Nikhil Dey recalls when tennis led him to coaching

“What did you do last week that you really wanted to do?” My coach asked me this question over ten years ago. That coaching session and the answers that I found within myself, impacted how I spent my morning today. The power of a powerful coaching session can sometimes stay with you for life. Just in case you are wondering what I did this morning…. I played a set of tennis.

As a kid, I played tennis a lot. Initially, because I was forced to and then gradually I fell in love with the game. From the clay courts of the Madras club to the freshly laid courts in my boarding school in the Nilgiris, many wonderful hours have been spent. And the work happened.

The mad work of PR with its 24x7 adrenaline-filled days and nights took over. There was just no time for fun and games anymore, till that one coaching conversation which I am so grateful for. “What did you do last week that YOU really wanted to do?” All my answers fell short – simply because I was being so many things for so many people.

The boss, the husband, the father, the son, the team member, the brother, the friend and a host of other roles that demanded my time and attention. The one person I was not paying any attention to was me, myself and I.

Not one to give up easily, my coach asked me another question “What is the one thing that you would love to do if you had the time?” I thought for a minute and said “I would play tennis… I simply love the game and the way I feel after an hour on the court.”

And then my coach asked me if I was willing to commit to getting back on the court. I said yes! Once a week was my plan. I am happy to report that since that day (lockdown life excluded) I have not looked back. Game, set and match!

I think one of the reasons I have become a coach myself is because I have seen the profound impact coaching has had on my life. Love all….and the game of life continues.