Answering an advertisement in a newspaper stating, "The Secret of Never Losing Another Game in Tennis for only $99.95" offered by the only "undefeated" tennis player alive, a young man cut out the reply address form, filled out his name and address, wrote out a check for $99.95, enclosed the reply address form and check into an envelope, and wrote the mailing address on envelope to a Post Office Box in Chicago, Illinois, stamped the envelope and placed the envelop in the mail.    

Day after day, the young man anxiously awaited the arrival of the "secret” in the mail. He wondered if this was a scam, and he wasted $99.95. However, anticipating receiving the secret, he stopped practicing his serves, put away all his tennis books and videos, and even boasted to the club champion that he would be "meat" on Saturday. After all, he was getting the "secret."

Finally, the day arrived, and in his mailbox was a red envelope marked "Confidential."  Anxiously opening the envelope, and to his disappointment, he found just one piece of paper with the following message.  The Secret to Never Losing Another Game in Tennis -- "Don't Play Anyone Better Than You."

Sometimes, we look for the easy way out. We get lazy, take shortcuts, and look for quick answers. We don’t take the time to research the problem or don’t want to get involved. When it comes to being a better person, a more resilient leader, or even a winning tennis player, you must work hard, think, ask for help, pray for guidance, and learn from the times you fail.

So, if you get the urge to dodge a difficult meeting, avoid calling a distant family member or friend, or feel you are becoming a less loving spouse, friend, or person, please recall this story of the tennis player. You and I are in a constant process of “becoming" someone better than we were just a day before—believe in yourself, pray for guidance, work hard, and always play someone better than you.   

Until Next Friday,