Friday, August 3, 2012

Lessons Learned from the 2012 Summer Olympics

While watching the Olympics I’ve been thinking a lot about this question:  What makes a champion? It is amazing to me that there are 7 billion people in the world and only 1 world champion in each Olympic event. How does one go from being one in the masses to being THE one?

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:
-          Persistence
-          Courage
-          Commitment
-          Determination
-          Ambition
-          Dedication
-          Calmness
-          Enthusiasm
-          Strength
-          Consistency
-          Endurance
-          Confidence
-          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





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