All three of my kids chose to play sports when they were young and my two older boys did well playing baseball and tennis. Many weekdays, weeknights and weekends were spent on the fields and the courts as we watched our children practice, play, learn valuable lessons and enjoy being kids. Now that all my kids are grown, I find that I miss those days immensely.
My oldest son was especially good and excelled in tennis. He even got to the point where he made his college team and competed on the collegiate level. Yeah, this is a proud dad bragging about his kid. 😊 I have a great story about his first match playing at the college level but I’ll save it for another time as it was a great lesson for him and for me. Stay tuned as I’m sure this story will show up on a future blog.
My oldest son had the perfect body composition for this sport. He is tall, strong, quick and has a very large wingspan allowing him to reduce the space on the court as he was able to reach many balls that would go past others who were not quite his size.
What was even better than all of his physical attributes was his tennis IQ. He just had a smart court presence. He knew where to hit it and he knew how to hit it and he knew how to frustrate his opponent.
His main strength was his forehand. It was wicked! He had total control and could hit it flat, top spin, back spin or drop a shot at will. He was quick enough so that when a player hit it to his backhand close enough to his body he could run around that backhand and whip a forehand winner down the line. It was so fun to watch. His other strokes were good but his forehand was poetry in motion.
There was just one problem. We didn’t get to see his forehand as often as we wanted to. You see, he had a hard time with his first serve. When his first serve did go in it was hard and fast and difficult to return. But often it went into the net, sailed long or wide. This forced him to need to hit a second serve which was much slower and the opponent could easily hit it to his backhand instead of his forehand.
Sometimes, the fault of the first serve got into his head and he would double fault. His coaches tried everything they could to fix this problem. They changed his grip, they changed his approach, they changed the way he held and tossed the ball, they changed his position on the court. Nothing seemed to work. This kid struggled to consistently hit in his first serve. It really was a mental problem as he definitely had the physical skills to overcome this issue. In baseball, it is called a case of the “yips.” This is the sudden inability to perform a basic task accurately. It is often a psychological issue that can be overcome by getting in the right mindset.
I remember he and I had many conversations about his first serve woes. He was so confused as the rest of his strokes were good and his forehand was great. I told him that he was not able to show the strength of his other strokes If he could not get his first serve in. That resonated with him and it became his mission to get that first serve in so he could use that forehand and achieve many wins on the court.
Eventually he overcame the challenge mentally and he was a hard player to beat.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
I am working on getting better at filming, editing and producing video content for the TikTok platform. One of the main things that I’ve learned is that the hook is probably the most important thing to keep the consumer from scrolling past the rest of your content. I have learned that if you don’t get the interest of the viewer within the first 1 to 5 seconds (I’ve even heard of 1 to 3 seconds) the viewer will scroll past whatever else you have to say and move on to the next video.
That is why the hook is the most important part of the video… getting the interest of the person watching your content.
A hook is defined as:
“The opening few seconds designed to immediately capture the viewer’s attention and encourage them to keep watching. Since platforms like TikTok prioritize watch time and engagement, an effective hook can make or break the success of your content.
A good hook can be:
- A compelling question: “Have you ever wondered why…?”
- A bold statement: “You’ve been doing this wrong your whole life!”
- A relatable situation: “If you’ve ever felt stuck, this is for you.”
- An intriguing action or visual: Starting with something surprising or unusual happening on screen.
The goal is to spark curiosity or an emotional response, keeping viewers engaged through the rest of the video.”
A good hook is like my son’s tennis serve. My son needed to get his serve in before anybody could see his groundstrokes, specifically his forehand. Unless I deliver a compelling hook, no one is going to see my video.
I am currently practicing my hooks now as I create content for TikTok. There are three other areas in the Viral Video Formula that I need to implement as I mentioned in a previous blog (here) in order to achieve success and will enable me to gain followers.
I must admit that sometimes I overthink the hook and spend more time on it than I really should instead of focusing on the actual content of what I want to say. I don’t want to get into a position where I develop the “yips” when trying to come up with a good hook. The hook really is intended to stop the viewer from scrolling and gain their interest. That’s it. Nothing else. I often find that in my quest to get a good hook I lose the interest of the viewer as it may seem inauthentic.
I am confident that as I continue to practice the viral video formula starting with the hook, the process will become more natural and encourage the viewer to engage with me and hopefully, become a follower.
Now that I’ve reminisced about my kids playing tennis, I think I’ll go look at a few pictures and be reminded of those times that are so precious to me. And, maybe I’ll call my oldest son and see if he wants to go out and try to get one past me. 🤣🎾
“A compelling hook isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you make them feel.” — Jay Baer
“Learn to serve with power, accuracy, and calmness. It’s not just about the arm—it’s about the mind.” — Bjorn Borg
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
Why don’t tennis players ever get lonely? Because they always have love on the court!
What do you call a tennis player who can’t stop texting? A net working pro!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
As a huge tennis fan, I loved reading this. I used to be very active when I was younger and tennis and used to play all my teachers, as they struggled to beat me. I had a really good relationship with them and they certainly brought banter to the classroom. My maths teacher beat me once and I worked really hard to claim the title back! I loved how you connected your son’s tennis journey with the art of creating TikTok content—it totally clicked for me. Your tennis analogy about the hook being like the serve is spot on. If you don’t nail the serve, you can’t showcase the full game, just like how a weak hook means viewers miss out on the great content that follows.
Maybe share that college match story soon—bet it’s packed with even more inspiration! Keep serving those hooks and smashing it both on TikTok and on the court with your son (if he doesn’t leave you in the dust, that is!).
Hi Sarah – It seems like we share the love for tennis in common. I remember taking tennis as a physical education elective in college. Let’s just say I was able to compete with the instructor and I easily passed that class! Yes, the serve is so important as well as the hook in short form video content. I hope to achieve a lot of success like you, my friend. I think I will share that college match story soon as it is a pretty good one and a great learning opportunity for him and for me! Have a great week!
Hi Ernie,
I really enjoyed reading this! The connection between your son’s tennis journey and creating TikTok content was so relatable and inspiring. It’s a great reminder that mastering the basics, whether it’s a first serve or a hook, makes all the difference in achieving success. Your honesty about overthinking hooks and striving for authenticity really stood out to me. Thanks for sharing this heartfelt and thoughtful post!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – It really is about mastering the basics before we can dig deeper into some of the more complicated stuff, right? Mastering the basics and being able to showcase what you have is so incredibly important before anything else. Thank you for your visit to my blog and for your nice comments!
I love how you are always seeing life and connecting it to your business. I would have never thought of the connection between the mental game of tennis and creating content— but it’s so true that getting that perfect hook is like hitting a solid first serve! 🎾 It can be frustrating when you overthink it, but like your son learned with his serve, it’s all about practice and mindset. I totally relate to that feeling of getting caught in the “yips” while trying to create the perfect video intro. 😅 I have been struggling with making content that conerts, and I keep reminding myself it should be about having fun and as long as I am having fun I will get better and figure it out eventually.
What’s been the most surprising lesson you’ve learned so far about TikTok hooks? I’d love to hear how you’re overcoming that urge to perfect them to the point where it feels inauthentic. Any tips for finding that balance between grabbing attention and staying true to your message? 🤔 Also, if you *do* end up challenging your son to a match, I think we all need video evidence of that showdown! 😂🎾
Hi Alison – The mental game of tennis, or any other sport for that matter, is very similar to the mental game in business. Once we get it into our head that we can succeed, we eliminate obstacles in our path. Your content is great, and I know it’s going to hit soon enough. I really enjoy watching your stuff as it is not only entertaining but also educational. I don’t have cats, but I am learning a lot about them by watching your content. As far as my most surprising lesson that I’ve learned through hooks… well, it’s to keep experimenting to try to find the right ones and to keep it lively. I’ve been using movement, walking and talking, different headlines with different fonts using different templates and finally trying to find the right transitions. It is so much about keeping the viewer engaged. My videos do not get a lot of views right now, but I am certain with practice and following the viral video formula I can get there. I am finding more and more that when I am acting like “me,” it becomes more authentic and I am having a lot more fun making these videos. I have to fight the urge of copying with some other content creators do. I am sure my son will read this post and he will be challenging me immediately. And he will certainly post pictures of him running around his old man.
Hey Ernie, I used to play tennis almost every day when I was between 14 to 16 yrs old. I really liked playing this sport. My first serve and reverse were my best techniques and indeed, throwing an ace has always a special and satisfying feeling. Like doing a good hook on TikTok. The hook for me is the part of the video that I can spend the most time on. I repeat the filming until I’m satisfied with it. But you’re true by saying we overthink it. Sometimes I think I got the best hook but it doesn’t show on the field. The best judges are the ones for whom we make the video for, that is, we are not creating a video for ourself but for others to appreciate it. So I learned to keep it simple.
Good post again. Thank you!
Martin
Hi Martin – It’s nice to talk with a fellow tennis fan! While my sons grew up playing tennis, I also grew up playing the great sport and I learned a lot from not only the competition but how to get out of tough situations on the court… just like business. And keep it simple with the Hooks! That is tremendous advice especially to someone like me who tends to overthink everything. Thanks for your visit to my blog post and for your comments. Have a wonderful day!
Ernie, This was such an enjoyable and insightful read, blending personal anecdotes with valuable lessons! The comparison between your son’s tennis serve and the importance of a strong hook in TikTok videos really clicked for me—it’s such a clear and relatable analogy. I love how you emphasised that the hook sets the stage for everything else, just like the serve determines the flow of the game. It’s also reassuring to know that overthinking the hook can happen to everyone, and that authenticity is key. Thank you for sharing both your memories and your current journey—it’s inspiring and full of practical takeaways. I’m looking forward to your next post (and maybe more dad jokes)!
Hi Atif – I am so glad to hear from you and thank you so much for visiting my blog and making comments. Setting the hook is so important and I Continue to try several things in order to get the viewer to stop and listen to my entire message instead of scrolling. My problem is overthinking. Just like my son and him trying to figure out how to get that serve in, I need to get past that and set the hook and move on. Have a great week and again, thanks for your visit!
The analytical mind a.k.a. overthinking is a common and understandable human approach to new acquisitions. Everything we do gets easier with practice until at some point, it flows with ease. For instance, case in point with my YouTube videos: i’ve gotten into the flow with doing these videos every day. Lately, I have chosen a quote and do an exposé on what I think is the meaning of the quote. I do not do a fancy editing job, etc. but what I do do is deliver the material with meaning and enthusiasm. Then I think about the quote as I go about my day and as a matter of fact, all the quotes have the common denominator of elevating the human spirit. I know this helps my brain find new synapsis and rewires which is important as we grow older. It is important at any age really. Let us face the fact that true wealth is not measured in money alone. What we are doing with our videos and our blogs, etc., are helping us grow to be better human beings.
Kate – What you have just replied is inspirational. I have seen how your content has evolved, and it is remarkable. You have such a calm nature about yourself and it is no doubt why your content is so relatable and get so many views, likes and comments. You are right that wealth is not measured by money. That attitude is worth more than gold or any amount of money. Thank you for your visit to my blog post, for your comments and for your willingness to tell it like it really is! Have a great day, my friend!