Williams Owns Up to Mistake

Williams Owns Up to Mistake
By: Jason Bodin

Women’s tennis sensation, Serena Williams, was recently on the end of a controversial call at the 2009 U.S. Open. Williams was called for a foot fault on a serve, giving her a double fault, which put her a point away from a loss. After the call Williams approached the lineswomen and reportedly said, “If I could, I would take this…ball and… shove it down your throat.”

In a previous set, Williams received a warning after breaking her racket. Thus, the second outburst towards the line judge cost her a penalty point and, in the end the match.

Following the match Williams was fined $10,500 by the International Tennis Federation for “unsportsmanlike conduct” and racket abuse. Many wondered if Williams would lose her sponsorships after the outburst. However, because Williams acted on the change that occurred, due to great public relations work, she was has not seen those ramifications.

This situation is a great example of how people deal with change. Some people do not deal with change well, or at all, while others embrace change and make the best out of each situation.

The book Who Moved My Cheese? written by Spencer Johnson, is a story about how four mice deal with change in their maze. Williams is like the mouse Haw, who faced many challenges but came out on top because of the way in which he dealt with those challenges.

Williams turned a potential crisis on her career into the best situation she knew how. Williams released a statement later that night and again the next day apologizing for her actions claiming, “In the heat of battle I let my passion and emotion get the better of me and as a result handled the situation poorly.”

One little call moved William’s cheese, but she was able to overcome the challenges she created by owning up to her mistake.

Photo received from google images.