I just finished a short and inspirational book authored by Billie Jean King, Pressure is a Privilege. For those of you who might not know of her, she is commonly known for her incredible skill on the tennis court…and oh yeah, that big win over Bobby Riggs September 20, 1973…the Battle of the Sexes!
Billie Jean King’s amazing victory over Bobby Riggs was truly a pivotal moment in gender relations for women and men alike. As she so eloquently points out, her journey to this historical day was no accident. Drawing on experiences that led to her success on and off the court, she shares some simple but vital life lessons from which we can all benefit.
I doubt there is not one of us who isn’t feeling pressure these days … at work and at home. Telling clues to this fact have been all over the media…Kanye West's award show freak out, Serena Williams threatening to jam a tennis ball down a referee's throat, a Congressman yells out “liar” to the President…the list goes on. Yet according to Billie Jean King, pressure is indeed a privilege. “The moments of great pressure in your life – speaking in public, interviewing for a big job, losing your job, dealing with health issues – are born out of the importance of the situation.” “It is a privilege to have such opportunities, as well as the pressures that come with them.” A person with this attitude will have the ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances.
King also shares eleven additional life lessons that can be applied to both your business and personal life. When the pressures of life seem overwhelming and all-consuming, I find it can be very helpful to look to the advice of those who have overcome significant challenges. For this reason, I want to leave you with these words of wisdom:
1. Relationships are everything – “We cannot predict how or when someone is going to touch our life in a way that will change it forever….always stay alert.”
2. Lessons at the dinner table – “Be polite, show respect, listen to others, give to those less fortunate, and show gratitude.”
3. Bring all of yourself to everything you do.
4. See it happen to make it happen.
5. Labeling and assumptions – “…best to remember that everyone has their own individual truth, their own interpretation. The flexibility this kind of openness will give you in dealing with others will serve you in all areas of your life...”
6. Champions adjust.
7. Never underestimate your opponent.
8. Perspective is priceless – “Learn to step back and evaluate both your wins and losses, and enjoy the process of growth.”
9. Start with integrity – “Surround yourself with people of integrity and let your successes form a wide path for others to follow and share.”
10. Aging is an art – “…stay physically and mentally active, keep challenging yourself, never stop learning and growing, and have fun.”
11. Leave a legacy – “Passing the baton, encouraging young people to achieve more than we have, helps ensure that the quality of life can just keep improving for others long after we are gone.”