Earlier this year, the Australian Open kicked off with an incredible exhibition match featuring Roger Federer, back on court in Melbourne after a few years away
After the match, there was an interview — and once again, he reminded everyone why he’s not just a legend on the court, but off it too. It brought me back to something he shared in an interview a few years ago. He said his greatest strength wasn’t his technique — although let’s be honest, that’s pretty incredible — and it wasn’t his talent either.
It was his ability to focus on one point at a time… and to forget the last point faster than anyone else.
In this video, I want to share three simple ideas that can really impact your performance.
This weekend, TK and I are at the opening week of the Australian Open in Melbourne. The atmosphere is unreal. Thousands of people everywhere. Big arenas. Small courts where you can stand just metres away from the players.
We’ve just watched an incredible match between an Aussie player and a French player — which was very hard for me. I didn’t quite know who to support.
And listening to people like Roger Federer, it really makes you think about what we can learn from elite sport. You might think, “My work environment is completely different from a tennis court.” But if you think about it for a moment, it’s actually very similar.
On the court, players deal with:
- constant noise
- massive pressure to perform
- fatigue building up point after point
Now think about the business world.
You’re dealing with:
- constant interruptions
- emails, messages, people talking around you
- pressure to perform all day
- mental fatigue building hour after hour
Different environment — same challenges.
So here are three things from sport that really resonated with me.
1. One Point at a Time
Yes, long-term goals matter. But high performers don’t focus on the entire match at once — they focus on the next point.
In the business world, that means:
- setting clear long-term goals
- breaking them into quarterly big rocks
- turning those big rocks into weekly tasks
- scheduling them in your calendar
And then — day by day — you focus on one task at a time.
One point at a time.
2. Create Deep Focus
It’s incredible how elite tennis players create deep focus despite all the noise. They often have small rituals — bouncing the ball, adjusting strings, breathing — to help them lock in.
In the workplace, it’s exactly the same. If you allow constant distraction, your performance drops fast. Creating deep focus — protecting time, reducing interruptions, being intentional — is one of the biggest performance levers we have.
3. Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Time
No one can stay in deep focus from 8am to 6pm. Not athletes. Not leaders. Not you or me.
High performers know when to push — and when to reset. Managing your energy throughout the day is critical:
- short breaks
- movement
- breathing
- stepping away
That’s how you maintain performance over time.
So my question for you is: What can you learn from elite sports performers that you could apply directly to your work?
This is this week’s Work Smarter, Live Better tip.
Hope you have a lovely day.
À bientôt,
Cyril
