Over the past two weeks, our family has been hooked on the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.  Each evening, we would gather to watch the prime-time recap of the days’ events, cheering on the Americans and other athletes who captivated our attention.  We enjoyed the diversity of events from familiar sports like basketball, gymnastics, swimming, and track to the more obscure competitions like team handball, archery, water polo, and “breaking”.  Watching the competitors from around the world was inspiring.  We loved seeing the triumph of the gold medalists and at the same time appreciated the effort and agony of those who came up short.

To be the best in the world is a remarkable feat.  And while we get to see these athletes in their moment of glory, what we don’t see is what it took to get there.  Yes, they all have natural talents that allow them to compete at the highest level, but the Olympics are not a place for talent alone.  Behind each athlete is a story of commitment, dedication, and sacrifice.  Years of training that culminates with the largest assembly of athletic competitions and puts them on center stage for the world once every four years.  While we may not perform our jobs in front of thousands of viewers, we can take something from these incredible competitors and apply it to our own careers and endeavors.

I love the Nike ad that ran during tv coverage with the tag line; “Winning isn’t for everyone.”  I believe the same goes for reaching professional success and leading at a high level.  There are those who are willing to put in the work to be great and maximize their impact on others.  Those who commit to personal growth, spend time preparing themselves for what is ahead, and make sacrifices to get there.  They choose what is most important and consistently focus on that.  

There are a lot of people that want to be successful, or they want to make more money, or they want to be a better leader, parent, or partner - but their actions tell a different story.  They say the right things, maybe go through the motions, but they are not truly invested in the outcome they desire.  They watch others surpass them and then try to blame their circumstances, point to the good fortunate of others, or make excuses for why they didn’t get there.  But at the end of the day, the truth is that they didn’t want it badly enough to go all in on commitment, dedication and making the necessary sacrifices to get there.  Dare I say, “Leadership isn’t for everyone”?  We all have opportunities to succeed, but only some are driven to make it a reality.

It’s not always about winning. Over 11,000 athletes competed in Paris and while some came up short of a medal by one point or a fraction of a second, no one can ever take away the fact that they are an Olympian. I challenge you to think about what you are working toward.  Are you on the path of true commitment and dedication?  Are you willing to make sacrifices toward something, that when you get there, no one will be able to take that accomplishment away from you?  I would love to hear about your journey.  And in the meantime, I personally can’t wait for LA 2028!