Winning a gold medal doesn’t just happen, it takes hard work, dedication and perseverance. The same goes in business and with the Olympic Games just around the corner, here are some gold medal lessons you can apply in your organisation.
There are just three weeks to go until the 2012 London Olympics kick off, and there is so much we business owners can learn from this amazing event. I thought it would be valuable to draw a few lessons from the Olympics we can apply to our own business.
- Regular practice, commitment and determination are what makes an Olympian successful. Successful sports people don’t just show up and win a gold medal, they’ve put in a lot of work to get to play at that level. If you ask any successful business owner, they’d tell you that business is not always easy and effortless – it takes daily action and perseverance to get there. If you put in strategic and consistent effort, you might just win a gold medal!
- Mindset plays a huge role in sport (and business). Why did running a mile in under four minutes become possible for many athletes after Roger Bannister did it for the first time? Mindset. What happens if an Olympian isn’t getting the results they desire? They keep practising and giving it another go. Unfortunately you don’t wake up with a gold medal around your neck (bummer!). In business, mindset married with taking action plays an equally important part. A business owner has many ups and downs, that’s what makes it interesting. It’s the ones that keep going that come out on top.
- Olympians use the best trainers and coaches to help them achieve their goals. You can do the same in business. Find the best people and learn from them – having a mentor or coach can be invaluable. There are different ways of selecting a suitable mentor or program. I usually recommend finding someone who is specialised in an area you want to grow and who has achieved what you want to achieve.
- Education is another key factor that will bring you closer to standing on the business podium. You don’t know what you don’t know, so get educated in areas you need to improve such as marketing, sales, finance, systems and so on.
- Having a plan is crucial. Most athletes have a strict plan they follow that reminds them of their training routines, eating habits and so on. In business, I’m often surprised by how many people approach marketing without having a strategy in place – it’s just like throwing money against a wall to see what sticks (usually not much!)
Approach your business and marketing efforts like an Olympic athlete approaches their sport, and enjoy watching the Olympics!
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