Craft your olympic success story today and win in 2028
The Olympic Games are here again, and who can ignore the Olympic Games? The games inspire us. It tells us the human story of grit, resilience, honour, courage, service, and all that is human and what it means to lead.
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The stories from Paris will warm our hearts for the next four years. So many individuals have lighted up the world of Olympic games and inspired us with their story, craft and athleticism over the years. In recent history, we cannot forget about Usain Bolt, the lightning bolt who showed us how to win and redefined how we celebrate our victories.
You may have your favourite Olympic story, and I cannot forget Stephen Akhwari, a former Tanzania Marathon runner who participated in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
Bruised and bandaged due to his fall at the beginning of the marathon, he entered an empty stadium after the race to declare only one message to the world.
When asked why he kept running while injured, his response elevated the meaning of the games. “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race!”
One thing the games show us is the spirit of excellence. Excellence in every routine on the way to Olympic success.
Similarly, our professional success is defined by excellent routines. In a world where many live with diminished expectations, I pray the games will inspire us all to lift our hearts and live the one life God has given us with a spirit of excellence.
In Paris, on and off the field, men and women have made their name and brought joy to many far and near.
You might have watched the video of the street sweeper, who has committed to offering a clean Paris to all visitors.
Simone Biles, Julien Alfred and many other athletes have battled pain and rejection to take their place on the podium.
Even as we celebrate those on the podium today, other athletes have made it their goal to compete and win in 2028 and are investing heavily in their preparation.
Every professional can take inspiration from this moment and use it to improve their craft and achieve personal Olympic success even if there are no podiums to climb.
What’s the benefit if our hearts are being warmed but not inspired to become the best versions of ourselves and achieve our Olympic feats? You can begin your journey to excellence in whatever endeavour you are engaged in today.
Here are six reflection questions to accelerate your Olympic dream:
1. What’s your Olympic goal for the next four years – What do you want to win gold in?
What goal can you set to pursue over the next four years?
What will success look like for you four years down the line? What podium would you love to stand on? What prize are you seeking to attain in your profession? Is it a prestigious professional qualification, a new product, business, program, art piece, skill, role, etc.?
2. What practice routines will you adopt today to prepare you to compete and win?
It takes practice and preparation to take a place on the podium.
Every athlete has practice routines. The best athletes love their practice routines.
They know they have to practice whether they feel great or not. Julien Alfred practised in the rain, and in the pouring rain in the Stade de France, she stormed to victory in 10.72 seconds.
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Decide on the basic routines you will focus on to improve your craft to be where you want to be in four years.
A fundamental mindset that helps athletes to go through their practice routines is acknowledging that they are professionals. Professionals follow the protocols of the profession.
Amateurs have no regard for the practices and protocols of the craft. You have to decide whether to proceed with your craft as a professional or an amateur.
3. Who is on your coaching team?
Coaches help athletes to improve their craft every day. Coaches create the conditions for professionals to realise their highest aspirations. 99.9% of athletes work with coaches throughout their journey.
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You will also need a team of coaches and mentors who work with you to achieve your Olympic goals. Recruit great mentors, coaches and peers who help to sharpen your craft.
4. What noises do you need to tune out so you can focus on your preparation?
Some may question the basis for your dreams. If looking at the field of competitors generates anxiety rather than acting as a motivating factor, you will be served by tuning out the noise from the field and focusing on your practice.
Remember, your most relevant competitor is you. Put in effort to be a little better than your old self every day.
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5. Who is in your support community?
Achieving Olympic excellence is a collaborative effort involving a whole village. It does not matter the size of your support community, but you must have one.
Julien Alfred’s home country, St Lucia, is an island with 180,856 people. You have a community you can tap into.
6. What will you do to keep you inspired throughout the journey?
Consistency characterises every Olympic success. Articulating why you began the journey helps you to be resilient when you feel like giving up.
You can also use the work of others to inspire your journey. On the morning of her historic winning run, Julien Alfred watched the videos of Usain Bolt to inspire her journey.
We celebrate the spirit of the Olympics because most athletes have overcome numerous constraints to be at the games.
Julien Alfred “used to be on the field struggling with no shoes running barefoot, running in my school uniform, running all over the place." Success is not determined by the resources you have, but by your resourcefulness and resilience.
Why don't you start your journey today?
Why don't you start your journey today? The moment you commit heaven will have your back. You can start with what you have where you are.
You don’t need to have all your ducks in a row before you start. You start, show progress and a community will rally around to support you.
Four years may seem like a long time away but it will come soon. Where will you be when the 2028 Olympic Games open in Los Angeles on 14th July? I pray you achieve all your Olympic dreams. Go for Gold. God is with you.
Be of good cheer!
The writer is a Leadership Development Facilitator, Executive Coach and Strategy Consultant, Founder of the CEO Accelerator Program (https://ceoacceleratorprogram.org) and Chief Learning Strategist at TEMPLE Advisory (www.thelearningtemple.com).
The mission of The Leadership Project is to harvest highly effective leadership practices and share them in a manner that other leaders can easily incorporate into their leadership practice.
If you have an idea or leadership practice to share, kindly write to programs@thelearningtemple.com. Until you read from us again, keep leading.... from leader to leader, one practice at a time.