The Lessons About Hard Work We Can All Learn From The Olympics

The Lessons About Hard Work We Can All Learn From The Olympics
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Was anyone else as mesmerized by the Olympics this year as I was? Gymnastics is always my absolute favorite event. But there were so many memorable and exciting moments of these 2016 Olympic games.

First, Simone Biles just dominated women’s gymnastics. (Watch a bit here.)

Second, Aly Raisman came back to her second Olympic games and looked better than ever!

Third, Michael Phelps truly went out on top ― and showed what a winner looks like! Every time he stood on a podium, there was a look of appreciation and enjoyment! (See the video from NBC Olympics here.)

Fourth, Katie Ledecky kept smashing HER OWN world records and finishing the 800m Free as most of the field was coming off their final turn. (See a clip from NBC Olympics here.)

And one of my personal favorite stories ― the AMAZING gymnast from Uzbekistan, Oksana Chusovitina, is 41 and is the oldest woman to ever compete in the Olympics in women’s gymnastics ― a sport where most competitors are teenagers!

Throughout the Olympics, there are so many stories that touch our hearts.

These hard working young people have often made sacrifices that I will likely never dream of, and I often found myself with tears of pride for a bunch of people I have never even met!

Here’s some of the things to consider:

  • The Olympics only happen every four years.

  • It is one of the most prestigious athletic events in the world and only the absolute best of the best are invited.

  • Many of these athletes are literally chasing their LIFELONG DREAMS of competing/excelling here!

Even if today they are adults, most of their lives, they have been getting up before the crack of dawn to get their practice in before they went to school ― only to go back and do it again after school. While their friends have been at parties on the weekends, they have often been out on their field of play, practicing and competing to be the best in the world!

Their parents have often had to take out loans that rival college education expenses to give their kids these opportunities. They have spent mornings driving them to those before dawn practices and spent weekend after weekend in the gym watching them compete.

As you sit and watch Aly Raisman’s parents squirm in their seats, you are reminded that as a family, they have all been on this journey together. You FEEL that they are invested in this young woman’s goal!

As you see Oksana Chusovitina vault in her 7th (YES 7th) Olympic games, and know that she has competed for three countries and has a 16-year-old son, you can ONLY IMAGINE the sacrifices that have been made by all of them to be here.

What I just love about the Olympics is that for just a couple of weeks every four years, everyone puts their personal and political frustrations aside and comes together to honor hard work and sacrifice!

I want to ask you…

Do you have a single goal that runs so deep that you get up before dawn or work late into the night to achieve it?

The Olympics have reminded me, it takes a village. There are a NUMBER of people involved in that athlete’s success! It is the same exact truth in our lives. If you are building a million dollar business, you likely have a great support team. Or maybe your family and friends are pushing you toward a goal!

As the Olympics come to a close, ask yourself ― what is YOUR dream? What do you need to do to make it a reality? And take action. Oksana Chusovitina proved that there is no such thing as “too old.”

I’d love to hear from you about what YOU are going to dream and work toward?

Amy Mewborn left a 15 year, six figure finance career in 2010 to help women launch and grow businesses! Amy recently launched her book, The Great Escape: The Successful Women’s Guide To Escaping The 9-5. She has been featured on CBS, Fox, KUSI, CW, Ivillage, and San Diego Magazine. You can get free business tools and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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