The life of Richard Williams, portrayed in the movie, King Richard is inspirational. He raised his girls with the intention of making sure that although they were girls from the projects (a rough neighborhood in Compton) they would become world champions. This aligns with LeadHer Foundation’s mission that barriers can be broken and your dreams are not limited to your environment. There are a handful of lessons that can be learned from King Richard which show that it is not impossible to break glass ceilings.

Have a vision

 One of the main themes of King Richard is that a clear vision is an essential part of attaining success. It is especially important because a vision is a bridge between your present reality and who you aspire to become. Having a vision is the first step to being successful.

Get a detailed plan 

Richard Williams had a 78-page plan outlining the process of his daughters turning from prodigies into professionals. Although you do not need to have a 78-page plan, you need to think of the steps that will help you execute the mission you have created for yourself. Richard Williams was dedicated to his plan and therefore, he could achieve his goals. As a result of this dedication, when the opportunity arrived and he got the attention of a great coach, the girls’ skill was impressive enough to help them get closer to the goal of becoming champions.

Believe in yourself 

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t – you’re right – Henry Ford”.

The first step to realizing your vision or goals is to believe in yourself. Your thoughts and your thinking matter. Venus Williams believed in her ability to win and that is the mindset to win. Serena Williams had also trained and grown to have confidence in her abilities. They did not allow their circumstances or environment to reflect on how they saw themselves or how they performed.

Positive reinforcement 

Be a part of a tribe and community that will champion you and celebrate your wins. Richard, his wife, and his daughters created a community of support for Venus and Serena Williams. These people believed in them, and supported and encouraged them.

LeadHer Foundation creates a community of champions that empowers young ladies in our community with the tools needed to succeed and break environmental barriers. Programs such as the Dow Promise program, an employee-led initiative that seeks to positively impact educational and economic challenges faced by youth and adults of African heritage in communities support us in aiding to remove barriers to success by empowering, mentoring and sponsoring young ladies in local communities.