Tennis Anyone?
Let’s talk about the French. Well, kind of.
I’m not going to kick around France for failing to back up the war in Iraq – others have already done that, and deservedly so. And to tell the truth, I really don’t want to talk about the French per se. I’m focusing on an American – Michael Chang -- who lost his opening round tennis match on Tuesday, May 27, at the French Open in Paris.
I’m a casual tennis fan, and have only had two real favorites over the years – Jimmy Connors and Chang.
This was Chang’s last French Open, as he is retiring from tennis after the U.S. Open later this year. He will always be remembered for the 1989 French Open, in which he upset Ivan Lendl. On the match with Lendl, Associated Press tennis writer Howard Fendrich noted recently, “Chang overcame a two-set deficit and dehydration to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history.”
At the age of 17, Chang won the 1989 French, which turned out to be his only Grand Slam title. Making his incredible victory even more compelling, Chang, the son of two Chinese immigrants, was winning his French title while the communist government of China was crushing pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.
Reflecting on his 16-year career, it occurs to me that Chang also should be embraced by small business owners for his style of play. Chang played when power was on the ascendancy in tennis, yet he was not a power player. He was outgunned by the big guys, much like small businesses are in the economic arena.
However, Chang used speed, quickness and strategy to stay with and often defeat those with the big power games. Most critically, he always gave his all. As noted by the Associated Press, Andre Agassi said of Chang earlier this year: “In all of sports, he’s as great a competitor as you’ll ever see. He has never once not shown up with everything he’s had.” When watching Michael Chang on the tennis court, you always saw someone giving 100 percent.
That’s a lesson for entrepreneurs competing against larger, well-entrenched businesses. To succeed, the small business owner must be quick, smart and hard working.
In his interview on ESPN after his last French Open match, Chang also exhibited something sorely lacking in big-time sports today -- perspective. When asked what he planned to do in retirement, being that he is a mere 31 years old, Chang spoke of spreading the Gospel and hopefully starting a family.
Here is another example that all of us, including business owners, need to learn. As important as our business and work might be, it does not compare to far more critical matters, such as faith and family.
Though he has not ranked among the top players in a few years, I certainly will miss seeing Chang and his hard-working play on the tennis court. And I will never forget his work ethic and outlook on life.
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Raymond J. Keating is chief economist for the Small Business Survival Committee, and co-author of U.S. by the Numbers: Figuring What’s Left, Right, and Wrong with America State by State (Capital Books, 2000).
