OLYMPICS TEACH DESIRE, PASSION, LOVE

Have you been watching? If not, I’m gonna challenge you to ask yourself: why not? And you can’t say, “because I’m not into sports.” Doesn’t everyone want desire, passion, and love in their lives in some way? I’m still talking about the Olympics here, folks.

DESIRE

You don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate raw ambition and sheer determination. When we turn on the Olympics, we turn on tremendous reminders of what hard work, commitment, and focus can produce. Ultimately, it’s an athlete’s desire to excel and the strength of their hearts that compel us to keep watching, rather than merely their sports. Consider the first ever refugee team, just for a moment with an open mind. Their personal stories are mind-boggling.

Sure. Go ahead. Try to argue that such global inclusiveness isn’t realistic. How do you think the Olympics have persisted over millennia? After all, why else would we allow over 6700 hours of TV programming into our homes and workplaces? We all have desires. The Olympics prove this.


PASSION

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, 31, the most decorated Olympian ever, used the word “passion” in a recent “Today” show interview. “I had to find the passion myself again … I (did) and I had fun.”

Another U.S. swimming gold medalist, Dara Torres, 33, also spoke to my personal spirit when she said, “Never put an age limit on your dreams.”

While U.S. beach volleyball gold medalist, Kerri Walsh, 38, added “Passion is a huge prerequisite to winning. It makes you willing to jump through hoops … to reach your goal.”

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit … The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Wilma Rudolph overcame serious childhood physical disabilities to take U.S. track and field gold in 1956 and 1960.

Finally: “I think the way to become the best is to just have fun.” –Shaun White, 30, gold medalist in snowboarding.

Who said WE couldn’t tap into our unimaginable accomplishments? The Olympics show us how.Olympic rings:black background

LOVE

Everybody knows that to even make it to the Olympics is a remarkable accomplishment. However, for those disinterested in athletics, you’re missing out on a bigger picture. You see, when you look beyond the surface of sports, there’s something more remarkable going on in Rio.

Love someone or something in your life deeply? You’re thus glimpsing athletes’ bravery, positive attitude, and dedication. Like hard-core gamers deeply involved with the intricacies of their platform, musical recording artists seeking perfection in their sounds, and authors who strive for the “right” words to tell their stories, all started with love.

Love? Yes. Plain and simple. Love of their pursuits, love of excellence, perhaps just love of competition or love of escape. Whatever the reason, we each possess the ability to love big. Consider the powerful love of 10,000 Olympic athletes in this time of global chaos and confusion. Doing nothing is automatic defeat.

WRAP-UP

The Olympics spur viewers to stop seeking excuses and to start seeking empowering possibilities instead. As Ayn Rand wrote in The Fountainhead, “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” Usually, when we’re completely honest with ourselves, we know the answer to this question: we greet them every day in the mirror.

(WARNING: SHAMELESS SELF-PROMO ALERT) G.A.S.P. books Since the last Olympics, I published my first book in a trilogy (I’m over 50), and book 2’s rough draft is nearly complete. (See RJillMaxwell.com) I’ve found my passion again, regardless of my age, rolled with the challenges, hung onto my dreams … AND I’m still having fun.

In conclusion, watch the Olympics. Love yourself. Imagine your possibilities.

Business/Career Lessons From Passionate Parent

Once upon a time, in a time not long ago, we all knew these lessons. What I’m about to share isn’t novel. So why write about it again? Because it bears repeating, that’s why!

There’s not a professional on the planet, human nor beast, which will disagree with me that these three lessons have been invaluable in their lives. And while there are so many from which to choose, currently, my biggest (and top) three have to be about:

  1. Respect
  2. Patience
  3. Relationships

Been here? Done this? Well, here’s my 2¢. To earn or get respect, ya gotta give it. Kind of simple really. It’s the ol’ “do unto others as you’d have them do unto you” rule. Respect:

  • Builds trust
  • Builds communication
  • Builds relationship

Whether building a business (I’m a 4th generation entrepreneur married to a 3rd gen), raising children (we have three ages 24,19,16), or growing your marriage/partnership (we’re married 29 years), showing another respect is vital. This is NOT hard to do! This isn’t about grandiose gestures (though those can be fun, too. Ask anyone married over 20 years). This IS, however, about consistent, deliberate, and diligent efforts (see The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy). Like anything worthwhile in life, respect can be challenging to sustain and requires discipline … but it’s not hard.   

Couple respect with Patience which:

  • Builds trust
  • Builds communication
  • Builds relationship

Nope. Not a misprint. Consistent, deliberate and diligent effort here. You were once new at something, too. If you were considered annoying for not knowing your job immediately (ridiculed even), then you know the value of this trait. How’d it feel when you were shown an even-temper to complete a work task? How have your children responded to a firm but steady tone as you capitalize on a teachable moment? Haven’t you even pushed yourself harder after treating yourself with calmness instead of rage?

Toss in the final ingredient of Relationships to:

  • Builds trust
  • Builds communication
  • Builds relationship

Hmmm. Think I’m onto something! We’re ALL connected to everything/body on this planet; whether you believe that or not, to some degree, we are. Consider this tiny example: a baby with a blanket. Perhaps that object keeps that baby warm in the cool hospital or offers comfort when parents are arguing. The baby is in relationship with that blanket. Now apply this simplistic example to every encounter in your life.

Basically, whether in business, marriage or parenthood, always reach for respect and patience through consistent, deliberate and diligent efforts, and you’ll find your life just as invaluable as the lessons brought to it.

That’s my final answer, and I’m sticking to it!