We have just concluded the Olympics and while I didn’t watch as much as I would have loved to (because of the time difference), I stayed up a few nights to watch Athletics. There’s just so much inspiration and energy I get from seeing men & women push beyond the pain barrier to excel in a sport, breaking records and giving us all a thrill as we journey with them towards achieving their goals. I particularly like the races because it speaks a lot to me as an individual. Take the 100m for instance, the athletes see the finishing line from where they are at the start. They know that before we count from 1 to 10, the race will be over, yet while lining up alongside others, they have just 1 goal, to reach that finish line in the fastest time they possibly can.

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the minds of athletes as they run? I remember listening to Mo Farah’s interview after he won the 5000m and even now in my head I hear his words ‘I win because I just really hate to lose’. People that make a mark and leave a lasting legacy have a keen desire to win - to be the best they can be and to leave a lasting legacy in the process. So whether it’s the Olympians like Michael Phelps, Mo Farah, USian Bolt; the Tennis giants like Roger Federer or the Boxing Legend, Muhammad Ali, the discipline that takes them to the top is the same and there’s a lot we can learn from them.

I believe these lessons, when applied to our day-to-day life can help us reach our goals and reach them well... Coupled with defining our end goals and focusing on the finish line, we need to have the desire to WIN. Seeing as I like acronyms so much, here’s one to summarise what it takes to WIN and reach the goals we have in life that enable us to leave a lasting legacy

Willingness to Work Hard and suffer discomfort to perfect your skill – many sportsmen deprive themselves of what we call ‘the everyday pleasantries of life’ to ensure they are in shape. Many will not drink, smoke and have a very strict diet and exercise regimen.
Inspire others and draw inspiration from those that have excelled in your chosen field – another hallmark of most successful team members is to set a standard for others to aspire to. Most of those competing take inspiration from others before them and use their past successes as a benchmark for what they want to achieve. It’s always about breaking records and creating new ones.
Never give up and see the next step as the needed step in achieving your goals – it’s always about endurance, resilience, determination and grit! These are the words that set winners apart from others. Mastering today guarantees a successful tomorrow. Taking todays step to the best of your ability means you will keep winning as you run your life’s journey.

‘Let’s Read’ for this month will be a book we have read before, simply because the principles and ideas shared really crystalise our discussion this month. It is ‘How Successful People Win’ by John Maxwell.