The sport of business

‘Healthy’ competition can find no better symbol than the Olympic rings. MARCIA GRIFFIN

By Marcia Griffin

As I have watched some of the highlights of the Olympic Games there have been many totally inspirational moments. I have been inspired by the commitment of the athletes, their incredible and onerous training schedules and the fine line between winning and losing the final challenge – the gold medal.

As millions watch, thousands train and a hundreds win. It reminds us of the challenges of business – many don’t start up (simply watch), many do start up, many fail and a few are great successes.

We do know that we can never win gold or business success by sitting in the arena watching – if we don’t take the risk of starting, there are no guarantees. But at least if we get into the race, train and keep on developing we have a chance!

The focus an athlete must need to achieve gold is really an incredible inspiration for business owners to keep their focus on what works and to keep getting better at that.

The planning by the athletes and their coaches – looking ahead to the next games and next four years of training – is not unlike the need to have a business vision, strategy and the plan to achieve the vision.

The pressure from fellow competitors and the risk of injury also has its business analogies.

The look on the faces of the winners shows without doubt that the effort is all worthwhile, and even those who don’t achieve medals have had the thrill of representing their countries and participating in a global event.

Looking at the fitness of the athletes has also been inspiring, watching their incredible concentration and physical effort has made me realise even more clearly that physical fitness brings it own rewards; and makes me reconsider my own fitness regime. Could I be doing more – the answer is of course yes. I notice a slightly larger number of joggers already as I head out each morning for a mere half hour of exercise! Possibly also inspired by the events in Beijing.

The key message I take out from what I am seeing on the screen is that of focus, persistence and high levels of personal discipline are the keys. When I read about highly successful business people, these qualities are also there.

Long live the Olympics as a source of inspiration. These incredible young and not so young people we have been watching are really on show as an example of what we can achieve as individuals in our chosen walks of life. I feel extremely proud of the efforts of our global Olympians, their families, coaches and supporters. Amazing efforts deserve amazing results!

To read more Marcia Griffin blogs, click here.

High Heeled Success is Marcia Griffin’s latest book, and is a frank account of building a business from a solitary sales person to a multi-million dollar business with 4700 sales consultants around Australia and New Zealand. It recounts successes and failures along the way and was written to inspire entrepreneurs-particularly women to triumph in business.

High Heeled Success (Kerr Publishing) is available directly from Marcia (marcia_Griffin@msn.com.au) or Domain Books www.domainbooks.biz.