Powerful lessons from Roger Federer for entrepreneurs on how to lose, handle doubts, and push forward with grit.

“I won almost 80% of the 1,526 singles matches I played, but I only won 54% of the points in those matches.” These were some of the powerful words of Roger Federer in his speech at Dartmouth College when he talked about his tennis lessons.

Even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half the points they play. And that’s when he learned not to dwell on every shot but think, “OK, I screwed up, it’s only a point, let’s move on.” The best are not the best because they win every point, but because they know they will lose over and again — and have learned to deal with it.

Knowing how to lose is one thing a champion needs to master, but being a champion also requires focus: When you play a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world — but when it’s behind you, it’s behind you. Get over it and move on, even if you have self-doubts. And always remember that your opponents have self-doubts, too.

From my experience as an entrepreneur, I can relate to every word in Roger Federer’s speech. Here are the parallels between a tennis player and an entrepreneur.

1. Learn to lose

“The truth is, whatever game you play in life, sometimes you are going to lose a point, a match, or a season.”

In my almost 10-year stint as the Founder & CEO of Yonder, people have unsubscribed from our awesome newsletter and walked away with a grin from our booth at tradeshows.

I have lost many deals.

I have suffered frustrations with lawyers and procurement departments out there.

I have hired the wrong people and had to dismiss them.

I even had to fire one of my co-founders.

All of this wasn’t pleasant and felt like losing a point, a match, or even a season. But you know what? When those episodes were behind me, they were behind me. After every one of those unpleasant episodes, I stood up again and focused on winning the next point. Even if I lost that one too, I kept going.

2. Accept your doubts

It’s easy to forget the shadows and doubts when you’re on a winning streak. However, just as no champion is made without losing and having doubts, entrepreneurs go through lengthy valleys of doubt before they can land large deals and other successes.

Social media don’t help when you’re lingering in the valley of doubt. One of your competitors will always trumpet their latest achievements on LinkedIn, casting even longer shadows in your pitiful valley of doubt.

There are two things to remember.

First, social media is not life. Being successful on social media is measured in reach, likes, and reposts. Being successful as an entrepreneur is measured in providing value to customers, being able to build and pay a great team, and still turning a profit at the end of the year.

Second, as Roger Federer says, your competitors will have self-doubts from time to time, too. Irrespective of what they post on social media.

3. Grit your teeth

Because there aren’t any fast tracks to becoming a tennis champion or a successful entrepreneur, you’ll have to grit your teeth over extended periods to become successful.

Sports is an excellent way to learn to grit your teeth. What is the tennis court for Roger Federer, are the mountains for me.

I have to grit my teeth on every mountaineering tour at some point. It’s either in a difficult passage in windy conditions, or during the descent, when I am getting tired, and it gets hotter. My knees hurt, my eyes already had enough sunlight, I feel that backpack on my back, and I’m thirsty.

But gritting your teeth pays off. The beer never tastes better than after returning to your base, sitting on the patio and looking at the mountain you just climbed.

In entrepreneurship, the beer never tastes better when celebrating a win together with your team after a strenuous period of hard work.