Going for Gold
It's the first of March, 2010, and it is the day after the closing of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC. I am guessing many Canadians were surprised, not only by how successful our athletes were this time around, but by the time of the closing ceremonies last night, surprised by the depth of emotion and pride and national unity that evolved over the course of the last 17 days. Not to say Canadians don't support our athletes, but we're traditionally not very "Rah Rah Rah!" about things.
A fellow Soul Coach from Atlanta, Georgia, had emailed me the night of the opening ceremonies to say "Congratulations!" on the opening of the games and that we were doing our country proud. I was more or less indifferent at the time, not being much of a sports fan or athlete myself. I've watched the odd hockey game, but usually only because of living with a man who was a hockey fan. And have tuned in sporadically to previous Olympics but never felt too invested in them. I expressed a slight cynicism, in fact, to my friend, thinking perhaps there were better expenditures of public funds.
After the first gold medal however, by skier Alexandre Bilodeau, the first ever Olympic gold won by a Canadian in a Canadian-hosted Olympics, my cynicism shifted, especially seeing the reported-on excitement of other Canadians. While the athleticism is obviously impressive, that was not in the end what really shifted me and that affected me in a deep way. Nor was it the recap of the games showing all the emotional highlight clips of the ecstacy of winning and the agony of defeat.
No, what really got to me was the level of dedication to their dreams these athletes evidenced. They had visions of something they wanted, they turned these dreams into goals and they pursued these goals with a level of commitment that I struggle to imagine.
I know I could read all the success books out there, (like the very successful Jack Canfield's "The Success Principles", a good compilation of many truths we have heard before from other writers, and many that bear re-hearing), but if we boil it down, what key factors help an Olympic athlete, and any of us mere mortals out here, to accomplish our big dreams?
I'd suggest...
~a dream to start with, a desire that is exciting enough or interesting enough or meaningful enough to go after.
~ a commitment to do what it takes and to give up or sacrifice what it takes to go after it. The willingness to practice practice practice, or basically get up every day and do the work, even the stuff that's not fun.
~ belief and a faith in yourself that it is even possible for you to obtain it.
~a sense of taking 100% responsibility for making it happen, not making others responsible for your success or failure. Ultimately you have to get yourself up and out there to make it happen, day after day.
~an understanding that there is no failure, only feedback. Learn from what works and from what doesn't work and change what you need to change. Pay attention, observe and make use of that.
~a support system who will provide resources, training, feedback, insight or whatever you need practically to get to where you want to be (even it that means a bank to lend money or someone to help do the housecleaning so you can get to your real work); a support system (friends, family) who believe in you enough to back you whether they believe your dream is a worthy one or not; a support system who will remind you of your dream and why you are pursuing it when you tire or doubt yourself; a support sytem (including mentors or role models who you perhaps don't even know) who will inspire you to reach higher; and a support system, (friends and family again), who will cheer and celebrate your successes along the way.
That's a lot of support and it is a suggestion to you that you need not do it all alone, nor should you expect to. Behind most great successes there is a team of one kind or another.
So, as we launch into Spring, that time of new beginnings, and the planting of new seeds literally and figuratively, what do you really want?
What are you willing to do to get it? And what are you willing to give up to get it? Are you ready to take responsibility? Do you believe it's even possible for you to get it? What do you need to shift in your world view or your personal history in order to develop that belief? Who do you have in your corner who believes in you and is willing to be there for you? Who inspires you to be your best?
Assemble your team and begin with one step. You may not be looking for Olympic gold, but realizing any dream, no matter how small it may seem in the grand scheme of things, is worthy of your effort if it is meaningful to you and would make your heart proud.
All the best,
~Mary
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