“You have to be very disciplined. You also have to be determined through ups and downs, be determined to keep going,” Serena Williams said.
For years, people have looked at Serena Williams and seen greatness. They have seen the 23 Grand Slam titles, the Olympic gold medals, the records, the trophies, and the dominance that made her one of the most successful athletes in history. Many have credited her success to natural talent, athletic ability, and extraordinary skill.
Williams, however, believes the real reason behind her success is much simpler. According to the tennis legend, success has never been about talent alone. It has been about showing up every day, working through challenges, and staying committed even when things become difficult.
Speaking in a recent interview, Williams said the same mindset that helped her become one of the greatest tennis players of all time now guides her work as an investor and entrepreneur. “Tennis is every day, you have to do it every day. You have to train, and business is the same,” Williams said. “It is exactly the same. You have to be very disciplined.”
The 43-year-old sports icon stepped away from professional tennis in 2022 after a remarkable career that lasted nearly three decades. During that period, she won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, became one of the most recognizable names in sports, and earned millions of fans around the world.
Since leaving full-time tennis, Williams has shifted much of her attention to business. She founded Serena Ventures in 2014 and has spent the past several years investing in startups and supporting entrepreneurs from different backgrounds. The firm has backed dozens of companies and helped several startups grow into billion-dollar businesses.
Despite changing careers, Williams says the formula for success has remained the same. “You also have to be determined through ups and downs, be determined to keep going,” she said. Her message comes at a time when many young professionals and entrepreneurs are searching for shortcuts to success. Social media often highlights overnight achievements, rapid growth stories, and instant fame.
Williams believes reality is different. She argues that consistent effort matters more than natural ability and that success often belongs to people who keep moving forward when others stop. The tennis star says she frequently shares this advice with founders and business leaders she mentors through Serena Ventures.
“When I mentor founders one thing that I find myself giving over and over again is to just dust yourself off and don’t stop,” Williams said. She acknowledged that building a company can be difficult and filled with setbacks. “You win a few, you lose a few. You get knocked down, and you get right back up,” she added. One of the most striking comments from Williams involved the level of commitment she believes is necessary to succeed.
“As a founder starting a new company, you have to show up 28 hours out of 24,” she said while describing the dedication often required to build a successful business.
Although the statement was clearly meant to emphasize hard work rather than literal hours, it reflects the mindset that has defined much of her career.
Williams built her legacy through years of intense training, competition, and persistence. Her achievements include 367 career victories at Grand Slam tournaments, more than 300 weeks ranked as the world’s number one player, and nearly $95 million in career prize money.
Yet despite her accomplishments, Williams says one value has remained especially important throughout her life. Humility. She credits her upbringing for teaching her to remain grounded regardless of success. “I think the main value that they instilled in me is just humility,” Williams said.
“I think that goes way better than any championship or anything because it keeps you grounded as an individual. It keeps you respectful.” Her comments echo advice offered by several prominent business leaders.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has previously encouraged entrepreneurs to work as if someone else is trying to take away everything they have built. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs also famously argued that perseverance is often the difference between successful entrepreneurs and unsuccessful ones.
Williams’ message stands out because it comes from someone who has achieved success at the highest level in both sports and business. The former tennis champion is also making headlines again after announcing her return to competitive tennis at age 44, nearly four years after stepping away from the sport. The comeback has generated excitement among fans and players across the tennis world.
Even as she prepares for another chapter in tennis, Williams continues to emphasize the same lesson that guided her rise to the top. Talent may open the door, but discipline, determination, humility, and daily effort are what keep it open.
For Serena Williams, success was never built on talent alone. It was built one day, one practice session, and one challenge at a time. And according to her, that principle applies just as much in business as it does in sport.
