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!

In Your Hands

A long time ago, there lived a wise warrior sage in the wooded mountains. He dedicated his later years to study, training, and meditation and was known throughout the land for his wisdom. People from all walks of life came to visit him and seek his guidance. Regardless of the question, the wise sage had the correct answer. Just as his sword cut through targets, the warrior sage cut to the essence of any problem or issue. He became famous for the answers, solutions, and guidance he offered to all that sought him out.

At the base of the mountain where the warrior sage lived, there was a small village. Several young boys from this village enjoyed trekking up the mountain path to where the warrior sage would share his wisdom, answer questions, and every once in a while share a little of his physical trainings with the young boys. A game developed between the group of boys and the wise man of the mountain. The boys continually tried to think of a question that the old man could not answer, but were never successful.

One day, the prankster of the group, a boy named Toro, announced to the other boys, "I finally have a question that the old man will not be able to answer." Toro opened his hands to show the others a small Shrike he had found in a nearby nest. "We will go ask the old man if the bird in my hands is alive or dead. If he says it is dead, I will show him the little living bird. If he says it is alive, I will crush it and the bird will be dead. Either way, the old man will be wrong, and we will have finally stumped him."

The group hurried up the hill behind Toro to witness the old man's first wrong answer. As they neared the old warrior's cabin, they saw him out back practicing a form with his sword. When he saw them, he smoothly sheathed the razor sharp blade and effortlessly walked toward them noticing their eager looks. Toro stepped forward and asked, "Is the bird in my hands alive, or is it dead?"

The old warrior's eyes seemed to reflect a coldness that the boys had never seen before. They were eyes that had seen more than their share of death. At the same time, there was a compassion and tenderness in those eyes that seemed unequaled. The warrior sage looked at the mischievous Toro and softly spoke, "My son, the answer is in your hands."

This ancient story reflects on a truth that is shared by almost everyone in most situations. Almost everything that happens to you is in your hands. We are the masters of our own destinies. Our futures are up to us.

The choices and decisions you make will determine the results you achieve. You can go to the finest university, but the education you receive will be in your hands. You can seek out the greatest of martial art masters, but your training will be in your hands. You can land a job, but you success will be in your hands. Bookstores and libraries are full of books to help you learn and achieve in all areas, but reading them is in your hands.

We are responsible for our own lives. No one else is going to do it for you. You must take responsibility and realize that your life, your future, your successes, are in your hands.

An Idea from a Four Year Old

Sometimes the simplest wisdom comes from the mouth's of children. Yesterday, my wife, Yi-saeng, was talking to our next door neighbor who had been feeling somewhat down after loosing her sister recently to cancer. Our neighbors treat our four year old daughter, Cosette, like one of their own grandchildren, and Cosette was playing near the two adults who were talking. They were discussing the loss of her sister and how she was feeling down a bit. Neither of them realized Cosette was listening.

Cosette reached up and tugged on Yi-saeng's clothes saying, "I have an idea." She wanted to whisper her idea into Yi-saeng's ear, but when she did so, Yi-saeng could not understand her. So she asked Cosette to tell her idea to both of them.

So Cosette then told both of them her idea, "When I miss Korea at night, I think about other things."

Such wisdom from a cute little girl. At four years old, she knows a powerful secret. We must focus on positive things to make our lives better. If we focus on the negative, on the things that make us sad, on the bad in the world, our energy and emotions become drained. When we feel like this it is hard to get off the couch. We sit and drone while watching tv or some other mindless activity while as we focus on the sad and bad of the world.

If we focus on "other things," preferably good things that motivate us toward success, we will do so much better. Focusing on the positive energizes us toward movement. Rather than sit or lay, we get up and move. We do things. We produce. We make a difference and feel better doing it.

So remember this lesson, when you miss someone or something, when you feel bad over situations or circumstances, think about other things to change your state and outlook. You'll feel better. You'll do better. You'll be better.