The Olympics are so inspiring. We get to watch athletes from around the world hug, high five and support each other. We see interviews with athletes who have overcome incredibly hard circumstances and risen to the top. We hear stories of hard work and determination. Getting to the Olympics is such an incredible accomplishment. Imagine the training and discipline required to get there. Imagine not only getting there, but winning a GOLD medal. Luckily, these awe inspiring athletes are sometimes willing to share advice with the rest of us.
“I think goals should never be easy, they should force you to work, even if they are uncomfortable at the time.”
-Michael Phelps (23 Olympic Gold Medals)
Most of us probably don’t want to admit how many times we’ve written something we’ve already done on our to-do list just to feel accomplished (just me?). The reality is, if we don’t set goals to push ourselves, we won’t grow. It’s the bosses and coaches that push us beyond our limits that seem to have the most impact on our lives. It’s the races where we set the goal faster than we ever thought we could run that we seem to feel the most motivated to train. Obviously, Michael Phelps didn’t win 23 gold medals by always setting goals he was comfortable with. Whether it’s a work, running or personal goals, move the line a little further away and see what you’re really made of.
“Enjoy the ride … You don’t have to be serious all the time to do a good job.”
-Simone Biles (4 Olympic Gold Medals)
Have you ever had that one teammate or coworker that was way too serious all the time? How motivated were you to work with that person? Having a little fun during your work or training can help you to relieve stress and ultimately do a better job. You don’t have to be off-task to be having fun. If Biles, who is being called the greatest gymnast of all time (she has a move named after her that no one else in the world can do, for goodness sake!) can take the time to have a little fun doing what she’s doing, you can to. After all, don’t we all want to enjoy what we do?
“If you train hard, if you work hard every day of the week, you just got to go there and compete knowing you're in great shape … If you are in the best shape you can be, it doesn’t matter if you lose, you know that you’ve done your best.”
-Usain Bolt (9 Olympic Gold Medals)
This. Put in your training, do the hard work, put in the extra time. After you’ve done everything you can to succeed, TRUST YOURSELF. Whether you’re going in for an interview you know you can crush, or standing at the starting line of that marathon you’re ready to PR on. Know that you have put in the work and that you can do it. When you truly know that, you can find peace in the results knowing that you did the most amazing job you were capable of, because you put in the work and trusted yourself to do so.