As the Olympics come to a close, what did we learn from the Olympics about performance, competing, toughness, and striving for greatness?
A THREAD on the 7 lessons from the Olympic games that we can take away and apply to our everyday lives.
A THREAD on the 7 lessons from the Olympic games that we can take away and apply to our everyday lives.
1. Bet on Yourself
Fred Kerley was a world championship medalist at 400m. He didn’t become a 100m runner until the last few months. He was endlessly criticized saying he’d miss even making the team.
He won silver. Only you know what you're capable of.
Fred Kerley was a world championship medalist at 400m. He didn’t become a 100m runner until the last few months. He was endlessly criticized saying he’d miss even making the team.
He won silver. Only you know what you're capable of.
2. Take care of yourself and run your race
Molly Seidel skipped the 2016 Olympic Trials to check into treatment for an eating disorder.
Her marathon PR is 2:25. She went up against a field of athletes who would be up to 2 miles ahead of her at the finish based on her PR.
Molly Seidel skipped the 2016 Olympic Trials to check into treatment for an eating disorder.
Her marathon PR is 2:25. She went up against a field of athletes who would be up to 2 miles ahead of her at the finish based on her PR.
Seidel ran her own race, stuck her nose in it. Wasn't afraid to lead against much faster runners. And she didn’t give up when she got dropped.
And won a bronze medal.
Prioritize your mental and physical health. It pays off in the long run.
And won a bronze medal.
Prioritize your mental and physical health. It pays off in the long run.
3. Competing hard doesn’t mean you let go of your shared humanity.
Two High Jumpers cleared a bar over 7ft 9 inches tall. They tied.
The rules state they could perform a jump-off to declare the victor. Instead, Barshim asks “Can we have two golds?” And so they did.
Two High Jumpers cleared a bar over 7ft 9 inches tall. They tied.
The rules state they could perform a jump-off to declare the victor. Instead, Barshim asks “Can we have two golds?” And so they did.
Our ego often pushes us to perform out of a place of fear, of needing to show the world that I’m good enough.
When we can let go of that noise, and realize that competition is about getting the most out of ourselves, we can fulfill our potential. thegrowtheq.com/competing-with…
When we can let go of that noise, and realize that competition is about getting the most out of ourselves, we can fulfill our potential. thegrowtheq.com/competing-with…
4. Sometimes Quitting is the Tough (and right) Decision.
We demonize quitting. But the reality is, toughness is about the decision made. It’s not that persistence is great and quitting is bad.
It’s what is the right decision in that moment.
We demonize quitting. But the reality is, toughness is about the decision made. It’s not that persistence is great and quitting is bad.
It’s what is the right decision in that moment.
Think of a free diver about to set a record for the deepest dive. But they realize if they push, they don’t have the reserves to make it to the surface.
Toughness = being self-aware of knowing when to risk it, and when that risk is too great.
thegrowtheq.com/if-you-think-s…
Toughness = being self-aware of knowing when to risk it, and when that risk is too great.
thegrowtheq.com/if-you-think-s…
5. Create Space, Stay in the moment, Focus on one thing at a time.
After every high jump, Nicola McDermott writes in her notebook.
She ranks herself in different aspects of the jump. Then chooses one area to focus on for the next jump
After every high jump, Nicola McDermott writes in her notebook.
She ranks herself in different aspects of the jump. Then chooses one area to focus on for the next jump
“That helps me detach the emotion from it all. It focuses me on action – what do I need to do next.”
Staying in the moment. Keeping it simple. One action item at a time. Focusing on the process.
Staying in the moment. Keeping it simple. One action item at a time. Focusing on the process.
https://twitter.com/stevemagness/status/1423992661132943361
6. When it gets tough, don’t fight, relax.
Watch Allyson Felix, Athing Mu, or the final leg of Italy’s winning 4x100. The pressure was on, the temptation to tense up was there. But they didn’t fight it. They relaxed.
Fighting, trying too hard, often backfires. Relax.
Watch Allyson Felix, Athing Mu, or the final leg of Italy’s winning 4x100. The pressure was on, the temptation to tense up was there. But they didn’t fight it. They relaxed.
Fighting, trying too hard, often backfires. Relax.
7. Winning a medal is really freaking hard.
Don’t listen to those who tell you it’s Gold or nothing. They are the fake macho men who have little idea what it’s like to be in the arena.
Gold or nothing is a mindset that research shows leads to cheating and fraud.
Don’t listen to those who tell you it’s Gold or nothing. They are the fake macho men who have little idea what it’s like to be in the arena.
Gold or nothing is a mindset that research shows leads to cheating and fraud.
The "Gold or nothing" men are projecting their insecurity onto the world.
Life is about being secure in giving your all. Regardless of where that puts you.
Those who understand what it truly takes get that. Those who are insecure worry about others proving their worth.
Life is about being secure in giving your all. Regardless of where that puts you.
Those who understand what it truly takes get that. Those who are insecure worry about others proving their worth.
I hope you enjoyed the wonderful competition.
The Olympics have deep flaws, but the athletes who compete in them can often teach us valuable lessons that we can take back to our non-athletic endeavors
Performance is performance, regardless of what it is or where it takes place
The Olympics have deep flaws, but the athletes who compete in them can often teach us valuable lessons that we can take back to our non-athletic endeavors
Performance is performance, regardless of what it is or where it takes place
And for all those who competed. Take care of yourself as you come off this giant high.
Enjoy it, but as life returns to normal, remember that you aren't defined by how you did or even as an Olympic. You aren't your sport. You are much more than that.
Enjoy it, but as life returns to normal, remember that you aren't defined by how you did or even as an Olympic. You aren't your sport. You are much more than that.
If you'd like to learn more about the science of performance, feel free to follow along.
For deeper dives, you can check out my free weekly newsletter, which you can find here: thegrowtheq.com/newsletter-sig…
For deeper dives, you can check out my free weekly newsletter, which you can find here: thegrowtheq.com/newsletter-sig…
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