Two Tip Tuesday
...helping you build a better business!

How to Perform Like a Gold Medal Winner

As I watched the Olympic coverage these past two weeks, I was intrigued with the all the incredible, athletic feats being accomplished and all the longstanding records that were being broken.  But it went beyond that for me.

Not only was I intently watching to see who would win the gold medal, I found myself paying close attention to the overall demeanor of the top contending athletes---their stance, their breathing, their facial expressions immediately before performing and their actions and reactions after completing their event.

I started to wonder what their recipe for success was---what internal and external ingredients came together to get them to this pivotal place in their life?

I also pondered the similarities between these top achievers and successful small business owners. Could the same strategies for striving for excellence in their field be applicable for entrepreneurs?

There seems to be one critical component that all Olympians possess and it's their mind set.  If you want to attain the same mind set attributes as an Olympian, you can---by imitating their routine.
 

Tip #1: Mirror, mirror on the wall

When queried about his history making feat in Beijing, Michael Phelps shared that he made a habit of watching top athletes like Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal. He saw them compete under daunting circumstances and observed closely how they overcame whatever was put in their way.

According to his coach, Michael works to mirror the same determination and focus he witnessed in those top athletes and does not allow outer circumstances to knock him off his game. He also said Michael has the ability to handle anything that comes up and turn it into something good.

See it, then be it: Picture yourself succeeding and your chances of success will skyrocket. Get into the habit of mentally 'seeing' your success and harnessing the power of creative visualization. You can learn to use your imagination to visualize new and better ways to generate business.

Tip #2: Practice makes Perfect

When things are going great, it's easy to be positive, but what can you do when your business experiences slow times or when it is not shaping up the way that you envisioned?

 Here are some tips on how to keep a Olympians' mindset in challenging times:

Create a Bravo! Board: Take stock of all the good things that have happened in the last week, month, year. Write them down and post it up on the wall---and really appreciate them.

Accent the Positive: Put a "positive" sign over your desk or any symbol or picture that conveys optimism or happiness for you. Place it at eye level, so you see it as a reminder to remain positive---especially when on the phone with customers.

Focus on the Future: Concentrate on opportunities you still have, instead of expending all your energy on negative things that happen. When you get too caught up in negative and fearful thoughts, you often miss the potential opportunities that lie just around the corner.

People Power: Surround yourself with positive people. If you've got friends in business, try to support one another in slow times. Offer positive advice and encouragement--and learn to appreciate it when it's given to you. Start a brainstorming group. Attend a seminar together or listen to an inspiring audio program.

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