| In grammar school, about the only subject I dreaded | | | | is Glory. I'd like for her to show us her serve."The |
| was gym. I went to school in the days when all little | | | | other instructor went to the other side of the net as |
| girls wore dresses. For gym class, we slipped on | | | | I got up to "demo" my serve. Sure enough, the ball |
| some | | | | went over |
| shorts and changed our shoes to the PF Flyers we | | | | the net, my opponent lined up to return the ball with a |
| kept | | | | forehand, and as soon as the ball hit the ground, it |
| in a cubby-hole. Then it was off to the gym for some | | | | took off |
| dreaded activity: Dodge ball, chin-ups, or that awful | | | | to his right and was outside the reach of his |
| rope I could never quite climb. "Is this all there is | | | | swing.The best part was that I could make that serve |
| to sports?" I wondered. Finally, during a dodge ball | | | | happen |
| game in 4th grade, I figured out that the sooner I | | | | consistently! My opponent would either miss the ball |
| got hit, the sooner I could get out of that war zone | | | | completely or would "dink" it at the top of the racquet. |
| called a game.By the end of grammar school, I | | | | |
| thought I was just not | | | | How was this all possible? How could I have |
| an athlete. Junior high wasn't much better. Besides the | | | | improved so |
| | | | much in a sport?As I looked back over the preceding |
| ugly gymsuits we had to wear, I was introduced to | | | | weeks, I remembered that |
| gymnastics and volleyball. | | | | the two instructors spent more focused time with me |
| Again, those sports were not for me.It was at about | | | | as they |
| the same time that my father introduced | | | | went from court to court, coaching me, watching |
| my brother and me to golf and tennis. We played golf | | | | where I was |
| | | | erring, offering tips to correct and adjust, and helping |
| on a little 3-par course. A nine hole game was about | | | | me |
| all I could handle at the time (never mind that I played | | | | to leverage my strengths. This made a world of |
| with my father's former set of clubs from the late | | | | difference |
| 1940's). | | | | in my game.The world of business works in the same |
| With only fatherly instruction, we found our way on | | | | manner. Some people |
| the | | | | are born naturals and need very little coaching to get |
| course and on the court.My brother was more of a | | | | it |
| natural athlete, figuring out | | | | right every time. Others ebb and flow between being |
| easily how to swing a club or a racquet with very little | | | | average |
| | | | (and knowing they could improve their game) and |
| guidance. With the same amount of guidance, I was | | | | actually doing well. This second group can utilize the |
| an | | | | services of a business coach to greatly improve their |
| average player.When I was 14 or 15, there was a | | | | performance. Whether it's becoming a better |
| summer tennis school at | | | | strategist, balancing everything that's on their plate, |
| our high school that was run by the tennis coach. My | | | | improving their management style, or increasing net |
| brother | | | | income, working with a coach to build on your |
| and I signed up for it. As I said, he was a natural, and | | | | strengths can greatly improve your results.© |
| developed a very strong return, both forehand and | | | | 2006 Borgeson Consulting, Inc.Glory Borgeson is a |
| backhand. | | | | business coach and consultant, and the president of |
| I improved a little that first summer. I didn't play well | | | | Borgeson Consulting, Inc. She works with two groups |
| enough to join the girl's tennis team, however, but it | | | | of people: |
| was fun to play matches with so many different | | | | small business owners (with 500 employees or less) |
| people.The second summer was a different story. My | | | | to help them increase |
| serve improved | | | | their Entrepreneurial IQ, which leads to increased profit |
| dramatically. It was a "surprise" serve; not necessarily | | | | and |
| fast, but its power was in the spin.Our coach would | | | | decreased stress; and with executives in the |
| gather us daily into one group for a few | | | | "honeymoon phase" of a new position (typically the |
| minutes to discuss particular techniques. One day he | | | | first two years) |
| talked | | | | to coach them to success. Top athletes have a |
| about improving our serves. In the middle of his | | | | coach; why not you?Click here for Borgeson |
| discussion, | | | | Consulting, Inc.This article was originally published in The |
| he added, "One person who has improved a lot this | | | | Business Express, Borgeson's |
| summer | | | | free monthly ezine. |