First published 12 July 2021 on Your Best Year Starts Here with Nigel Risner.
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Nigel had been watching a lot of Wimbledon (he's at home in the afternoons, so he's seen more tennis than ever) and he came in wanting to talk about Andy Murray's second-round match. He called Murray our number one English player. I had to step in. He's Scottish, Nigel. British.
Murray won the first set easily, then lost the next two. Nigel admits he'd switched to commentator mode in his head and was already writing him off. Then Murray came back in the fourth set and won it. Nigel's point is that in men's tennis whoever takes the fourth set usually takes the match, because winning brings the energy back and the tiredness goes.
He saw the same thing with England against Germany at Wembley. He watched until about the 65th minute, when the commentators sounded worried about penalties, and then got pulled onto a conference call. England scored, and a team who'd looked knackered suddenly lifted.
So on a bad day, go for a small win. Nigel used to tell salespeople to ring an existing customer and sell three pencils. I get that buzz when I see I've sold a handful of books on Amazon. Nigel's notifications land at 3:42 every morning, and he says one order gives him the same kick as the 24 he had the week before. My bit was about the wins you give yourself, like ticking off habits on 75 Hard, and actually stopping to enjoy a success. Most people pick it apart and move straight on to the next thing. Even 45 seconds counts.
We finished on petrol. Nigel reckons there's always another 5% in the tank, and we're both the type who play roulette with the fuel light. He's only ever broken down once, in Israel, because the gauge said full when it was empty.
What stuck
- On a bad day go for a tiny win first. Sell the three pencils before chasing the big order.
- A win brings the energy back. Murray and England both looked done until they got one.
- Track the things you're already doing and tick them off. Each tick is a win.
- When something goes well, enjoy it before you pull it apart or move on. Even for 45 seconds.
If we wait till we feel great to take risks, we'll never do it.
Nigel Risner
It's a little win that gives you the momentum to do the next thing.
Neil Martin
