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I started the first live-in academy in 1984. When it first opened I knew little about the responsibility of being a parent to boys and girls from all over the world and all walks of life. But that's exactly what I had to be.

Now, In order to survive this undertaking, I had to make sure I selected a staff that was willing to work seven days a week with long hours, ranging from 12 to 18 hours a day. As their leader, I had to put into action very clear goals and it was important that we all worked as a team. Every member of our team had a role; in fact at times they had several. For example, our tennis coaches also had responsibilities that included cooking, driving a bus, housekeeping, and even acting as a parent sometimes; All of this on top of being a tennis coach!

CAPITALIZE on Synergy

To create positive synergy, teams must have the right people in the right places, all focused on achieving a common goal.

As I look back to the earlier days, I really see the level of trust and respect each member of the team had for each other. Nothing short of extreme commitment to "making the team" is tolerated or accepted. Without this attitude we would not have grown as we have. "Making the team" means doing what it takes to fulfill the mission. Synergy happens when qualified people align to meet this mission. I sometimes find it astounding that we found that synergy, survived and put into practice a completely new approach to developing tennis players.

I am a man that is always on the move and never accepting of what I have done. I am always looking for something more we can do. Throughout the process there have always been people telling me that it cannot be done. There are always people like that when you create something different, something special. This place helps me remember that the only things in life that are impossible are only impossible when you don't try.