Do you have to win a medal at the Olympics to be a winner?

By |Published On: August 7, 2012|

If you are like millions of Americans and billions of people around the world, you have been captivated at some point during the last ten days by the Olympics. I know I have.

I have been struck by the dedication, commitment and work-ethic of these athletes. Hundreds of athletes from around the world, the best of the best at every event have descended on London to compete.

Of course each of them wants to win a medal. But only three people in each event can do that while hundreds more will not.  If you are an Olympic athlete representing your country in a tournament to see who the best of the best are and you don’t finish in the top three, does that make you a failure?

Many of the athletes competing might say so initially.  However, I contend they are all winners.  I’m not saying, make everyone feel good by giving them a “contestant” award.  I am a person who believes in competition, winning and losing, success and failure.

However, winning doesn’t always mean finishing first.  Winning means succeeding.  And success is defined by the individual.  Setting individual (or group) goals; developing a plan to achieve them; working hard at the plan; being dedicated to the plan; sacrificing other opportunities because of the plan – these are the things that create success.

Each of the athletes competing in the Olympic games have succeeded.  They have identified goals and worked hard and sacrificed to achieve them.

What are you doing today?  Why not stop going through the motions and sit down to identify goals and set a plan to achieve them.  If you do, you’ll be a winner.

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