Drop Shot

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Embrace the Struggle

“You don’t learn to walk by following the rules. You learn by doing and by falling over; and it’s because you fall over that you learn to save yourself from falling over.” —Richard Branson We at Huskie men’s tennis are in the thick of our season. Conference play is underway, the most vital part of the year. It’s like tax season and we’re paying our dues every day. As head coach, our 7-7 record is nothing to write home about. Our losses already exceed the 18-6 finish we posted in 2024 and nine matches remain. I would venture to say that our current state is the biggest challenge of my career. Not to brag, but “batting 500” is not the norm for me. Batting 500 may get you in the Baseball of Hall of Fame —in tennis—not so much. Whereas our players are making their share of unforced errors, I’ve made a few mistakes of my own: Yet, every day at practice, the team is happy, including myself. We’re an enthusiastic bunch, poking fun at each other, and working on the things that will move the needle forward. We’re not “dominating” yet I’m having the time of my life. During our struggles, I’ve been tempted to call a mentor or two. You know, get some advice. Yet, I’ve resisted the urge because they don’t know our guys. They’re not “in the room” day-in and day-out. It’s my job to find the way forward. Solutions aren’t found in books. There are no rules. And I’m loving every minute of it. Embrace the struggle, — René Vidal

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Play with Controlled Aggression

“Having fun is the best measure of success.” Robert Herjavec, The Herjavec Group In tennis, aggression doesn’t mean staring down your opponent, bullying the referee, or making bad line calls. What the elite player wants is CONTROLLED AGGRESSION, which requires an honest effort in three areas: 1. Utilizing your strengths.2. Minimizing your weaknesses.3. Competing your heart out. Aggression is a desperate game, born of fear and insecurity. CONTROLLED AGGRESSION is the way of trust, discipline, and confidence. It’s your serve. Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.

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Advice from a Sports Parent

“If you ask B-level talent to do an A-level job, they will fail every time.”—Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone A Taiwanese entrepreneur who also happens to be a college sports parent recently shared with me that he didn’t care so much about the grades his son earned; rather, he encouraged his son to develop two core skills: 1) Communication and2) Being organized As a coach whose mission is to develop leaders on and off the court, these parental lyrics were music to my ears. Here are a few quick drop shots from my Down 40 Love podcast guests that speak directly to the importance of being organized in our lives and work: Action Step: How can you improve your communication and organizational skills this week? Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.

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The Power of Purpose

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished;if you’re alive, it isn’t.” —Richard Bach Purpose means you are doing what you love to do, doing what you’re great at, and achieving what’s most meaningful to you. Without a purpose in life, it’s easy to get sidetracked, lose focus, and “swing at the wrong ball.” Here are three quick drop shots for purpose-driven leadership: 1. Pay attention to what really drives you. 2. Apply your talents to a need in the marketplace. 3. Organize your activities around your purpose. By staying close to your “sweet spot,” you wake up easier, feel lighter, and have more energy. This is the power of purpose. Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.

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Be a Go-Getter

It’s the difference between leaders who make things happen and followers who just watch what happens. Traits of the Go-Getter: Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.

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Unleash Your Potential

You don’t get paid for the talent you have. You get paid for the talent you deliver. Taking what you have on the inside and giving it all to the outside, in a way where others benefit from your talent is what we call unleashing your true potential. Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.

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5 Leadership Traits

Are you ready?…Let’s go! — René Vidal7x NCAA Championship Coach & Author, Down 40 Love Virtual speaking inquiries.