Like many of you, I watched quite a bit of the Olympics. I loved watching all of these amazing athletes at the top of their game, doing what they love, and achieving their goals. Throughout the Olympic games, I kept thinking about the similarities between business success and success as an athlete. Many of the same core principals apply. And with so many “get rich quick” or “make money fast online” schemes out there, it is nice to be reminded of what it truly takes to be successful:
- The fact that hard work is essential. Success does not come easy. It is the result of lots of hard work. The athletes train for years for the Olympics. They train day in and day out to reach their goals. To be the best, you have to put in the effort. That is the bottom line. The same goes for running a business. You have to be willing to put in a lot of time and effort. You have to constantly learn and improve your services and products to stay on top.
- Discipline is Key – Not only do you have to work hard, you have to be consistent. The athletes can’t work really hard for a month, and then take a month off. They have to work hard, consistently, building up momentum, to achieve their goals. When it comes to your business, you can’t just work really hard in the beginning and then just sail through the rest. You must be continually marketing yourself, as well as looking for ways to improve and get better.
- Take Advantage of Opportunities - When you have the chance to do something great you must take advantage of it. You never know when the next opportunity is coming along. Be open to opportunity, and take the chances when you get them.
- Set Goals – the Olympic athletes have a big goal – win the gold medal. They are always working towards that goal. Everything they do for the 4 years before the Olympics, and probably many years before that, is working towards acheiving that goal. The athletes know what they are working for, and everything they do is to achieve that goal. Have you thought of your goals for your business? What are you working towards? Setting goals helps you decide what action you should be taking. What projects you should be working on, and what opportunities are right for you. You can cut through the distractions because you know exactly what you are working towards. Goals are a vital part of any business.
I think it is helpful to look at people who are successful in other areas of life or business. Especially when it feels like things aren’t moving as quickly as you would like in your business. For me, watching the Olympic athletes has reminded me that starting and running a business is a journey. And to keep pushing forward, looking for opportunities, and working hard and I will be able to achieve my goals. What has the Olympics taught you?
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