What's Your Olympic Dream

I love the Olympics. There’s so much ceremony, tradition and history, but what I like about them most are the athletes. They spend hours working and training and the only reward for most of them is the opportunity to represent their country.
What do they get if they win?
A piece of jewelry and some recognition. That’s it. If they’re really lucky, they’ll get on the Wheaties box. Most of them won’t get the medal or the box, but they still spend years getting ready for those two weeks.
I admire them.
I’ve often wondered what drives them and I think I’ve figured it out. If you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, they are working on the highest level of self actualization. They’re doing that which they are born to do.
It’s who they are and they love it so much that they will do it for free. In fact, they sacrifice for it; their time, their money and their relationships. It encompasses their world. As I watched, I noticed some qualities they all share and here they are.

1. They know what they want so they practice and train every day.
2. Whatever their sport, they build their skills. They constantly try to find a better way to do it; better equipment, better training schedule, better technique.
3. They surround themselves with supportive people. If you have an Olympian in your life, you know that the sport comes first and you want them to win as much as they want to win. If not, you won’t be a part of their life for long.
4. To a man, they have a coach. Even if they have an Olympic team coach, they have their own personal coach. Someone suited to them so that they can be as successful as possible.

It brought to mind all of the people with whom I work. They’re not Olympians and never will be, but they have their own goals and dreams. They struggle with knowing what they really want and how to get it. It can be difficult to know what you’re born to do.
It’s not always cut and dried like snowboarding or ice skating. Sometimes it’s more obscure like helping people. That’s what I’m born to do. Actually, I was born to help people become more successful. It took a long time to figure out that I was meant for it and could build a business around it.
What are you working on? Do you have all of these elements? Maybe you’re not doing what you’re born to do. That’s okay. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can figure it out and do it if you choose.
The key is to look around your life. What do you love doing so much you would do if for free. It’s something you do all the time and can’t imagine your life without. Like I said, sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s not.
If you’re not sure, experiment a little bit with your life. Try new things. Increase your awareness of everyday activities. Your bliss is in there somewhere. It’s just a matter of finding it.
Once you do, you life will be fuller and richer for it. You can build your life around it. It may not ever make you a fortune or even an Olympic medal, but you will have the joy and satisfaction living your dream.