To watch the Olympics is to observe someone’s life story unfold before your eyes. Each sport and its athletes show endurance, commitment, pain, glory, determination, disappointment, defeat, gratitude, humility, team play, victory, support, love, and passion for something. Every athlete has taken the time to explore and work on their gift, and refine it to peak performance.
Although the 2020 Olympics was delayed due to COVID-19, on July 23rd, 2021 the Games opened with no public in its stands. The world watched virtually as the events took place. The 2021 Games ended on August 8th, and I reflected on what we saw and learned during each event – either live or in replay.
It takes years to prepare for the Olympics and, by the opening ceremony, the best of the best in athleticism across a myriad of sports gather to compete against each other. The various sports teams and team mates are supported by coaches, physiotherapists, and nutritionists to ensure their bodies perform at maximum capacity. The Olympians rarely stand alone when going after their quest for gold.
I correlate many aspects of the Olympics to living our life. How many wonder about their own capabilities as they watch everyday people augment their life to compete at elite levels of performance? I consider this a possible feat for everyone. We have all been given our gifts. Most of these athletes will have to eventually transition their sporting gift into lifelong earning potential, whether they attain a medal or not. That may mean leveraging other gifts or posturing the existing one differently, but they will be able to do that because they would have been schooled in core life fundamentals. Meaning, push beyond perceived boundaries, practice, practice, practice, do not be thwarted by fear or setbacks, and proceed with a strong belief in yourself. When athletes’ own gumption falters, they have people around them to redirect their focus, bear some of the burden, and ensure their collective investments have the best possible chance of reaping rewards – their “dream team” of sorts.
Well, besides believing that we were all given one or more gifts, I also believe that when we pursued our careers or businesses, we did so to build a life. That life includes all of who we are – personal and professional. Athletes are evidence of this belief. Building a life is not living between the two worlds, and it is not indefinitely working 80-hour weeks trying to wear every hat and doing everything yourself. For sure, when starting out that might be your life, but at some point it should start to level out. A key part of business and leadership is knowing when it is time to delegate and hire for growth. Knowing comes from proactively setting trigger points of readiness to build a supportive and capable team. A strategic aspect of building includes forming a dream team so your business can operate at Olympic-level in your industry. Even if your business is making loads of money, my wakeup call to you is that you are unknowingly leaving behind even more money if you lack having all the right team members in play.
What business owner that is serious about growing does not want to operate at the auspicious Olympic-level in their chosen field? Dream teams can be built over a period of time. Building a dream team is all about creating extended capability, focused expertise, coordinated effort, company oversight, and accountability. Plus, a strategic momentum that fuels your reach and growth. It is time for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to stop thinking the business owner can do it all. Not only is it flawed thinking, but it also impedes your growth.
When assembling your dream team, one of the most necessary roles is that of a coach. It is rare for athletes to arrive at the Olympics without a coach in tow to guide and support their efforts. Expert coaches work on mindset, endurance, accountability, strategy, and tactics. They mentor, advise, and push having a solid game plan to follow. If you are currently operating without a coach, you are doing yourself and your business a disservice. Wearing every hat, working long hours, and spreading yourself thin is not the life you envisioned. So, think differently, act differently, structure differently, and achieve different but greater outcomes. The life you seek might just depend on it.
