I don’t know about you but I love watching the Olympics. What a fantastic tribute to 
the core belief that anything is possible when you have passion, purpose (discipline) and talent.
All the athletes are performing at the top of their game, they train hard and are focused on being the best in the world. They have the technical skills to perform their sport correctly, but what really makes them the best in the world is the extra personality or spark that they bring to the table that no one else has. Not only are those athletes getting the gold, but they are also the ones we remember because of their unique approach to their sport.
Like Merill Davis and Charlie White – you can’t help but love them. Their story, their professionalism and of course the beauty of their ice dancing. Fantastic! They have that extra spark that makes them stand out.
In order to be the best in the world, you really need to have that little extra pizzazz or personality that no one else has.
So how do you become the best in the world at what you do? What do you need to do to ensure that you are winning GOLD every time you build a course?
1. Practice, Practice, Practice
While these athletes make what they do look easy, as if you could just jump on the ice and give it a try, the moves that they are performing are due to hours and hours of training and practice. They were not able to do a triple axel the first time they got out on skates. They have just practiced and worked at it. Every day. Do you practice your skills everyday? How can you add more practice into your daily routine? One example I noticed this weekend — David Anderson from Articulate has been publishing challenges each week. Check it out and if you do any of these let us know – we would love to see them. http://community.articulate.
2. Passion
These athletes have passion – passion for their sport and for their performance. They have been able to clearly articulate why they love what they do and they have been able to create focus around that single passion. Feeling ho-hum about your job or specialty? The book that I love to help experience more passion is a book by Brendon Burchard, The Charge. Check it out and find and live your passion!
3. Talent
I put talent third because while I think that you have to have a talent at something to be the best in the world, there isn’t one talent that allows someone to be the best at what they do. In my opinion it is identifying your specific talent that you can apply to your passion that will truly make you world class. Think about instructional design — you can have a talent in writing, conceptual storytelling or in teaching. While you need to have skills in all areas, there will be one area that you will have true talent in and that can make you shine.
If you are truly interested enough to practice it everyday, have a passion for what you do, then your talent will align with what you are doing and shine through as long as you are able to find your unique personality that will allow YOU to win the GOLD in all that you do!