The first thing I do in the morning is think about my game. It’s an addiction, but I always think about how to get better. Everything is geared toward that. Growing up in my house, we weren’t allowed to waste time. We always had to be productive. We weren’t supposed to be watching anything that wasn’t educational. Even if we got to watch a cartoon, my dad would ask, “What did you learn?”
I feel like I’ve been in business forever. I started playing tennis at 4, so from an early age I was balancing tennis and school and friends. I have multiple things pulling at me, so I have to sit down and stop and not be in the crunch. There’s always a price. If you decide not to put in the work, there’s a price. You won’t succeed or get to the level you possibly could. If you do put in the work, there will be sacrifice there too—your time, or your sleep, or your peace of mind. There’s always a price and you have to pay it.
For me, it’s having time to dream. I have this new goal to make 365 sketches in 365 days, whether it’s drawings for my [apparel company, EleVen] or just to think about spaces [for her interior design company, V Starr Interiors].
Before I get on the court, I’m checking in on myself and how I feel. I think about the areas I’m going to focus on in this match. I want to look back and say, Hey, I didn’t win every single match, but I prepared the best I could. I tried my hardest on the court. Sometimes you make mistakes, but there are good mistakes—the ones that lead to the next championship.
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.
