As the Paris Olympic Games drew to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a grand sense of marvel at the sporting spectacle that unfolds every four years. Watching how national athletes sharpen their crafts for years to pursue glory for their homelands was truly inspirational. As a proud Singaporean, I felt a surge of joy as Max Maeder bestowed upon us the finest National Day gift with his outstanding bronze medal in the Kite Foiling event. Yet, one event resonated with me more than others—the Badminton Women’s Singles, where Yeo Jia Min, despite her defeat, ignited immense pride in Singapore through her remarkable performances.
Credit: The Straits Times
Although I haven't watched a badminton match in a while, the sport's intense demands became strikingly clear. To secure victory, a player must win 2 out of 3 sets, each requiring them to reach a 21 points before their opponent. A player needs to score points to win the match, and when factoring in points lost, the total points they play for can easily double. Given the physical exertion required to claim a single point—dashing across the court to return the shuttlecock—it's evident how challenging it is to emerge victorious in badminton.
This was beautifully illustrated in Yeo Jia Min's match against her Japanese competitor, where both players collapsed to the ground at the end—one in joy and the other in despair. The sheer mental fortitude necessary to compete, persist, and outlast a seemingly relentless opponent radiated through the television screen. Although Yeo Jia Min did not prevail, her performance inspired millions watching around the globe, and I have no doubt that even her most ardent critics couldn’t help but admire the spirit of an athlete who left everything on the court.
Another facet of mental toughness is the ability to shift focus and not dwell on mistakes. In a match with so many points at stake, errors are inevitable—unforced mistakes, “should haves,” and regrets about what might have been. Yet, as the stakes rise during pivotal match points, you can witness how both athletes remain present and focused to perform at their best.
This brings to mind a profound speech made by Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time:
“In other words, even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play.
When you lose every second point, on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot.
You teach yourself to think: OK, I double-faulted. It’s only a point.
OK, I came to the net and I got passed again. It’s only a point.
Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN’s Top Ten Plays: that, too, is just a point.
Here’s why I am telling you this.
When you’re playing a point, it is the most important thing in the world.
But when it’s behind you, it’s behind you... This mindset is really crucial, because it frees you to fully commit to the next point… and the next one after that… with intensity, clarity and focus..”
Credit: The New York Times
I do not play sports at the top level, or any level for that matter. But I have seen a version of that in my real estate work.
Whenever realtors engage in prospecting, they often face naysayers and discouraging voices. Allowing this negativity to take root can lead to losing heart and abandoning the chase. The key to success is to resist discouragement and persist in prospecting with unwavering zeal and commitment
Conversely, many clients often succumb to inaction, haunted by the belief that they missed out on better opportunities in years gone by. As the saying goes, the best time to invest in real estate was a decade ago; the next best time is now. Despite being relatively young and fully capable of pursuing their real estate dreams, fixating on the past hampers their ability to make optimal decisions in the present, causing their goals to slip further and further from reach.
Watching the Olympics showcases the pinnacle of human achievement. There is a unique pride in observing fellow Singaporeans, who share similar experiences—attending the same schools, shopping at the same malls, enjoying the same cuisines—hold their own against the finest in their fields. While people like myself cannot dream of smashing shuttlecocks with the finesse of Yeo Jia Min, we can take inspiration from their mentality, hoping to cultivate similar extraordinary results in our own endeavours.
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