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Regardless of where I was at 8 PM every night since the Olympics began, I always made it a point to be in front of the TV, watching NBC’s Prime Time live Olympic coverage. I’m not really a fan of some of the events (what is it with curling??), but I watched anyway. At times it seemed like I was watching the movie Ground Hog Day, since the network kept rerunning the same things over and over and over… but I digress.
Throughout the games, hundreds of athletes competed with guts and determination, many who were thought to have no chance to win, and some of them actually won medals. I’ve also watched athletes who were expected to “walk away” with medals, end up with no medals at all. There’s an important lesson to be learned from these games, which can have just as much of an impact on our daily lives.
The difference between the winners and the other contestants is that the winners put forth the extra effort needed to be a medalist. They’re focused, determined and keep their eyes on the goal. Many times that extra effort means overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds just to finish, without even the hope of a medal. Or exceeding one’s own personal best. Or just getting up and trying again after a disastrous fall or a demoralizing defeat.
The fames also showed that teamwork is important and that grandstanding doesn’t always lead to winning. Most importantly, participants in the 2010 Winter Olympics got into the game and gave it their all, despite the odds against winning a medal. They are winners for just being there.
Are you willing to just skate through your life, or are you in the game to win?
Are you prepared to give the extra effort that will make you stand out in your industry?
Are you interested in being a medal-winning salesperson, programming person, receptionist or other team player at your station?
All it takes is a lot of practice and the desire to win, plus the extra effort that we all have the ability to give. The extra effort that can make the difference between success and failure.
Let’s all get out there and go for the gold!
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