When I think about the experiences that shaped the way I approach business, I do not immediately think about boardrooms or company meetings. I often think back to the tennis court.
Playing on the University of Washington Men’s Tennis Team taught me lessons that have stayed with me throughout my career as an entrepreneur and business leader. At the time, I was focused on improving my game, competing, and being the best teammate I could be. I did not realize that many of those same habits would later influence how I built companies, managed teams, and made difficult decisions.
Entrepreneurship and competitive sports have more in common than people might expect. Both require discipline, patience, preparation, and the ability to perform when the outcome is uncertain.
Looking back, I realize the tennis court was one of my first leadership classrooms.
Preparation Creates Confidence Under Pressure
You Cannot Control Every Outcome
One of the biggest lessons tennis taught me is that preparation matters, but preparation does not guarantee success. You can practice for hours, study your opponent, and create a strategy, but once the match begins, there are still variables you cannot control.
Business is very similar. You can research a market, create a detailed plan, and build a talented team, but unexpected challenges will always appear. Customers change their expectations. Markets shift. Competitors respond. Sometimes things happen that you simply did not anticipate.
Early in my career, I thought leadership meant having the right answer all the time. Over time, I realized that leadership is more about being prepared enough to make good decisions when you do not have all the answers.
That is a lesson I learned from competition. Preparation gives you confidence, but adaptability allows you to succeed.
Staying Calm During Difficult Moments
Pressure Reveals Your Habits
Tennis has a unique way of exposing how you handle pressure. When you are behind in a match, you cannot hide. There is no place to pass responsibility. You have to make the next decision and live with the result.
I have found that business creates similar moments. There are times when a major decision has to be made without perfect information. There are moments when a project does not go as planned or when a team faces an unexpected obstacle.
The natural reaction can be frustration or hesitation. I have experienced both. But tennis taught me that emotional decisions rarely lead to the best outcomes.
When things get difficult, I try to slow down and ask myself a simple question: what is the next right move?
Not the perfect move. Not the move that guarantees success. Just the next right move.
That mindset has helped me stay focused during challenging situations.
The Importance of Teamwork in an Individual Sport
Success Is Never Completely Individual
People often think of tennis as an individual sport, but my experience was very different. Being part of a college team showed me that individual performance is connected to the people around you.
Your teammates push you. Coaches guide you. Support systems help you improve. Even though you are the person holding the racket, you are never truly competing alone.
I see the same thing in business. Founders sometimes receive a lot of attention, but companies are built by teams.
When I worked with partners and employees while building companies like Move Method and eHub, I saw how important it was to surround myself with people who brought different strengths and perspectives.
Leadership is not about being the person with every answer. It is about creating an environment where talented people can contribute their best work.
Learning From Losses and Mistakes
Failure Provides Information
One of the hardest lessons in sports is learning how to handle losing. Nobody enjoys losing a match, especially after putting in significant preparation. But every loss provides information.
You have to look honestly at what happened. Was your strategy wrong? Did you make poor decisions? Did you fail to adjust?
Business requires the same level of honesty.
Not every decision will work. Not every product will perform exactly as expected. Not every opportunity will become successful.
The important thing is what you do afterward.
I have learned that mistakes are only wasted if you refuse to learn from them. A setback can become valuable if it changes how you approach the next challenge.
Discipline Creates Long-Term Results
Small Improvements Add Up
Tennis taught me that improvement rarely comes from one dramatic breakthrough. It comes from small improvements repeated consistently over time.
A slightly better serve. Better footwork. Better decision-making during important points.
Business growth works the same way. Companies are not built overnight. They are built through thousands of small decisions, improvements, and adjustments.
I think many people underestimate the importance of consistency because it is not always exciting. The daily work does not always create immediate results, but over time, those small actions create something meaningful.
Knowing When to Adjust Your Strategy
Sticking With a Plan Is Not Always Strength
Another lesson from tennis is knowing when to change your approach. If your strategy is not working, continuing with the same plan simply because you committed to it does not make sense.
Entrepreneurs face this challenge constantly. There is a difference between persistence and stubbornness.
Persistence means staying committed to the goal. Stubbornness means refusing to recognize reality.
The best competitors adjust. The best leaders do the same.
I have learned that changing direction is not always a sign of failure. Sometimes it is a sign that you are paying attention.
Conclusion
When I look back at my time playing tennis, I realize the lessons went far beyond the sport itself. The court taught me how to prepare, how to handle pressure, how to work with others, and how to learn from challenges.
Those lessons continue to influence how I approach leadership today.
Building companies requires many of the same qualities as competing in sports. You need discipline, resilience, focus, and the ability to keep moving forward even when the outcome is uncertain.
The tennis court taught me that success is not about winning every point. It is about being prepared for the next one. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my entrepreneurial journey, and it continues to shape the way I lead today.