This week, I have been mesmerized by the performance of 17 year old Melanie Oudin at the US Open Tennis Championships. This virtual unknown has defeated three of the world’s top ranked players, each time with an incredible come from behind victory. Her tenacity, positive attitude and belief in the possibility of success are inspirations to both my tennis game and to my adventures in the world of work.

Her performance, in all three instances, has been a perfect example of how much our thoughts affect our reality. Her opponents, originally full of optimism when they were winning, clearly shifted into attitudes of self-doubt, resentment and emotional reactivity when they faced adversity. But no matter how far fetched success looked for Melanie, she kept digging for the next move, kept her feet moving and kept her eye on the ball.

Compare that kind of focus and perseverance with your day at work. Do you have that same sureness of the end goal and a dogged determination to get there? Or do you adopt an attitude that work is too hard, that it’s too hot outside or that life is unfair? Are you willing to do the preparation, the footwork and the follow through to reach your goals?

I love sports because the correlations to life are so quickly obvious. A tennis game lasts a few hours, not for a lifetime, yet the lessons are completely available. I know that we were not all born to be superstars, but I wonder how often that it is not the raw talent that is missing, but something more like the spirit of believing.

On the heels of Melanie Oudin’s tennis shoes is printed the word “BELIEVE!”. It is there to remind Melanie to keep putting one foot in front of the other and to keep giving it her best. Yet, it is also there for all of us to see and to ponder. What kind of superstars can we be if we only BELIEVE!? What kind of results can we create if we BELIEVE! enough to do the hard work and to stay the course even in times of adversity?