My memories of Wimbledon are seeded (pun fully intended) with my mum — queen of multitasking — perched on a slightly broken sun lounger, half in and half out of the sitting room and attempting to both sun herself at the same time as catch all the action from Sue Barker & co. The visual has a very late 80’s feel to it, however shows a commitment to the cause which I obviously picked up on.
Fast forward a few decades and, despite not having touched a racquet in years (unless you count swatting wasps), I’ve somehow managed to bag back-to-back tickets to Eastbourne and Wimbledon. I’ve contributed approximately £0 in actual tennis play to my local club, but I have paid my annual subs — so obviously the tennis gods smiled kindly in the ballot.
The Wimbledon experience, for the uninitiated, is one part world-class sport, one part meteorological roulette, and one part vintage British tradition. I love the strawberries and cream, the champagne, and – just like the 90s Crowded House classic – the fact that it’s Four Seasons in One Day. Brolly, coat, sunglasses and a hat? Check!
But one of my favourite things? Is that when you spend time watching experts at work like they are, you start to really believe you can do it too.
That 120kph return from Sabalenka? No worries. The flying volley from Emma Raducanu? Piece of cake.
Within days of following Wimbledon on telly, I become one of those people who responded in a post-Olympics survey saying they reckoned — with a bit of training — they could probably make it to the next Games. Er, really??
Watching greatness can trick you into underestimating what it takes.
And that’s the bit that stuck with me. Because it’s not that different from what I see in growing businesses every day.
Talent is great. But it’s not enough.
Behind every breathtaking serve or impossible rally is a mix of things you don’t see straight away: coaching, setbacks, relentless practice, the right mindset… and a team quietly helping it all come together.
It reminded me that building a brilliant business relies on the same core trio: Expertise; Experience; Inspiration
Let’s break them down.
1. Expertise: You can’t YouTube your way to greatness (although you can learn a lot from it!)
Top players have coaches for a reason. Behind every stroke is a foundation of technical skill and constant refinement, with someone there on your team helping you see how you can do better.
Yet in business, many founders still wing it, especially in areas like hiring, HR, operations, or people development. And while Google’s great for recipes or diagnosing strange plant diseases, it’s not exactly a strategy for scaling well.
If you want to grow your business without burning out, you need more than good instincts: you need proper expertise.
2. Experience: The thing that keeps you steady when the pressure hits
It’s easy to look composed when things are going well. But the real test is how you lead when the pressure’s on: whether that’s a tricky employee issue, a redundancy conversation, or the moment your star hire turns out to be a dud.
Great decisions don’t just come from theory. They come from having seen the messy bits before and knowing how to stay calm, clear, and fair.
Experience doesn’t just bring answers. It brings confidence in the unknown.
3. Inspiration: Because people follow energy and not job titles
Wimbledon isn’t just about stats: it’s about belief. The crowd. The momentum. The mental game.
Your team is no different.
People want to feel fired up, clear on the goal, and confident their work matters. But they also want to see you walk the talk. Not just at pitch time or in the all-hands meeting, but in the day-to-day: how you show up, how you treat others, what you prioritise.
So if you’ve been trying to run the business equivalent of Centre Court solo, it might be time to call someone up to the net.
Need someone in your corner? We help founders like you grow teams, tackle people challenges, and build businesses that don’t just survive, but win in straight sets.
Fancy a doubles partner? Drop us a message. We’ll bring the strawberries.
Contact us on hello@thehrhub.co.uk or call on 0203 951 1208
Not a phone or email kind of person? Grab my book, The MAGIC of HR, for more practical tips to build a culture that actually works.
