"Pressure is a privilege and champions take their chances" - Billie Jean King's SMS to Maria Sharapova before she went on to win her third tennis Grand Slam title.
Believe it or not, this is the quote that I kept on my desk over the two years (2008-2010) I worked as an assistant to SAP Executive Board Member - Gerd Oswald.
Not that I was a champion and trying to take chances, but the pressure of being a board assistant was so high that I had to keep motivating myself, reminding myself that I need to survive this difficult period to be successful.
So, what has this got to do with sports? Well, to start with I’ve always been inspired by sport and the great personalities it produces.
From Sachin Tendulkar (cricketer) to Roger Federer (tennis) to Muhammad Ali (boxing) and so many more: These personalities have redefined what’s actually possible in their respective professions. If what they achieved is humanly possible, we can all achieve more than what we are doing now. If they can all sustain such immense pressure to be the “number one” all the time, we can also try to demonstrate those qualities.
The two years I spent working as board assistant put so much pressure on me that I had to quickly find a way to balance this out. That’s when I took to RUNNING to relax.
I was an amateur runner even before I took up this job. But when I realized that I could benefit from it in a big way, I started doing it more seriously. During my runs along the river Neckar (Heidelberg, Germany), I could free up my mind, find solutions, and regain that all-important feeling of balance. So, slowly, my 30 minute runs became 45 minute runs and then eventually one-hour-plus runs.
One summer’s day back in 2009, one of my friends with whom I use to run regularly asked me to join him in running a half marathon (21.095kms). My first reaction was “How the hell is one supposed to run for 21 and a bit kilometers?!” But he convinced me I could do it and I agreed to try.
That’s how I ended up doing my first half marathon in Karlsruhe in September 2009.
Fast forward to November 2014 - I'm much more confident talking about running now as I can proudly say I have managed to complete 18 half marathons and one full marathon.
So, what kept me going or – more importantly – why do I think sport has a very positive impact on my work?
- Firstly, and quite obviously, sport keeps you fit. A healthy body is a home for a healthy mind.
- Learning about the lives of some sports personalities can be truly inspirational
- Sport helps you relax, be yourself, and achieve a sense of balance
- Learning about the lives of some sports personalities can be truly inspirational
- Sport helps you relax, be yourself, and achieve a sense of balance
So, friends – wherever you are, whichever sports you like doing – do take the time for them and have fun at the same time! I'm sure you will enjoy your work even more as a result.
Thanks for reading !