BY SATYANARAYANA MURTHY
National Marketing Head, Radio City 91.1 FM
Tennis is a brutal sport. It can massacre the self-esteem of a player in under two hours! Did you watch Rafa Nadal get decimated 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 on Roland Garros earlier this year? Rafa is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players of our generation. Yet, there he was…completely out-played and routed!
What is remarkable, however, is, that exactly a fortnight later, he won his First Grass Championship since 2010. This is the stuff champions are made of. More importantly, this is the stuff the true sportsmen/women are made of!
In our careers in various organizations, we go through a similar experience. Presently, it is that time of the year, isn’t it? The season of jubilations and exhilarations or depressions and disappointments! A letter that defines us and an entire year’s effort of blood and sweat, trials and tribulations; the increment letter that gets summed up as a numerical value and defines the reward, recognition and social status we shall occupy till the next increment cycle.
When we get it, we are on top of the world! When we don’t, we are in the abyss! Over the years, I have noticed that those who have played a sport in their life, usually, have a greater ability to handle the setbacks in their work environment and bounce back with greater determination, than those who haven’t played any sport.
Careers in the corporate world are akin to being part of a team sport.
The captain usually decides the best team composition. It is the job of every individual to therefore, be the best in the part that he/she has to play.
At times, despite the best of efforts put in, the competition outplays you or a teammate hogs limelight. Those who have played a sport relate to this and continue to better themselves. Others take longer.
As legendary football coach Paul Bryant, once said, “It is not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
Ultimately, play ball and win!
Feedback: satyanarayanam@myradiocity.com
