True Champions Overcome Adversity in Reaching Goals

The world has been spell-bound by the spectacle and the thrill of competition at the winter Olympics in Vancouver. The world’s best athletes have shown us what it takes to be champions. They haven’t all won medals, but they have all demonstrated courage, skill, strength, intelligence, commitment and humanness.

Some of the competitors have talked about perfection. Speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time, said he had a “perfect race” in the Torino Olympics when he won the gold medal in the 500 meter race. But that’s a rare occurrence in Olympic competition – and in life. These top competitors have had to deal with adversity on their quest for Olympic medals. Some of that adversity is physical and some is emotional, and they’ve overcome it to succeed.

Lindsey Vonn, the strong American skier, competed with a severely bruised shin, a broken finger, and other minor bruises and injuries after several crashes and hard falls. She was committed to doing her best and earned a gold medal and a bronze medal. Coming into the races, she said, “I can guarantee you that I’m going to do everything I can to be as ready as I can with this injury and still try to ski well.” She didn’t give excuses. She demonstrated courage and skill and showed what a champion she is.

Many other athletes competed with physical injuries and didn’t let that stop them. Then there was the emotional adversity that others endured.
Canada's figure skater Joannie Rochette won the bronze medal in ladies' figure skating four days after her mother died of a heart attack soon after arriving in Vancouver. Joannie overcame her incredible sadness, a maze of mixed emotions and lack of sleep to deliver the performance of a true champion.

During the competition, Julia Mancuso, US Alpine skier, learned of the death of her close friend and renowned freestyle ski racer CR Johnson after an accident in Squaw Valley. Dealing with that emotion, she won two silver medals.

Winning is not just about the physical conditioning and skill in the sport. Of prime importance is the mental and emotional state of the athletes. Being able to clearly focus on their goal while dealing with personal issues is a mark of true champions. It doesn’t’ take away from their humanness, it adds to it.

What we can learn from these outstanding Olympic champions and apply to our own business in order to achieve success is this:

• Find your passion
• Set clear goals
• Focus
• Do what it takes
• Offer no excuses

True champions use adversity and challenges to propel them to success and to make them stand out above the crowd. Be a champion in your own life and your own business and achieve the success you deserve.

Lynn Murphy
www.keyinnovative.com