Rafael Nadal, an excellent role model for small Spanish entrepreneurs
Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2024 5:50 am
This week we have seen yet another success in national sport. One of our most successful athletes, Rafael Nadal , won the US Open tennis tournament, thus completing a dream list of achievements. All this, after years of hard work and sacrifice, as well as personal organisation and individual effort for the cause, in his case, sport.
Given the results he has obtained and his behaviour towards his fans, Rafael Nadal seems to me to be a role model. I am convinced that self-employed people and small business owners have often felt like him, both on and off the court, experiencing very similar situations in their daily routines. Here are my reasons:
1.- You often feel alone on the court: Nobody said that starting a business was easy, or that running a company was a bed of roses. Nadal also suffers when the matches are uphill and the feeling bulgaria email list of loneliness on the court is similar to that often felt by a businessman at his desk.
2.- Injuries appear when you least expect them: Nobody likes to be out of work, not even Rafa or any employer. Being prepared and assuming that, sooner or later, an unexpected absence may occur is not a bad idea. Being prepared and having a contingency plan (insurance, “plan b”,…) is something that we should all have prepared.
3.- There may be competition, but camaraderie is never lost: Rafa Nadal is the best, along with Roger Federer. Both know it and constantly fight for the top spot in the world rankings. Small businessmen also fight in their markets and here they have an excellent example of camaraderie. Marketing war, logistics collaboration. There is no reason to be enemies, if we are only businessmen and competitors. We are people.
4.- To be respected, you don't have to be number 1: Rafa was respected just as he is now when he was number 2 in the world rankings, behind the all-powerful Federer. Now that the Spanish tennis player has regained the number one spot, so is the respect. If you are not a leader in your market, you can be an excellent number 2 and earn money. Everyone has their place; if you have to live in the shadow of someone better, try to surpass them, but don't forget that you are also respected.
Given the results he has obtained and his behaviour towards his fans, Rafael Nadal seems to me to be a role model. I am convinced that self-employed people and small business owners have often felt like him, both on and off the court, experiencing very similar situations in their daily routines. Here are my reasons:
1.- You often feel alone on the court: Nobody said that starting a business was easy, or that running a company was a bed of roses. Nadal also suffers when the matches are uphill and the feeling bulgaria email list of loneliness on the court is similar to that often felt by a businessman at his desk.
2.- Injuries appear when you least expect them: Nobody likes to be out of work, not even Rafa or any employer. Being prepared and assuming that, sooner or later, an unexpected absence may occur is not a bad idea. Being prepared and having a contingency plan (insurance, “plan b”,…) is something that we should all have prepared.
3.- There may be competition, but camaraderie is never lost: Rafa Nadal is the best, along with Roger Federer. Both know it and constantly fight for the top spot in the world rankings. Small businessmen also fight in their markets and here they have an excellent example of camaraderie. Marketing war, logistics collaboration. There is no reason to be enemies, if we are only businessmen and competitors. We are people.
4.- To be respected, you don't have to be number 1: Rafa was respected just as he is now when he was number 2 in the world rankings, behind the all-powerful Federer. Now that the Spanish tennis player has regained the number one spot, so is the respect. If you are not a leader in your market, you can be an excellent number 2 and earn money. Everyone has their place; if you have to live in the shadow of someone better, try to surpass them, but don't forget that you are also respected.