This is the second mini-maxim in the series that just might help drive home a point to anyone… and everyone… even maybe you.
2. Don’t come up to the net behind nothing.
One night after finishing inventory for the Food and Beverage department, the group of managers decided to get a bite to eat. On the way to the all night food restaurant, Brad Smith, a best friend and frequent tennis partner of mine – presented a viewpoint which I disagreed with and challenged. It was something that I probably should not have argued about, but what the heck! I did, and when I had concluded (what I thought was quite a good spur-of-the-moment argument), Brad spoke and proceeded to demolish it. Where I had opinions, he had facts; where I had theories,he had statistics. He obviously knew so much more about the subject than I did that his viewpoint prevailed.
When we finally arrived at the restaurant (it seemed like it took an eternity), Brad smiled and turned to me and said, “Buddy, you should know better than to come up to the net behind nothing!”
It is true, the tennis player who follows his own weakly or badly placed shot up to the net is hopelessly vulnerable. This is true when you rush into anything without adequate preparation or planning. In every thing you do, no matter how small or large it may be, you’ve got to do your homework, get your facts straight, sharpen your skills. In other words, don’t bluff – because if you do, nine times out of ten, life will drill a backhand right past you!
