“Hey, anyone interested in joining a badminton class?” The message popped up in my apartment community WhatsApp group.
Without a second thought, I found myself typing a quick “Yes, me…” and hitting send.
As I stared at my response, disbelief washed over me. Me? Joining a sports class? It seemed absurd.
Sports had never been my forte. Sure, I had accompanied my son to his badminton classes countless times, but I had never held a racket or even attempted to play. My relationship with sports was practically nonexistent.
‘What happened to you, Suba? Sports and you…..Can you even spell the word ‘SPORTS’ without a help of a spellchecker?’ the inner mocker in me was laughing aloud. “Hey, shut up, I walk a lot, went on trekking many times till a few years ago.”
As I tried shushing the mocker, she started laughing so loudly, and said, “remember, the lemon and spoon race you participated recently.” Her eyes were moisture from the hard laugh and she didn’t stop.
That was my attempt to participate in a ‘spoon and lemon’ race few years ago – where lemon fell out as I took the first step and the spoon itself in my second step – flashed out brightly. Somehow, I ended up laughing along with that inner mocker.
Later, I tried to silence the mocker, reminding myself of the times I had enjoyed trekking and participating in the occasional race, even if the race ended in laughter rather than victory. But now, something was different. Despite the laughter echoing in my mind, I felt a stirring of determination.
The sound of shuttlecocks whizzing through the air and sneakers thudding against the court had become a persistent presence in my thoughts. So, with a mix of nerves and excitement, I found myself standing on the sidelines of the badminton court, watching seasoned players—mostly children—move with grace under the guidance of our coach.
Summoning every ounce of courage, I tentatively approached the coach and signed up for the class. It was a daunting step for someone like me, plagued by shyness and self-doubt. But I was determined to break free from my constraints and embrace this opportunity for growth.
Turning to my friends for support, I sought guidance from my ICF Coach peers. Inspired by the “1% rule” discussed during one of our coaching sessions, I resolved to focus on incremental improvement. Each week, I would target a specific aspect of the game, starting with the fundamentals of hand, wrist, and leg movements.
With a clear plan in mind, I made a pact with myself: strive for just 1% improvement each class. It was a small but profound shift in mindset, emphasizing progress over perfection. As the days turned into weeks, I immersed myself in practice, pushing past discomfort and awkwardness.
With each swing of the racket, I felt my stiffness loosen, my tension melts away. I moved on to mastering footwork, honing my agility and coordination. Step by step, I embraced the challenge, approaching each practice session with unwavering focus and dedication.
Small victories boosted my confidence, propelling me forward on my journey of self-discovery. No longer bound by insecurities, I reveled in the joy of each graceful swing and swift step.
Two years have passed since that first class. I still win some matches and lose some, but the joy of playing remains constant. As I stand on the court, surrounded by laughter and the clatter of racket strings, I realize the profound impact of embracing the 1% rule.
It wasn’t just about learning badminton; it was about transforming my entire lifestyle. Morning walks became more cheerful, strengthening exercises added flavor to my fitment regime—they all became part of a holistic approach to health and well-being.
The 1% rule, seemingly small, yielded monumental benefits. It taught me discipline, patience, and the power of incremental progress. By breaking down daunting tasks into manageable steps, I nurtured consistency and resilience.
So, to my dear readers, I offer this insight: embrace the 1% rule. Commit to continuous growth and improvement, one step at a time. With patience and perseverance, remarkable transformations are within reach.
Author Bio: Suba Lakshminarasimhan is the executive leadership coach (ICF-PCC, EMCC-SP) and a Systemic Team Coach. Suba supports organizations in strengthening a high-performing leadership pool by coaching CXOs and Senior Executives. Suba has been coaching C-Suite, D-Suite, and E-Suite leaders to handle workplace conflicts and related emotional management so that they focus on empowering themselves, elevating teams, and growing businesses sustainably.
An award-winning entrepreneur, she has been a Mentor, Advisor, and Keynote Speaker in various forums like Cherrie Blair Mentor Forum, TYE Silicon Valley and more. Suba has presented and published research papers at international conferences. An avid reader, passionate about classic art forms, she has been learning Kathak, plays Badminton. Suba lives with her husband and son in Bangalore, India.
