sample will inspire founders with the expertise to innovate and fill those gaps in the market.

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Published by:

Yana Abramova