What is important about this book
The moments of great pressure in our life, like speaking in public, interviewing for a big job, manage a challenging project, achieve excellent performance, lead a team for the first time, dealing with health issues, working through difficulties with someone you love, raising a child, are borne out of the importance of the situation. It is a privilege to have such opportunities and so, the pressure that comes with them must be seen as a privilege also. There is a saying in sports: “give me the ball”. Certainly, there is pressure with having the ball, but not many people get a chance to shine. You can dread getting the ball or view it as an opportunity, like champions do, a chance to show them what you’ve got and make a difference. After all, if you don’t have the ball, you can’t score.
Every person’s life contains an endless number of possible turning points – we never know what’s going to happen next or what side roads will be discovered – and every person we meet has the potential to be somebody influential in our lives. We cannot predict how or when someone is going to touch our life in a way that will change it forever. Take advantage of every opportunity, try everything, and always stay alert: the key is to turn negative influences into positive ones. So, it is good to always have your mind open: be aware, be open to opportunities and listen. Learn to step back and evaluate both your wins and losses, and enjoy the process of growth. Try to focus on living at your best and meeting your potential, and always keep looking for new opportunities. This will leave you with a sense of fulfillment, the win that matters most.
The author, Billie Jean King, is one of the most illustrious and celebrated tennis players in history, ruling women’s tennis in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Visionary, innovator and champion, she is recognized for her life-long struggle for gender equality, both on and off the court, and for empowering women and educating men when she defeated Bobby Riggs, one of the top 10 male tennis players of all time, in the “Battle of the Sexes” on September 20th 1973. Her presence and personality left such a significant impact that when players walk out into Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, they are greeted by a plaque bearing her iconic quote “Pressure is a privilege”.
Quotes
- “Living with integrity and staying true to your values – especially when it’s tough to do so – is probably the most important thing you can do to maintain peace of mind and be comfortable in your own skin”.
- “When you assume, when you label people, you are limiting your ability to see the whole of who they are”.
- “I was playing to prove that man and women had the same entertainment value, which is why we should be paid equally”.
- “What differentiates champions from the good players is that champions are big on awareness – they pay attention to every detail, prioritize and adapt, taking advantage of the opportunities that other might miss”.
- “No matter how we approach life, completely committing ourselves to whatever we do is essential. It often means the difference between success and disappointment”.
- “Surround yourself with people of integrity and let your success from a wide path for others to follow and share”.
- “We do not live our lives in a vacuum. It is important to try to respect other people’s positions, even if you disagree with them. Remember that their truth or perspective may not be same as yours, and people sometimes make mistakes or are wrong, we all make mistakes. At times, acting with integrity sometimes means practicing forgiveness, and learning how to ask for it”.
Structure and content of the book
The book is divided into 12 thematic chapters and an epilogue. Each chapter is devoted to a life lesson, many of which were learned on the court. This is already evident from the chapter titles, which are: relationship are everything, lessons at the dinner table, bring all of yourself to everything you do, see it happen to make it happen, labeling and assumptions, pressure is a privilege, champions adjust, never underestimate your opponent, perspective is priceless, start with integrity, aging is art, leave a legacy and, last but not least, sheroes and heroes.
Instructions for reading this book
The book is an enjoyable and easy read. The author shares her life lessons hoping that these will be useful for us in our daily life as they have been for her: all of them are the cornerstone of who BJ King is, and learning them gave her the confidence to create the life she has today. The message of this book is simple, yet powerful: if you can see pressure as a privilege, you can handle almost anything with calm and grace; If you take the time to prepare yourself thoroughly for the challenges in front of you, you will have a foundation of resources to draw upon in a critical moment.
Some key takeaways contained in the book are:
- pause and center yourself, gain your focus,
- take things one step at a time,
- break your challenges down into manageable goals and objectives so you do not get overwhelmed,
- visualize your desired outcome: stay in the now by embracing each moment, being aware, noticing the right details, prioritizing, and staying focused. Avoid dwelling on the past, but also avoid looking so far ahead that you can’t see the next step in the process,
- trust your instincts and your foundation,
- observe every detail, and adjust your approach as necessary bringing all of yourself by completely committing yourself to whatever you do,
- learn the difference between letting it happen and making it happen,
- stay physically and mentally active, keep challenging yourself, never stop learning and growing, and have fun.
Self-awareness is the pillar on which every lesson in this book is built. Each of us, whether aware of it or not, leaves a legacy. It is up to us to decide whether to take ownership of this legacy: do we want to be aware of what we transmit and act with intention, or will we limit ourselves to living in the present, focusing exclusively on ourselves, ignoring the impact our actions have on future generations? Reflecting on the legacy we wish to leave is essential. A valuable legacy is born from recognizing our role and our responsibility toward those who will come after us. Because a valuable legacy is not measured only in what we accumulate for ourselves, but in how we contribute to the growth of those who follow us, in how we can be positive role models and accompany young people in continuing the path that we, in our time, have traced.