Success lesson from the game of squash

For the past one year, I have been playing the game of squash on a regular basis to keep fit and for mental balance. I have a trainer and have been able to build my skill level from nothing to some level where I am satisfied with myself.

But I was later to believe an African proverb that says: “He who never eats outside thinks that his mother is the best cook”.

Last month, there was a national squash tournament, sponsored by CDH. I prepared for the tournament for a few weeks. I knew that I would not excel but still, I wanted to win a few games so that I could proceed to next rounds and enjoy more games as I build my personal confidence. But this was to be a tall order!

I was placed in the second of the three divisions, the middle group. I played three games and managed to lose all of them! Then a former National Champion of Squash volunteered to give me a 30 minute practical tutorial of the game. He taught me a few tricks that would help me play the game better and enjoy it more.

From what he taught me, one technique still stands out—how I can ensure that I play the game of squash much more efficiently, while conserving my energy, working out the opponent and being positioned to pick the ball when it goes to any position on the court, coming from any angle.

As a background, the squash court is a rectangular room, bounded by the four high walls. The two players stand in each half at the one back of the court both facing the far end. Between them, there is a short line and also immediately in front of them, there is another line perpendicular to the line separating them, making a T-junction.

One player hits the ball with his or her racket in a way that makes it difficult for the opposing player to also hit it before the ball bounces more than once.

The one big challenge I had was that my opponent placed the balls very far from me, making it difficult to pick them up with the racket. The former National Squash Champion taught me a secret that would make it easy for me, at any moment, to pick up any of the balls.

He said: “There is one fundamental approach to squash— ‘Run to the ‘T’ and then walk to the ball’”.

I have since been practising this principle and it makes the game of squash enjoyable and does not wear me out too fast. This explains why I lost a game against a gentleman who was far more advanced in age than me and he did so effortlessly while I was burning out with inefficiencies. At the end of the tournament, I asked myself: “What does this mean in real life?”

In life, too, we need to run to the ‘T’ and then wait for an opportunity to come. When the opportunity comes from any angle, we will effortlessly walk to it and grab it before anyone else can get it because they are not ready. For example, many good employees start working hard and achieving big things in their job only when they see an internal job vacancy at work— too late!

A successful employee, will always work hard, be disciplined and good with their superiors and peers so that when a good opportunity comes, they can grab it.

Basically, they run to the ‘T’ well in advance of the coming of the opportunity so that when it does come, they can just walk to it. If you apply this principle in everything you do, you will never be taken by surprise and you will always rise and shine! Good luck!