Channel your inner athlete
The buzz of the crowd shouting your name as you walk out to the start line is electric. The adrenaline begins to take over your physical body whilst your mind races through all the memories that have brought you to this point in your career. The long, draining training sessions, the hamstring cramps, never mind all the sacrifices of missed family birthdays and holidays in order to make it to this one moment. It’s now or never to show the world your talent.
Boom. Doubt creeps in. ‘If only I finished that last set and gave it 110%’. The overwhelming sense of fear starts to take over your mind and eventually your body. You come last, in a race you were supposed to win. That is the difference between athletes and the elite. Mental preparation and psychological stability.
Some say that athletes are like superhumans, being able to channel this drive and hunger for success whilst striving for perfection day in day out for a few minutes, even hours to win major international titles. But these traits can be developed in anyone, even you and me.
Entrepreneurs are some of the most hardworking, creative and driven individuals in the financial world, but what makes the most successful entrepreneurs? Take Sara Davies for example, who created her business, Crafter’s Companion which is now a global retailer with a turnover in excess of £35 million. One quote she leans on which emphasises how powerful our mindset can be is “All you need to succeed is an idea and a can-do attitude”. This positive trait is crucial in business and Sara highlights that perfectly. Her creative and advanced thinking, combined with her ability to adapt and drive change, has helped her business and other investments and opportunities flourish.
Another key trait is resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Athletes are required to exercise this trait after a poor performance, which in sport is inevitable. By motivating themselves and persevering through the disappointment of losing or underperforming helps build resilience over time, ensuring that their response to failure in the future will not consist of giving up but mental toughness to push through.
This is exactly the same in business, especially in the events industry. The pandemic was a massive roadblock, preventing live events from happening across the globe. However, it was the resilience of companies and freelancers which allowed them to adapt their services and skills. Virtual event formats were enhanced to offer new ways to communicate with audiences and promote an even greater level of engagement.
Women in sport and business are incredible too. From managing childcare responsibilities and relationships to prejudice and discrimination, women persevere through these life events and challenges whilst still performing at work and in sport at an optimum level. The same perseverance that allowed Jessica Ennis-Hill to win a gold medal at the world championships two years after giving birth, is the same perseverance that we have inside of us and can activate to drive us through any challenges we may face in the workplace. It is possible.
Channel it and go for it!