What Table Tennis Taught Me About Building a Strong Business

When I was a young boy growing up in Kenya, my three brothers and I would play table tennis at home for fun. 

I seemed to have a knack for it — quick reflexes, good coordination — but mostly, I just loved the game. (It also gave me a perfectly valid excuse to avoid homework, which I didn’t enjoy nearly as much.) 

A few years later, a tournament was organized for boys under 13. I entered, gave it everything I had, and won. 

That small win changed everything. 

A local businessman heard about me and offered to drive me to the local table tennis club so I could practice. He once told me that what made him want to help wasn’t just that I showed potential — it was that I was always ready when he arrived. Dressed. Prepared. Grateful. 

Soon, several men in their 30s and 40s became my mentors. They challenged me, encouraged me, and believed in me. For a 12-year-old, that kind of support was transformative. It built my confidence, work ethic, and discipline. 

Eventually, I went on to compete at the national level and became the Kenyan National Men’s Singles Champion. But the lessons I learned long before winning titles are the ones I still use every day in business. 

Here are a few of them. 

Show Up Ready

When my mentor came to pick me up, I was ready — paddle packed, shoes on, focused, and on time. 

Meanwhile, other kids would show up late or unprepared. That small difference in readiness earned me trust and opportunity. 

In business, “showing up ready” means: 

• Coming prepared to client and team meetings 
• Knowing your numbers before making decisions 
• Paying attention to seasonality and planning ahead 

Readiness builds credibility. And credibility builds confidence with customers, team members, lenders, and partners. 



Ask yourself: 
If someone came to “pick up” your business today — would it be ready? 

Be Coachable

Talent without teachability hits a ceiling. 

My mentors corrected my grip, stance, footwork, and serve. Sometimes their feedback stung — but I listened, because they could see things I couldn’t. 

In business, being coachable might look like: 

• Adopting better systems 
• Taking feedback from customers and your team 
• Investing in training 
• Improving how you lead 
• Being willing to learn something new, even after years of experience 

Being coachable doesn’t mean you know less — it means you’re committed to getting better. 



Ask yourself: 
Are you still willing to learn, even after all the success you’ve had? 

Appreciate the People Who Help You

I was fortunate to have mentors who believed in me. I made sure they knew their investment mattered — not just through words, but through effort and gratitude. 

Gratitude strengthens every business relationship. 

When people feel appreciated, they give more: 

• Teams take ownership 
• Clients stay loyal 
• Vendors support you better 
• Partners go the extra mile 

A little appreciation has a big ROI. 



Ask yourself: 
Who supports you — and have you thanked them recently? 

Practice the Basics — Relentlessly

At a competitive level, I practiced my serve hundreds of times a day.
The basics were repetitive and sometimes boring — but they won matches. 

The same is true in business. 

The “basics” are things like: 

• Reviewing your numbers weekly 
• Holding regular team meetings 
• Having clear processes 
• Communicating expectations 
• Delivering consistently to customers 

These are not glamorous habits — but they’re the foundation of profitable, stable growth. 



Ask yourself: 
Are you practicing the basics, or letting urgent tasks push them aside? 

Pay It Forward

The men who helped me weren’t paid. They were simply people who enjoyed supporting someone who cared enough to work hard. 

That spirit of mentorship has stayed with me — and influences how we serve business owners at Straight Talk CPAs. 

Many entrepreneurs work tirelessly to build something real. But at some point, the question becomes: How are you helping others grow alongside you? 

Paying it forward might mean: 

• Developing your team members 
• Sharing knowledge with other business owners 
• Teaching younger employees what you’ve learned 
• Making your business a place where people feel supported 

Businesses grow stronger when people grow stronger. 

Ask yourself: 
Who are you mentoring to carry your values forward? 

Final Thought

Table tennis taught me far more than how to win championships. 

It taught me: 

• To be prepared 
• To stay humble 
• To appreciate others 
• To master the basics 
• To give back 

These same values build strong businesses. 

Because success isn’t just about the next sale, the next contract, or the next milestone. 

It’s about how you show up, how you grow, and how you help others rise with you. 

Want a Business That Runs Smoothly and Profitably? 

If you’d like practical tools and strategies to strengthen your business finances, reduce taxes, and create more control, download our free resource: 

From Chaos to Clarity: The Straight Talk Guide to Lower Taxes and Higher Profits 



It’s written for business owners who want strategy, confidence, and better results — not more stress.