Fatherhood Lessons from "King Richard"
This is the first part of a 2 part series
June is still the month of celebrating family and the blessing that Fatherhood is.
This week, I will share a two-part series of the lessons I gleaned from what I now consider a classic movie about the power of intentional fatherhood, based on the theme of King Richard. This autobiographical playlet tells the story of two starlets—Venus and Serena Williams—and their father, Richard, on the journey of becoming the champions we know them as today.
🎬 A Little Background
The movie is set during a time when Black Americans, though liberated from slavery, were still not recognized as capable of success—especially not in a sport like tennis. In fact, before the emergence of the Williams sisters, tennis was a sport dominated by Whites.
Amidst all this, there lived a man with a vision for his family. That man was Richard Williams. While doing menial jobs at a tennis tournament, he encountered an “ordinary” young athlete who earned in one week more than he earned in over a year. What! Flabbergasted is too small a word to describe how he felt at that discovery.
He returned home and told his wife that they needed to have two more children, even though they already had three girls. As his wife got pregnant, Mr. Richard Williams wrote a 120-page plan detailing how he would raise his unborn children to become tennis champions.
🏆 Fast Forward… 12 Years Later
Mr. Williams began following the plan. He trained his children daily for hours—longer than most kids their age practiced. In fact, neighbors once called the police on him, accusing him of pushing his children too hard. But he was merely instilling diligence, excellence, discipline, humility, and every other virtue into his two daughters and their siblings.
By day, he trained them. By night, he worked as a security guard to put food on the table.
As the girls grew older, he knocked on countless doors, looking for coaches willing to train his girls—not for money, but in anticipation of their future success. Just imagine that! Of course, in a capitalist society like America, he was rejected over and over again.
But the hard work paid off. These girls—Venus and Serena—were already far ahead of their peers in attitude, discipline, skill, grit, and resilience. They were diamonds in the rough, waiting for someone to take a leap of faith.
💡 Now to the Lessons…
1. Have a Vision
Mr. Williams had a clear vision for his family—specifically for the two children he intended to raise as stars. He specified their expected GPA, instilled a sense of focus, discipline, and a can-do attitude. The vision provided the structure they needed to thrive.
2. Diligence
He taught them that consistent diligence pays off. Whether seen or unseen, appreciated or unrecognized—keep at it. The diligent, regardless of background or race, will stand before kings and not mere men.
3. Be Relentless
Rejection never stopped Mr. Williams. He revised his strategy, knocked again, and moved to the next door. He understood this: rejection is not failure—it may just mean those rejecting you don’t recognize your value.
4. Stay Humble
Once the girls began to win trophies and gain recognition, they became slightly swell-headed. It’s typical—after a few wins, we think we’ve arrived. But Mr. Williams hit the reset button with the movie Cinderella. He reminded them that even the one chosen by the prince remained humble until she was found.
5. Never Settle for Less
Mr. Williams was articulate about what he wanted for his daughters. From their first contracts to sponsorship deals and participation rules, he stood firm. Like an eagle, he was always prepared, teaching his children that the first offer isn’t always the best one. Stay focused.
6. Your Vision Is Nothing Without Support
Mrs. Williams was the silent strength behind it all. She gave her support, submission, and unwavering commitment to the cause. She stood in the gap when Mr. Williams went overboard, defending her daughters with grace and strength. Her role is a model of wise support and balance.
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I’ll stop here and continue next week.
Tell me in the comments:
Have you seen King Richard?
What lessons did you learn—about family, fatherhood, or parenting?
📚 What I’m Reading This Week:
Harvard Business Review’s Reskilling + Upskilling Report