Lessons I Learned From Michael Phelps

I have really enjoyed the 2012 Olympics in London.  There have been a lot of great races, games, and contests.  And as ABC Sports used to say, "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."  Here are a few takeaways for you that you can use in your life, your business, and your relationships.

• Train hard and steady. Don’t get lazy or complacent

The Olympics only come around every four years.  But you’ve got to train almost every day to stay in shape and get ready for your particular sport.  If you take one day off each week that will mean over 200 days off in 4 years.  That’s 2/3s of a year!  So, just because you won gold a year ago, or four years ago, you can’t rest on your laurels.  Today is a new day.  Today is a new race.

• Swim your race

Ok.  You know what you are good at.  Do that.  Don’t swim the breast stroke if you can only use the back stroke.  Concentrate on your strengths.  What have you used to be successful in the past?  Do that.  Practice it.  Get better at it.

• Don’t stop until you touch the wall

In one race in the 2012 Olympics Michael came in 2^nd.  He was late in touching the wall.  In the slow motion replay it looks like he just quit too early.  The commentators even discussed it.  There is a great warning in this for all of us – don’t stop until you finish the race!  As they say “It’s not over till the fat lady sings.”  Just don’t start singing before she does!  Go for the Gold!

• Be a role model all the time

Michael had an embarrassing photograph that went viral showing him smoking something that you can’t purchase at your local 7-Eleven!  The lesson here?  Never let your guard down.  Michael apparently didn’t know that everyone is watching. What you eat, where you go, what you watch, and what you smoke. 

Michael Phelps is a role model to countless thousands of young swimmers and athletes who would like to be just like him and stand on the winners platform. You are always “on stage” if you are a public figure.

Even as a minister I always have to be aware that when I am at Walmart or at a restaurant people will recognize me even if I don’t recognize them. They listen to how I interact with the clerk, how I respond to a slow waitress, or if I get mad when my food order is not properly prepared.  What kind of example am I when I am out in public?

• Wear your medals proudly

You worked hard for your wins, so celebrate the victories.  Michael Phelps can wear his medals around his neck as a reminder of his accomplishments.  What can you and I, the every day non-medal winners do? Create a book of memory or a journal that will help you remember what you’ve gone through to get where you are.  Purchase a special shirt or dress and every time you wear it let it remind you of your recent victory. Print off a Certificate of Accomplishment on your computer.  Put your name on it, list your victory, frame it and put it on your wall. Then look at it every day and remind yourself – Yes I Can!

 Most of us will never get to compete on the Olympic stage.

But these are the…

 Lessons I Learned From Michael Phelps that will 

help us on to Victory!

Chuck Whetstone Empower Network

Chuck Whetstone Empower Network