Athleticism at Any Age
Why Consistency Beats Perfectionism (On and Off the Court)
I didn’t grow up playing sports.
No travel teams, no varsity letters, no athletic identity baked in from age six. I grew up in a low-income family. The kids with gear played on teams. I played kickball at the park.
I found tennis and my athleticism in my 30s. And it required me to be brave, ditch perfectionism, be vulnerable, and put myself out there.
Sound familiar? Because that’s exactly what leadership demands, too.
I recently gave a keynote on “Athleticism at Any Age” and how consistency beats perfectionism every single time. Mindset matters. As does motivation. (Naturally I talked about the Enneagram).
The response from women in the room was vulnerable and inspiring. So many of them held the belief that you can only be a certain kind of athlete if you started early enough, if you were fit enough, if you had the most elite coach, if you checked the right boxes first.
That’s not how any of this works.
The connection between athleticism and leadership goes beyond the ability to run a five minute mile or having attended an Ivy league school. When you’re an athlete, you face barriers constantly. Timing, health, nutrition, sleep, and life getting in the way. The workplace and our relationships mirror those exact same wins and losses. Athletes have to train and show up, but they also have to be unattached to the outcome. And I think that’s what makes a great business owner and leader.
I learned this lesson the hard way. Before launching my business, I caught myself over-researching and hiding behind my desk, convinced I needed more information before I could take the next step. That’s perfectionism wearing a productivity costume. Action breeds confidence. If you want to see progress, you have to get out into the world and make it happen.
So when I’m coaching women now, I tell them this. Showing up IS half the battle. When we focus on perfectionism, we become immobile. Analysis paralysis takes over. But starting small builds a consistent practice that compounds into something powerful.
And being consistent doesn’t mean being quiet or shrinking yourself into some disciplined little box. It means showing up for yourself in a way that feels authentic and true to YOU. When you know yourself and trust yourself, you can lead with consistency and still come through with bold, powerful ideas.
We are not only one type of person or one identity. It’s up to us to step out of the box and disrupt the status quo. If that means becoming a tennis player at 60, then all the power to you! Society expects you to play small. Ignore the rules. Rules are meant to be broken.
Your dreams are closer than you believe. But you have to stop perfecting and start moving.
If you’re a business owner or leader who’s been hiding behind research, overthinking, or waiting until you feel “ready” to make your next big move, let’s talk. My coaching helps women ditch the paralysis and start leading from action. Settling is not an option, and neither is staying behind that desk.
Enneagram Lifestyle Edits: Each week I share small, Enneagram type-informed ways to live a little better.
Culture and Work: Currently obsessed with Emma Grede’s “Start with Yourself: A New Vision for Work and Life”. I don’t know her Enneagram type but I would suspect somewhere between a 3 (the Achiever) and the 8 (the Controller). She calls it like it is and it is astonishingly refreshing.
Beauty and Wellness: Supergoop’s (Re)Setting Mineral Powder, SPF 35. Perfect for mess-free sunscreen touch ups on and off the court. Type 6s you will feel so prepared!
Style: Add some spring to your step with the Multi Stripe Side Hustle (made in NYC) from Amanda Cercone. Type 4s will love the unique design and Type 7s will want it for every trip they have booked this summer. Supporting female founders is a core value and this bag brings me joy!
How do I find out my Enneagram type?
Take this FREE quiz. (Created by moi)
Get your personalized guide here.
Book a 1:1 session here.
Team building with the Enneagram
This week’s challenge:
Ditch the perfectionism and get into action.
Send the scary email. Ask for more money. Launch the product.
See you next week,
Ali