Olympians’ Spirits
What is your favourite game to watch in the Olympics? I love watching mid-length running because it is so tactical. Did you watch the Men’s 1500m last night? It was fantastic. American runner Cole Hocker won the gold metal with his supreme skills, holding his pace in the beginning, taking his position at the right time, and then accelerating in the final 100m.
We love watching the winners and seeing the pinnacle of the glory. We want to be there too. The same philosophy applies to working. No matter which industry you are in or what position you hold, we always aim higher and strive to reach the top. But if there is only one gold metal (i.e., one opportunity) and someone else has already won it, what can we do? Does that mean the rest of us are failures?
Josh Kerr, the British runner who won the silver metal in the 1500m, shared that he followed his planned and he couldn’t keep checking on what others were doing. Yes, if you have done what you planned to do, why not give yourself credit? There is no point in feeling defeated. Josh broke the national record and achieved his personal best. These accomplishments are enough to be proud of. Yes, his metal is a different colour, but does that matter?
Sometimes people might be negative around us even we have done our best. When the chairman of the Hong Kong Swimming Association commented that Siobhan Haughey’s bronze medal in the 100m freestyle was ‘a bit regretful’, the two-time bronze medallist replied that she had done her best and followed her plan – nothing to regret. It is not up to other people to judge you or make you feel ashamed. Be proud of yourself!
We are not all Olympians. But, we can all embody the Olympian spirit when results do not meet our expectations. Whether you are looking for a new career path or a new business adventure, you cannot keep checking on others’ success. Everyone starts from somewhere. Yes, you may not be at the top yet, but, eventually you find your path.
All athletes have coaches to help them reach the top. Why don’t you consider have a coach to accompany you on your journey? If you want to explore more about coaching, message me for a free discovery session!
This article is cross-posted on
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/olympians-spirits-eunice-thomas--xi4je/