Listen to this week’s message:
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As tennis great Billie Jean King said, “Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
How determined are you to be your best? It is said that Billie Jean King hates to lose. Starting tennis at age 11, she played consistently and was soon identified as an emerging talent. Still, she experienced a series of losses to top-seeded players. That didn’t discourage her. At 17, she won with Karen Hantze the doubles championship at Wimbledon. She continued playing through college and rigorously stepped up her training regimen. She wanted to be better – and the hard work paid off. She won her first major singles championship at Wimbledon in her early 20s and went on to win five more – and four U.S. Open titles. For five years, she was ranked No. 1 in the world. In 1971, she became the first woman athlete to earn $100,000 in prize money in one year. Not happy with pay inequality for other women players, she leveraged her status and in 1973 the U.S. Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women. Along the way, she formed the Women’s Tennis Association and defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” saying, “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match.” One of her biggest displays of courage was when she admitted her bisexuality. Have the fight of Billie Jean King and keep playing to win. Set your own standards of excellence. Allow setbacks to strengthen your resolve. Commit to being your best and inspire others to shine as well. Play your game your way.
Until next time, remember – it’s your divine life, live it to the fullest. The power is in your hands!
With Purpose & Power,
Terri
Written and designed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy. Read more Dose of Power Living. For information on syndication email info@power-living.com.
Part of the Power Living® Women & Power Series.
Image courtesy of Freedigitalimages.net.
