9/26/2024-On this day, Serena Williams

Pro athletes and sellers are more common than not, they succeed only if extreme training and prep regiments are followed each and every day.

Serena Williams was born on this day in 1981 in Saginaw, MI. With her powerful style of play, she revolutionized women’s tennis and won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other woman OR man.

So why should you celebrate Serena’s birthday today?

‘Cuz she’s an all-out WINNER.

On the court, she was a killer with incredible skills. Serena exhibited an amazingly consistent mental dedication and stamina.

When you watched her annihilate her opponents year after year, you didn’t see the blood, sweat, and tears that went into her prep – but they were there. That woman knew how to practice.

Today, prep for your next big client pitch, and then practice it.

Try this:
1. Craft a strategy that helps you demonstrate your VP.

2. Create your objection surfacing questions.

…and practice tips too:
1. Get a date on the books now with a peer who will help you practice the above…and all other key parts of the meeting.

2. Share your written, prepared agenda with your practice buddy. If you don’t practice presenting your agenda, you won’t use the agenda in the meeting. (Agendas are the foundation that ensures good meetings.)

In her prime, Serena Williams was not a big fan of working out in the gym. She admits to following a strenuous workout plan only to maintain a healthy body and avoid injury during tennis season.

Serena would start with a 10-minute warm-up session with some form of cardio exercise. She usually goes for Zumba, but running, cycling, and swimming were other options, too.

She then goes straight into some strength-training exercises.

When, you ask, does she pick up the racket?

Not until the weight room and stretching was done.

For Serena, she needed two kinds of training: body, and sport. There are many nuances to the game of tennis, she had to practice them all. But the body had to be right first.

For you, practice and prep should include sales fundamentals (value prop leverage, qualifying, negotiating), and product info too.

There are so many career highlights of Serena, but this video gives a peak into how long she has been devoted to prep and practice.

If this is what Serena did every day of her life, you can imagine she was ecstatic when game day arrived.

Don’t just sleep-walk through your day; plan and play with calculation and strategy.