Here we go

Perspective is a simply a state of mind. If you think it’s hard then it is, and if you think you are alone then you are.

Almost every one of you has a team mate who you respect who didn’t make it. Someone who worked all year beside you, gave so much in pursuit of this dream and… in the ‘almost end’- couldn’t come up with enough to punch their ticket.  This part of my message is for them – and is from them.

One of those people- who had been in a legitimate position for the last two years to think that going to the2010 Olympics could be a reality but ended up on the wrong side of a qualification line -recently sent me a note and signed off like this:

“I hope it’s all that I dreamed it would be! And I will be rooting for all the Canadians!!!! GO CANADA!”

When things get hard remember them. Carry these people with you; honor them as they believe in you and your shared dream.  Let them hold you up- and you are never alone.

Here we go…!

By now you should have:

  • Changed the voice mail message on your phone to “Thank for calling – sorry I’m not able to answer right now (I’m busy at the Olympics J ) . If this is regarding a media or appearance request please call (put your team’s media attachés name and number here). I will not be responding personally to those types of requests until March.”
    • You could also consider directing people to a Facebook, a  blog or team site for news and updates.
  • Assigned a member of your family as your “Family Captain”.  This should be the person you are comfortable calling, giving them updates and connections, and someone who can plan and organize the rest of your family.
  • Sent to me your top three picks for other sports – we’ll ask you one more time when you arrive at the Olympic Village.
  • Suggested a name for the moose in the Vancouver or Whistler Villages

Don’t let go of the beautiful focus state that you’ve built yourself into. If you get to go home… be careful; blend being relaxed with the same type of uncluttered focus you keep when you are away in Europe or elsewhere.  Before leaving for Vancouver, all of my friends and family wanted a chunk of time… coffee, dinner, etc… I didn’t have as many windows of time as they wanted.  Now is not the time to be generous with your time… March is!!

See you in a few days!!!

 

 

You might be hating your ‘job’ right now

French Follows

I might be wrong but right about now it might be very very hard to remember that you love your sport. It might be impossible to think that it’s fun.

Your off season was short to non-existent, your training has been harder than ever before, the level of competition is incredible and you may feel like the consequence of it all is unreal. Selection, qualification, ranking.

Yep- kinda normal stuff. Continue reading

Happy New Year!

La version française suit…

2010!!! FINALLY!!!       2010? ALREADY!!!!     WOW!

It’s been a year now that I’ve been sending out messages – adding emails as they come to me… Thank you for being an incredible audience—you all inspire me to look for the little messages that surround us and resonate somehow.

Over the last year ‘we’ have discussed… Continue reading

“Can I? Will I?” moments

French version follows

Here are a few things that I believe in. I speak about them regularly.

v  There is no joy overachieving on mediocre goals.

v  Stress is the spice of life. It simply means we care about what we are doing. (Anxiety is what occurs when we are not prepared).

v  In the pursuit of anything of value, we will be presented with at least one “Can I? Will I?” moment.  At that moment we have three choices:

  1. Quit. Be overwhelmed by the task. Assign blame and responsibility to others.
  2. Give up control; contribute nothing more, nothing less. Let the finish line come to you: Close your eyes and pray for the end.
  3. Attack.  Push into your fears with your eyes wide open. Accept that you are both in control AND in unknown territory.
  • If you quit once you are cracked, if you quit twice you are broken and have taught yourself to be a quitter.
  • If you give up control of the outcome and let it come to you, you will find yourself filled with remorse.  Thoughts of “I wish I would have…” will linger with you like a bad smell.
  • If you attack – everything is possible.  If you attack – you still cannot guarantee the outcome, but you can feel great about your effort. Continue reading