Lessons from tennis competition

There is something unique about tennis that in my view provides valuable lessons to professional achievement. Now that the US Open is upon us, I've reflected on those lessons.

1. Mental strength is every bit as important as technical competence. Doesn't matter how good your serve is if you can't let go of a missed volley.

2. Play the long game. Don't chase every point (or perfection). You are not judged on the percentage of points won. You may lose a set 0-6 and win the next two tiebreaks and the match while losing more points. Of course, the opposite can also happen. Even elite players don't win more than 55% of points over the course of their careers. Not every point has the same significance. Know when to lay it all out, and when to preserve your energy.

3. Momentum changes. There will be highs, there will be lows. No match is won or lost until the last point has been played. Staying grounded and forward-looking will help ride out the storm - which will happen in almost every match of significance - and certainly over a long career.

4. It's an individual sport (doubles notwithstanding) but you need a coach and a team - they will always see things you do not. Understand that they have a different perspective than you and take their feedback based upon that perspective, their competency, and how invested you believe they are in your success. It also means not every bit of feedback should be given the same weight. Consider your coach, your spouse, an independent observer, and a heckler - and take their feedback accordingly.

5. Your biggest competitor isn't your opponents. It is yourself. And that's where your focus should be. You may adjust your game to your opponent, but ultimately it is your game to improve. If you do that consistently, your improvement compounds, and you will win more.

6. The score and the ranking are generally an accurate reflection of where you are today. But not where you will be in the future. Rankings change with every tournament. Staying on top is hard because everyone is gunning for you. It takes motivation, mental strength, and a short memory to achieve important things.

7. Mistakes will happen. Yours, the umpire's, your team's, and your opponent's. Anticipate them, and don't be rattled by them. In the words of Ted Lasso - "be a goldfish". Next play.

8. It takes many losses to get to wins - especially early in your career, no matter how good you think you are. How you take those losses will determine what happens next.