What can we learn from Bianca Andreescu?

Are there some guiding principles for us from her success at the U.S. Tennis Open?

The first thing most people have learned is that she wrote herself a winning cheque when she was 12 years old, then visualized her victory before it became a reality. The challenge I see with those type of blanket statements is that it may give some people the idea that you only have to visualize something and it becomes your reality. This is because many visualizations become false hopes.

So, what is false hope? To me false hope is a thought of things or events going to happen. It is false when that someone is still in the dark as to what is really going on and they are still hoping. That meaning they are living in the dream of the hope and not doing anything that could contribute to the success.

As Stephen R. Covey stated many years ago in this book ‘The Seven Habits of Effective People’. “Character and self-development is a process of on-going improvement or progression – a constant upward spiral.”

Now this brings me to what I feel are the best words that have come out of this very significant event in this event in Bianca’s life. And it came from her coach Sylvain Bruneau. He has been her coach since 2018.

When he was asked how did this young woman (19-year-old) from Mississauga, Ontario (in Canada), who was ranked 152nd at the beginning of this season, manage to capture two  tournaments, including a Grand Slam, and climb to No. 5 in the World Tennis Association rankings in a breakout season that has turned her into a household name? His response is a reminder of what is key in all of our endeavors. He stated that she’s done what’s she done by being focused, and working hard.

Let me conclude by asking you a few questions;

• How hard are you working on your goals?
• Are you doing the same things that you did last month?
• Wouldn’t it be a good idea to ‘stretch’ yourself in areas that you’ve got a little spiritless in?
• Can you become more resilient to taking the easy way?
• What is one thing you can do today that will improve you as a person?

Remember: if you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll continue to get what you’ve always gotten.