I’ve been fascinated by the Olympics this year, partly because I used to live in London and partly because I have loved them since I was a kid. One of my big dreams was to attend the games one day, I even had a huge pepsi bottle bank to save my coins to go. The Summer Olympics cover such great sports like gymnastics which I did for
years as a kid, track and field which dominated my high-school years, and horseback riding which I’ve done most of my life. This year they are affecting me in a deeper
way.
I think it is because being an entrepreneur is a lot like
being an Olympic athlete. The odds of a
start-up succeeding are so ridiculously low that most wouldn’t even try if they
knew them (or believed they could be one of the ones that failed). You certainly wouldn’t play any games in Vegas
on those odds. And yet these athletes
beat the odds. What does that take? How can I learn from these masters and apply
this to my business?
Well the skills and qualities of an Olympic athelte that I’ve noticed over the
last few days are:
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Persistence
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Courage
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Commitment
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Determination
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Ambition
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Dedication
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Calmness
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Enthusiasm
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Strength
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Consistency
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Endurance
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Confidence
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Grace
All of these innately human qualities come from a perfect
blend of our ego supporting our soul and our mind and body working in service to
the heart. These athletes inspire
me. They believe in themselves; they are
crazy enough to believe they can – so they do! They also never ever give up.
They spend countless hours training and they are often not with their
families or friends for long stretches of time so they can focus fully on their
sport. They truly understand that
sacrifice means making one thing sacred.
I think this is why we are collectively moved by this global televised
event every four years. We see what we
are capable of when we fully commit to our dreams. The level of discipline these champions
commit to is truly awe-inspiring. They are required to remain calm amongst the
pressure of one event determining their fate. They are forced to block out any external stimuli while using tons of
mental preparation and tools.
While not everyone wins at these games, I don’t think anyone
really loses. The chance to travel to a
foreign country (for most) and to compete for best in your class is a chance of
a lifetime. This is how I feel about
being a Founder and CEO, it is truly an incredible opportunity and yet it tests
me in all ways. Daily, I need to work on
my mind, body and soul just like an Olympic athlete. I have to continually show up to my “desk”
just like putting in the hours at the gym. Over time muscles get stronger and
we become the best at what we do. Practice truly does make perfect.
Most won’t ever leave the comfort of corporate America and a
stable paycheck to jump into the wilderness of running a start-up. Then again many would prefer to watch the
Olympics rather than train for them. Why? Well let’s be honest – it is HARD
work. But for those of us who are
foolish enough to believe in our dreams, well the journey and the blessings are
priceless.
In service to changing the world, or changing our own world,
we push ourselves to the limit, we make our dreams our priorities and we show
up – over and over again. This process takes discipline, commitment, sacrifice,
love, passion, and a strong will. It is
not for everyone but as Gabby Douglas, 1st African American All-Around Gymnastics
Gold Medal Winner, said last night: “if you can
push through the hard days, you can get through anything.”
Being a champion is in my DNA and I have an Olympic-sized
heart. It’s partly why my ambition,
drive, and sensitivity are not always a curse because they keep me motivated to always
give my best and often stand out from the crowd. Being a leader was natural to
me at five years old and yet watching these athletes makes me realize I need even
more discipline, more mental preparation, a deeper reservoir of strength and
of course a great coach and support system! To be the best at business, as a CEO, as a
female founder and an entrepreneur – I have a lot to learn from these
Olympians. We all do. If these athletes
can do it, I CAN DO IT. AND SO CAN YOU J
Love & Light,
Kate Neligan - The Synergistic Entrepreneur
P.S. This is an excellent article on Gabby’s win. Her coach told her that everyone has pain and to
not focus on it and then this part was my favorite: “She never doubted she could be the best. Even when she
was the only one who thought so.” The real lesson? ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
