The 2024 Summer Olympics begin today in Paris. Every two years athletes compete in the olympics and bring to life the spirit of dedication, competition, and limitless achievement. We will be glued to the events over the next 16 days, watching as records are broken and medals amassed. Here are three lessons we can garner for our careers from the rigor of the athletes competing at the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad:
1. Preparation matters. The summer olympics only come every 4 years. These athletes have been training day in and day out year after year to prepare for a few days in Paris. They have been working strategically and internally through intermediate competitions and qualifying events to earn a spot in the olympic games. They did not wake up and walk into the opening ceremony. Neither will you achieve great things without diligent preparation.
2. It’s 90% mental. We are not diminishing the physical feats olympians are doing. There is not one person in our office who could swim as fast as Katie Ledecky. These athletes are some of the most fit human beings on the face of the planet. Yet, they have been able to train to such athletic precision because of their keen focus and unwavering dedication. Determination drives success.
3. Failure is part of the process. The gold medals get all the attention, but the majority of athletes at the olympics will not place. They will not be interviewed on camera or pictured on a Wheaties box. Yet, they are true competitors who understand that achieving personal bests and representing their country well are true rewards and part of their ongoing quest for athletic achievement.
