The Olympics are one of my favorite events! And this week the 2020, now 2021 games, in Tokyo are in full swing. I’m looking forward to watching track and field, gymnastics, and one of the newest sports, surfing! I love cheering on the athletes as they pursue their own Olympic sized dream. Will you be tuning in, too?
For me, one of the most amazing parts of the Olympics is seeing such high performing athletes from around the world come together for a common goal. Their best is on display. And yet, we are only witness to a small slice of their hard work. There is so much that comes before, that gets them to the Olympic stage.
Now, I have never had any aspirations of being an Olympic athlete. I am content with my experiences as a JV superstar in high school. And yet, as I watch Simone Biles land a perfect dismount, or Katie Ledecky flip through the pool with ease, I am inspired! What I see in them is passion, focus, and determination. No matter how big or small your dream is, if you want to be successful, you need these also! Let’s break it down and see how you can begin crafting your own Olympic sized dream.
Do you have a passion for it?
Olympic athletes clearly love what they do. If you’re going to commit as much time to one thing, you better love it. Sometimes we get caught up desiring certain things because we think it’s what we’re supposed to want. Everyone has shiplap walls in their foyer! I better start planning my own renovation. But you are actually perfectly happy with your painted walls.
Close Instagram and Facebook. Step back from the trap of comparison-itis. Complete these four sentences:
- I desire to feel …
- If I could have more …, I would be very happy!
- … lights me up.
- I could spend all day doing …
If your response is I don’t know, I recommend taking some time to journal. I have found over the years, writing what’s on my mind, either free flowing or with a prompt, helps bring clarity. [I even put together a book of some of my favorite journal prompts. Get your copy today and find your passion. If you aren’t sure journaling will help, read about my experience journaling everyday for a month!]
Whatever the dream is, make sure it’s yours and that you have a true passion for pursuing it.
Find your focus.
Olympic athletes are focused people. They dedicate months to honing their skill. Their schedules are built around practice, cross-training and competitions. While my goals are big for me, they don’t need the same commitment as an Olympic athlete. Focus for my everyday goals looks like planning out my schedule on Sunday. It means setting monthly goals and breaking them down into smaller tasks I can do throughout the week.
No matter how big or small your goal is, being focused will enable you to make little by little progress. And remember, many little tasks lead to big action, which leads to achieving your goals!
Dig in with Determination
Determination is another hallmark of an Olympic athlete. The athletes of the 2020 games are uniquely determined! In the midst of training last year, the games were delayed. All that hard work and focus and then one day you get the call that probably sounded a bit like “nice work, but just kidding, you have to wait another year, we hope!”
Determination is what carries you through when the road gets hard. When you hit an unexpected hurdle, like a world wide pandemic delaying the ability to achieve your dream, determination keeps you from giving up. Determination is what drives me to wake up at 5am and work on my coaching business before I go to my full-time job. What does determination look like for you? Getting that workout in during your lunch break. Hiring a babysitter for a few hours so you can study without distraction. Going to one more antique shop to find the perfect table to complete your dream room renovation.
Bring on Support
As I’ve been watching the games I’ve noticed a 4th very important, but oft forgotten element of a successful Olympian; their coach. In some sports, the coach is right there giving direction and motivation. In others, like beach volleyball, they aren’t even allowed on the sand. No matter where the coach is during competition reaching peak performance is not accomplished alone. From coaches to medical staff, trainers and teammates. Achieving Olympic goals, achieving your goals, are done with the support of other people who believe in your idea and who bring a unique expertise to guide you.
It’s funny that I didn’t think of support as such a key element from the beginning. As a life coach you would think that would be an obvious one for me. If you’re ready to add a coach to support your goal journey, check out the one-on-one coaching opportunity I have right now.
Whatever your Olympic sized dream is, from finishing the local 5K or reaching the Olympics, there are four things everyone needs to find success;
- Passion
- Focus
- Determination
- Support
Three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, Kerri Walsh Jennings said it best:
Passion is a huge prerequisite to winning. It makes you willing to jump through hoops, go through all the ups and downs and everything in between to reach your goal.
Kerri Walsh Jennings
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