Olympian Discipline and Determination
I'll admit, I watched more TV in the last couple of weeks than normal. With the closing of the Olympic Games last night in Beijing, China, the number of hours in front of the TV will drastically decline. It was amazing to watch the world's best athletes competing for Gold and seeing the triumphant taking the stand to listen to their national anthems from the winner's platform. The dedication and determination of those peak performers is motivational to me as I'm sure it is to many others who cheered our modern day Olympians on to victory.
However, I was not only motivated by those who won Gold. In fact, each and every athlete who competed in Beijing was motivational. Just to make it to the Olympics took tremendous determination and dedication to their sport. Yes I watched in eager anticipation each time Michael Phelps dove into the pool and streaked toward his record gold medal accomplishment. I also held my breath as Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukini performed their balance beam routines taking home the Gold and Silver medals. I was glad they both took home Golds and Silvers. And who couldn't marvel at Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh's impressive accomplishment. But I also applauded those that took silver and bronze medals and those that didn't place but still gave their all at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Can you imagine going to bed with the thought, "We swam faster today than anyone in the world had ever swum, but still only came in fifth . . . " That's what the Sweden team members were thinking after the Men's 4 X 100 meter freestyle relay.
In fact, sometimes it is those that don't win the medals, that don't stand in the victory circle that can be most motivating. Why? Because they gave their all, and even without having a medal or the title Olympic Champion, they know inside what they did. They know what it took to get there. They can still hold their heads high knowing the sacrifices they made and the discipline it took. They are still Olympians. They are still champions in life.
Dedicating yourself to a positive goal and disciplining yourself to do everything in your power to achieve that goal makes you a champion in life. It really isn't standing on the winner's platform, but the journey of training, competing, and living that makes a person who they are.
If you have a dream, you must be determined to achieve it. You must discipline yourself to work towards it. You must pay the price. Your goal does not have to be an athletic accomplishment such as the Olympics. It can be anything. But no matter what it is, you must possess the Olympian's focus, the Olympian's obsession, and the Olympian's willpower to overcome all distractions and obstacles to make it to the games. You might not win the medal, but if you make it to the games, you will be a winner.
People all over the world have just set their sights on competing in the next Olympic Games of 2012 in London. As I write this on August 25th, 2008 there are only 1,432 days to go until those games start. Use the accomplishments of all of the Olympians to motivate you toward greater success. What will you accomplish in the next 1,432 days? What are you doing today to bring you closer to your goals? Olympians are training and doing those things to take them to London. Are you doing the things that will enable you to achieve your goals? Find your purpose and passion and specify those goals you will seek with Olympian determination. Then take action toward achieving greatness!
However, I was not only motivated by those who won Gold. In fact, each and every athlete who competed in Beijing was motivational. Just to make it to the Olympics took tremendous determination and dedication to their sport. Yes I watched in eager anticipation each time Michael Phelps dove into the pool and streaked toward his record gold medal accomplishment. I also held my breath as Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukini performed their balance beam routines taking home the Gold and Silver medals. I was glad they both took home Golds and Silvers. And who couldn't marvel at Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh's impressive accomplishment. But I also applauded those that took silver and bronze medals and those that didn't place but still gave their all at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Can you imagine going to bed with the thought, "We swam faster today than anyone in the world had ever swum, but still only came in fifth . . . " That's what the Sweden team members were thinking after the Men's 4 X 100 meter freestyle relay.
In fact, sometimes it is those that don't win the medals, that don't stand in the victory circle that can be most motivating. Why? Because they gave their all, and even without having a medal or the title Olympic Champion, they know inside what they did. They know what it took to get there. They can still hold their heads high knowing the sacrifices they made and the discipline it took. They are still Olympians. They are still champions in life.
Dedicating yourself to a positive goal and disciplining yourself to do everything in your power to achieve that goal makes you a champion in life. It really isn't standing on the winner's platform, but the journey of training, competing, and living that makes a person who they are.
If you have a dream, you must be determined to achieve it. You must discipline yourself to work towards it. You must pay the price. Your goal does not have to be an athletic accomplishment such as the Olympics. It can be anything. But no matter what it is, you must possess the Olympian's focus, the Olympian's obsession, and the Olympian's willpower to overcome all distractions and obstacles to make it to the games. You might not win the medal, but if you make it to the games, you will be a winner.
People all over the world have just set their sights on competing in the next Olympic Games of 2012 in London. As I write this on August 25th, 2008 there are only 1,432 days to go until those games start. Use the accomplishments of all of the Olympians to motivate you toward greater success. What will you accomplish in the next 1,432 days? What are you doing today to bring you closer to your goals? Olympians are training and doing those things to take them to London. Are you doing the things that will enable you to achieve your goals? Find your purpose and passion and specify those goals you will seek with Olympian determination. Then take action toward achieving greatness!
posted by Alain @ 4:02 PM
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