6 Life Lessons from Roger Federer’s Inspiring Speech At Dartmouth

Being an athlete isn’t just about playing a sport and winning; it’s about being fair, a team player, and most importantly, true to yourself. Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, not only inspired the world with his sportsmanship but also with his humility and wisdom when he received his honorary doctorate at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.

The 42-year-old athlete, in his commencement speech upon receiving his doctorate, shared life lessons that not only resonated with the graduates but also with everyone present.

Federer’s commencement speech went viral – and for good reason!

“Graduates, I feel your pain. I know what it’s like when people keep asking what your plan is for the rest of your life,”

The retired tennis player went on to share the lessons he learned from his career and life with the audience. “Let’s call them tennis lessons…”

Lessons to Learn From Roger Federer

It’s not easy being out on your own — out of your comfort zone — but that’s the reality of college graduates everywhere. When you’re fresh out of college, you are somewhere between a kid and an adult. There are always mistakes waiting to happen, lessons waiting to be learned, and life waiting to be lived. Amid all that, it’s easy to lose your way.

When I graduated from college, I had no idea what to do next. I wished I had somebody to impart wisdom at that time, but I guess it’s never too late to learn.

When I was watching Roger Federer’s speech, I felt I was back in college – a fresh 22-year-old. This time, though, I had someone guiding me and giving me tips on how to navigate this strange world – without losing my true self behind.

So, here are some lessons to learn from Dr. Roger’s speech at Dartmouth…

1. Effortless is a Myth

Roger Federer went on to say that effortless is a myth. He explained that when people would say that his play was effortless, it would frustrate him.

“The truth is, I had to work very hard to make it look easy. I spent years whining, swearing, and throwing my rackets before I learned to keep my cool.”

He went on to explain his wake-up call that came in the form of an opponent at the Italian Open who publicly questioned his mental discipline. “Roger will be the favorite for the first two hours, then I’ll be the favorite after that.” Roger quoted his opponent and told the graduates how puzzled he was at first until he realized.

“Everyone can play well the first two hours. You’re fit, you’re fast, you’re clear, and after two hours, your legs get wobbly, your mind starts wandering, and your discipline starts to fade.”

What you can learn from this lesson is that there is so much work ahead of you. Even with people supporting you, there’s always room for exploration and work. Work harder because at the end of the day, “winning effortlessly” is what’s your goal. You work hard and don’t let other’s successes and efforts discourage you.

2. Self Belief Has to be Earned

Roger Federer recalls when his self-belief truly kicked in. He went on to tell his captivated audience about his ATB finals (where only the best eight players qualify). Federer admired the top players’ strengths and before when he would run away from their strength, he began aiming right at them.

“I tried to beat the baseliners from the baseline. I tried to beat the attackers by attacking. I tried to beat the net rushers from the net. I took a chance by doing that.”

He explained his reasoning and imparted another inspiring lesson. He said that to amplify your game and your options, you need a lot of strength. His words resonated with me (and I’m sure with everyone listening) about how there will be days when all you do is feel broken, but still find a way to move on; to win.

This is what you need to be proud of. Find your way, even when everyone around you feels greater than you or stronger than you. You can win, not just when you aren’t your best, but also when you aren’t.

3. Talent Isn’t About a “Gift”, But “Grit”

Talent matters, but this little word has a lot of definitions. We often assume that talent is a gift, but Federer claims otherwise. In his speech, Roger Federer says that most of the time, talent isn’t about having a gift, it’s about having grit. Using tennis as an anecdote, he explained that a great forehand with sick racket head speed can be talent, but in tennis – like in life – discipline and patience are also talents.

“Embracing the process. Loving the process is a talent. Managing your life, managing yourself. These can be talents, too.”

Using this, we can learn another lesson from Roger Federer’s speech. While you might have talent, you still need to work for them and at them, too. People often assume that because you graduate from a top university or get a promotion, it’s going to be easy. It’s never about life being easy. Let others assume, as long as you don’t. Keep working and keep improving.

4. It’s Only a Point

Another life lesson I learned from watching Roger Federer’s speech was that no matter how successful you are, it’s OK to still lose. Federer went on to explain that you can work harder than you thought possible, and yet still lose. Life, like any sport, is brutal. In a game, there’s always one person who will win and another who will lose.

“I tried not to lose, but I did lose, sometimes, big. For me, one of the biggest was the finals at Wimbledon in 2008.”

Recalling his 2008 loss against Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer talked about how things would’ve turned out if he had won. He went on to say that losing at Wimbledon was a big deal. In 2008, he was playing for history, but alas, he lost. Nadal won, and Federer recalls it being “well-deserved”.

The lesson to learn from Roger Federer here is that some defeats and some losses are needed. Even when others doubt your talent and your actions, you don’t let them faze you. In the end, it’s only a point. Only one loss. If you lose, you lose; you put it behind you and move forward. That’s the mindset that matters. It frees you to commit to the next point, and the next, and the next.

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

When you lose, it’s OK to doubt yourself. But, after a while, you accept it and move on. Learn to be relentless and grow. It’s about working smarter.

5. Life is Bigger Than the Court

Roger Federer left school at 16 and dedicated his life to playing tennis. While imparting his wisdom, he talks about another lesson – life is bigger than the court. In another tennis anecdote, he went on to explain how a tennis court is a small space. He learned a lot and ran a lot in that small space, but the world is bigger than that.

“Even when I was just starting out, I knew that tennis could show me the world, but tennis could never be the world.”

No matter who you choose to become, it’s important to have a life – a rewarding experience of travel, culture, friendships, and family. What you can learn from this is to never give up on your roots and never forget where you came from. The more you look beyond your comfort zone, the more you’ll grow – mentally and emotionally.

There’s so much to learn and if you stop your self-growth, you limit yourself to a small space, never to explore life as it’s meant to be. You can live your life to the fullest by doing something larger than yourself.

“All of you have so much to give, and I hope you will find your own unique ways to make a difference because life really is much bigger than the court.”

6. Life, Like Tennis, is a Team Sport

The last lesson that I learned from Roger Federer’s speech was that life is a team sport. Your success depends on your team, the people on your side, and even your rivals. Everyone in your life helps you become who you are. The relationships in your life matter the most – your parents, your spouse/partner, your friends. They all support you, encourage you, and understand you.

“Your parents, your families, will always, always be in your corner. As you head out into the world, don’t forget, you get to bring all of this with you,”

Bonus:

At the end of his speech, the great tennis player offered another lesson of his own. Asking for his racket, he advised all those who play tennis –

“Okay, so for the forehand, for those who play tennis, you’ll want to use an eastern grip, okay? You keep your knuckles apart just a little. Obviously, you don’t want to squeeze the grip too hard. Switching from forehand to backhand should be easy. Also, remember, it all starts with the footwork. And to take back is important. No, this is not a metaphor, it’s just good technique.”

While it was a clever way to end his speech, it did give all listeners and audience at Dartmouth something to think about. It’s never easy to live in a world where your success is dependent on how much you work for it, and how much you are famed for it. If you lose, people doubt your efforts and question your intentions.

Amid all that, these life lessons imparted by Roger Federer might come in handy. I hope you’ll take these lessons as a guide to live your life without worrying about doubts, negative comments, and failures. As a conclusion, here’s a message from one great sportsperson to everyone out there;

“From one graduate to another, I can’t wait to see what you all do next. Whatever game you choose, give it your best. Go for your shots, play free, try everything, and most of all, be kind to one another, and have fun out there.”

Did this speech by Roger Federer inspire you too? What life lessons did you take away from the tennis player’s speech? Share your thoughts with me in the comments below.

To watch Roger Federer’s 2024 Commencement Address at Dartmouth, click here:

Take Care!