Novak and Andy before the big match.

Last Sunday morning’s men’s final at Wimbledon was a stunning example of not only great tennis but of how you can be spurred on to greatness if you have people in your corner.

Going into the match the odds favored Djokovic to win. For those people not as addicted to the game as I am, Murray won in 3 straight sets and became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years.

Yes, he played well, in fact brilliantly at times. But what helped him get through some rough patches and some earlier difficult matches was the crowd. What propelled him to run down every ball, many of which seemed impossible to reach, was a crowd of thousands both inside and outside the stadium, as well as the knowledge that millions of people around the country were rooting for him.

It’s fair to say that for a lot of people this type of pressure might make them choke rather than succeed. Yet I would argue that for many of us, having other people encourage us to hold the bar up even higher than we would like is an excellent way to bring out our own greatness.

– Outside support helps build on the momentum you have already created. Sometimes you need that extra push to go the distance, whether it’s presenting a new idea, completing an assignment, taking on a new task or job, or asking for a raise or promotion.

– Knowing others care about you and your results helps keep you accountable and focused on your goals. You’re not in it alone.

Your corner is probably already filled with your own large group of supporters. Yet you could make their cheers and words of encouragement even stronger if you openly share your dreams and your goals with them so they know how and when to cheer you on.

It’s important to realize that if you fail in your endeavor you’re not letting them down but merely adding more knowledge and experience to the task and regrouping for the next time. Andy’s fans have known what his goals have been for a very long time. And each time, win or lose, they were there with him. The victory was even sweeter knowing how long it took, how many failed attempts he made, and how hard he had to work to finally achieve it.

So don’t limit your corner to a select few but rather fill it with people who have the knowledge to help, the wisdom to use the right words, voices loud enough to be heard, and the ability to hold you to a higher plane. Friends, family, bosses, sponsors, mentors, coaches, teachers, and colleagues – they can all easily fit in your corner.

And most importantly of all – make sure you cheer loudly and support others so you can help bring out the greatness in them.

So who’s in your corner?

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