The moment Andre Agassi found peace AND peak performance

I was surprised to learn that Andre Agassi hated tennis in his autobiography, OPEN. He hated tennis ever since he was seven years old dreaming of the day he could quit.

Andre hated tennis because his father was ruthless in his training and pushing him to exhaustion. Andre's childhood was defined solely by tennis. His education stopped at eighth grade and he was thrown on tour to compete. He would win tournaments literally for financial survival.

Andre was an extraordinarily talented player but deep down he was playing with anger. Andre was playing for approval & love that he would never get from his father.

After many years of playing with turmoil inside his heart he found a way forward with his father:

"I stand and feel an overpowering urge to forgive, because I realize that my father can't help himself, that he never could help himself, any more than he could understand himself. My father is what he is, and always will be, and though he can't help himself, though he can't tell the difference between loving me and loving tennis, it's love all the same. Maybe the best we can do is be consistent... My father is nothing if not consistent."

In this moment of forgiving his father he goes on to play his best tennis. The following week of forgiving his father Andre beats the seemingly unbeatable: Pete Sampras (#1 for 82 weeks). Then, goes on to hit number one ranking in the world. 

Andre’s courageous forgiveness is a wonderful example to reflect upon. His act of forgiveness unshackled some of the chains from his childhood to become a better version of himself.

As Robin Sharma writes: "Leadership is an inside job."

I'm realizing leaders building organizations of human flourishing must find peace within themselves to be able to cultivate environments of peace for others.

Onward,

Matt