This week’s focus: At around 5.20 pm last Sunday my 7-year old son leapt into my arms, cheering. He was celebrating Andy Murray’s brilliant Wimbledon victory over Novak Djokovic and, even though he had no idea that such British victories only come along every 77 years or so, Murray’s remarkable, nerve-shredding win brought him, and most of the rest of the country, to his feet.
Murray has always been a great tennis player and was earmarked for stardom before he became a teenager. Yet he did not gain his first ‘grand slam’ victory until last September, aged 25. Up until then, his talent and potential had not been fully realized and he had always fallen short in the major championships.
So what made the difference? Well, it’s hard to look any further than Ivan Lendl. When Murray took on Lendl as coach last year, he appointed someone who had been there, who told it like it was and who wouldn’t let Andy hide or engage in bouts of self-pity or anger to which he was prone.
We all need a ‘Lendl’ in our lives if we are to fulfill our potential – someone we can trust completely, who will give us good, honest advice, but who won’t ever – ever – let us off the hook. Who is your ‘Lendl’, and, if you don’t have one, who should it be?
Off The Record: Lose Yourself by Eminem (One of Andy’s favourite songs)
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted
One moment –
Would you capture it or would you just let it slip?
© Stuart Cross 2013. All rights reserved.