Napoleon Hill says that desire is the starting point of all achievement. Passion for excellence is what distinguishes the achiever from the mediocre. The little spark of inspiration is what ultimately leads to success. A passion for perfection will make success a way of life. For people with that spark, the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning.

With his recent success against Federer at the last Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal shattered notions of his adversary’s invincibility. Although it took a long and rain-interrupted battle, Nadal won in the end. Fellow player Marat Safin believes that “To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place.” Surely there’s a lot of hard work behind all those remarkable aces and even his enviable fitness. So what makes the 22-year-old Spaniard a match for the indestructible Roger Federer? Some argue it’s his fitness and agility. Others believe it to be his powerful shots, but I believe it’s his passion and perseverance.

Nadal is an example of how will power, hard work and skill, along with a desire for perfection and precision, can make a difference. He turned pro in 2001 and has been nearly unbeatable since, giving his opponents a reason to fret. The six foot tall, left-handed player with a double-handed backhand has also proved his mettle at the French Open — he remains unbeaten there. Some say he is the best player of all time on clay.

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