From left to right Marko Pjaca Juventus Jersey , Rafael Nadal of Spain, Simona Halep of Romania, Novak Djokovic of Serbia, Li Na of China, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, Maria Sharapova of Russia Mario Mandzukic Juventus Jersey , Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, Serena Williams of the US, Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Serena Williams, Russian world No 6 Maria Sharapova and Li Na, together with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are set to make the China Open the most star-studded in its 11-year history.
Current world No 1 Williams of the US is defending champion and favored for a third crown in Beijing while home favorite Li Leonardo Spinazzola Juventus Jersey , third-ranked and the reigning Australian Open champion, is vying for her first title at home and a place in the year-ending finals.
The host country also boasts 33rd-ranked Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai, who partnered Hsieh Su-Wei from Chinese Taipei to victory in this season's French Open doubles final.
According to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), the 45 top-ranked players automatically qualify and nine of those traveling to Beijing are former world No 1s.
The tournament, from Sept 27 to Oct 5, will also be a milestone for the new generation of "post-1990s" players. The 24-year-old double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and second ranked Romanian Simona Halep Leonardo Bonucci Juventus Jersey , 23, will appear, together with 20-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard, who stormed into the semi-finals of all three Grand Slams so far this year.
A re-run of last year's men's final is a mouth-watering prospect for Chinese fans. Serbia's Djokovic has appeared in four Beijing finals without leaving empty-handed while injury-plagued Spaniard Nadal, who has pulled out of the US Open starting on Monday with a wrist injury, will be seeking a return to the winners' circle after being out of action since Wimbledon.
Posing a threat to the big two's dominance Kwadwo Asamoah Juventus Jersey , are 2011 champion Tomas Berdych and the promising Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who has claimed three ATP titles this year and also happens to be dating Sharapova.
On September 4, 2006, Tiger Woods won his fifth straight golf tournament. Just two weeks earlier, he won his twelfth major golf title, the PGA Championship. Both are amazing accomplishments for someone who's only 30. Some say that his current domination of the sport means he has nothing to fear and that his career has nowhere to go but up.
How would you like to be at the top of your game and the undisputed leader in your industry?
You would think that Woods could afford to coast a little bit and simply maintain his position. As the saying goes Juan Cuadrado Juventus Jersey , "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," right?
Wrong.
If you ask any expert, and even Tiger himself, to identify his greatest weakness, they will undoubtedly tell you it's his putting. Although he currently ranks #1 overall in the Official World Golf Ranking Joao Cancelo Juventus Jersey , for putting he lags far behind at #38.
Let me tell you a story.
Just before beginning the final round of the PGA Championship, Woods placed two golf tees about 13 centimeters apart, nearly one meter away from the hole on the putting green. He then began practicing putts by swinging the blade of his putter through the tees to hit the ball into the hole. He usually performs this drill until he makes 100 consecutive shots.
Read that again...100 consecutive shots.
Because Woods knows that he is vulnerable on the putting green, he makes it a priority to find a way to master the art of putting. He is not interested in making excuses or simply maintaining his skill level. He constantly strives for improvement.
How does this apply to you and your business?
Let's face it. You probably have an Achilles' heel, some particular area of business that you avoid because you either lack confidence andor proficiency. And yet you suspect having expertise in that area would skyrocket the growth of your business.
There's a school of thought in management that you should focus on a person's strengths and minimize his weaknesses. (Check out, "First Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently" by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.) This is an excellent strategy if you have team members with complimentary talents at your disposal and you are comfortable delegating those areas of your business where you don't shine.
But what if your weakness is essential to the survival of your business? Not only that Gonzalo Higuain Juventus Jersey , what if your active participation is non-negotiable? After all, it's not as if Woods can simply rely on his skills down the driving range and opt out of putting altogether.
So what's the solution?
First, CHOOSE to do whatever it takes to master the key to succeeding in your business. Next, use the following 4 steps to help you minimize your risks:
"The 4 Keys to Conquering Your Weakness"
1. Identify Your Achilles' Heel: You probably already have a nagging suspicion of where you could use some improvement. Write it down. And by the way, you're not alone if you discover that your weakness lies in the areas of effective networking, customer follow-up Giorgio Chiellini Juventus Jersey , prospecting, or cold calling!
2. Don't Reinvent the Wheel: Look for and consult with others who struggled with and overcame similar challenges. Chances are there are multiple books, programs, and solutions out there that someone else has created. You can slash the learning curve if you find the one that fits you best.
3. Practice Makes Perfect: Just like Woods, devise a drill or system that allows you to develop good habits and dedicate yourself to an unwavering determination to get the job done. After a while, it becomes a sheer numbers game. The more you practice Gianluigi Buffon Juventus Jersey , the better you get until you wake up one day and realize that your execution is effortless.