Going for Gold
I found myself glued to the television during the Olympic Games. I watched a number of sporting events, some of which I had no personal interest, but I was memorized by the athletes’ stories. I found watching those incredibly passionate people push pass their failures and personal fears into victory incredibly inspiring. Their journey of triumph and defeat just to have the opportunity to go for gold was something to be admired. It forced me to reflect on my journey. Have I shown up with the same level of preparation and focus as an elite athlete?
Gold for gold in your life may not be hitting the gym for 8 hour practices every day, but it will involve sacrifice and hard work. Olympian champion, Michael Phelps, is quoted saying, “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything. Swimming is normal for me. I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable, and I know my surroundings. It’s my home.” What’s your home? Have you found that comfortable, normal place?
Take the plunge and go for gold. Don’t settle for mediocrity when you have the opportunity to achieve extraordinary results. It starts with having a champion’s mindset. You have to think like a winner in order to become a winner. You can build a champion’s mindset by doing the following:
Understand your limitations, but don’t let them limit you.
Create a strong work ethic that produces results.
Learn from your failures.
Stay forward focused.
Make winning your goal, but being your best the mission.
Surround yourself with people that challenge you.
Manage the negative self-talk.
Going for gold is not for everyone. It takes perseverance and courage. Going the extra mile despite how you feel on a given day takes work. Many times people give up before making real progress in their life because they’re stuck on one of the steps above. My time of reflection showed me that managing the negative self-talk has kept me out of the winner’s circle far too many times. Which of the 7 champion mindset shifters has given you the most trouble? Be intentional. Develop a plan to overcome your barrier in this area. Now it’s time to put the work in and go for gold.
