Success is hard. Being successful consistently is harder.

In sports and in life.

Here are 5 universal lessons from winning a squash tournament.

1. Stay patient

First: there are no shortcuts, hacks, or fast-forward buttons. Quick, unearned wins have long-term costs. No work, no growth.

Success takes time. The real reward is within the process. 

Second: the closer you get to success, the more adversity you face. Expectations grow and competition gets tougher. Nerves fray and emotions get harder to manage.

Focus on the controllables. Focus on the moment.

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This is the tenth (or so) tournament I’ve entered. It’s the first I’ve won. 

Lightbulb moments don’t exist. Success doesn’t happen overnight.

2. Be disciplined

Growth isn’t linear. There are summits and setbacks on the mountain.

Sometimes you take the wrong route, sometimes you fall to the bottom. Sometimes you just don’t want to. 

Plus, there’s always another peak—one that’s taller, steeper, more challenging to scale. 

Avoid distractions. Be self-aware and practise self-management. Remember, motivation doesn’t create success. Commitment and consistency do. 

Show up every day.

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Squash is a demanding sport. As the tournament wore on, I battled my mind and body almost as much as my opponent.

The more you win, the harder it gets.

3. Exercise humility

The real nemesis is ego.

Life doesn’t hand out guarantees, neither does success. Don’t be deceived. Beware of pride, arrogance, and comfort.

“Every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

There’s wisdom in everybody, a lesson in every day. 

Be gracious in failure and humble in success.

And don’t talk about it until it’s done.

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I’d beaten the first seed in the past. I believed I could win the tournament—so did 16 others in the division. 

Nothing’s owed, nothing’s certain. You still have to prove it. You still have to perform. 

4. Practise daily

When you’re not practising, someone else is. When you’re aiming for the prize, they’re zeroed in on the steps to earn it.

And when you face them, they will beat you.

• Do the boring work—what you don’t want to do but know is beneficial 
• Be purposeful—structure your practise and show up with intent
• Prepare for all outcomes—stay in control under pressure

Japanese archer, Master Awa Kenzō, said “The more obstinately you try to learn how to shoot the arrow for the sake of hitting the goal, the less you will succeed.”

Small steps taken daily compound into big gains over time.

Forget the target. Set your sights on the details.

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I did a lot of solo drills leading up to the tournament, focused on simple mechanics and fitness. It wasn’t always fun. I didn’t always want to.

Don’t take the basics for granted. Success requires a solid foundation.

5. Fail often

Prepare to lose.

There’s a saying about growth: “When you’re the smartest person in the room, it’s time to find a new room.”

Be willing to look the fool. Don’t stop testing yourself, don’t get left behind. 

Nothing teaches you more than a loss. That’s the paradox of success. The best fail more than the average.

You either win or you learn.

~

I won the first two games of the championship match. My opponent won the next two. I took the fifth and deciding game—because I’d lost in the past.

Failure exposes weakness. View it as a lesson and come back stronger.

Play the long game

Whatever success means to you—be it personal growth or in your career (or a meaningless squash tournament). Always play the long game.

1. Stay patient
2. Be disciplined
3. Exercise humility
4. Practise daily
5. Fail often

One more thing: minor mishaps appear larger in the moment. 

Don’t forget to zoom out.