Serena Williams: The Black Millionaire Blueprint for Success

Interesting is the fact that almost every photo of Serena as a child is with her older sister Venus. She practically breathed her sister’s air. She admits often that during those formative years that she tried to copy every move and step of Venus. But By 1991, Serena was starting to develop her individuality subconsciously. She was 46-3 on the junior United States Tennis Association tour, and ranked first in the 10-and-under division. Sensing his girls needed better instruction to become successful professionals, he moved his family again—this time to Florida. There, Richard let go of some of his coaching responsibilities, but not the management of Serena’s and Venus’s career. Wary of his daughters burning out too quickly, he scaled back their junior tournament schedule.

Again, Richard’s much-critized move proved brilliant. This one move may have save his daughters’  careers before it even started. With so many superstars burning out on the tour after five or so years, Venus and Serena have been going strong for a decade-and-a-half with no end in sight.