Rowing at the Olympics

Not everyone is a sports enthusiast or competitivecoach when I first started Mindset for Marketing
person. There are lessons, however, which can beSuccess. Having someone to guide me was going to
learned from athletes and applied to your business.propel my business to the next level of success faster
Each and every Olympic athlete has a coach behindthan I would on my own.
her, is part of a group and is driven to strive for peakI am a very independent person and like being in
performance. They have the determination andcontrol. I have worked independently for years. Rowing
mindset of a winner, choosing to move forward evenwith a group taught me the value of teamwork and,
when it is uncomfortable.once again, letting go of my ego. There was so much
Although I have always exercised, my time wasto learn.
primarily spent in a gym. I became involved in sportsBecoming part of a group of like-minded people, I was
very late in my life. At 40 y/o I learned downhill skiingoffered guidance, insight and opportunities. Many times I
and sweep rowing in the same year. I liked being ablehad to step out of my comfort zone. I wanted to be a
to challenge myself both physically and mentally. Thatvaluable team member. I continued to work hard,
should have been a clue about my drive. At that point,saying "yes" to each opportunity which came my way.
however, I didn't realize I was a competitive person.The transformation from lone ranger to group member
Primarily, these were family activities we began doingwas significant. This carried over into my business. I
together.began looking for opportunities to affiliate with others,
After several years of recreational rowing, I movedbegan adding people to my team and joined a
into the women's racing team. The challenging workoutmastermind group. My business began to grow
and cohesiveness of the group was appealing. Since Isteadily.
was attracted to other qualities about this group, I stillKnowing your purpose and unique ability will create the
didn't realize that there was a competitive part of me.mindset for success. Tapping into your purpose
Becoming part of a women's racing team haschanges everything. It creates a drive to meet your
changed how I do business and how I live my life ingoal. Things which you resisted before you are willing
several important ways. Coaching to reach peakto take on now. The commitment to yourself, your
potential is valuable, progress is faster with a group orpurpose and success becomes your destiny.
a team and a positive mindset is necessary to reachWhen I realized I needed to step out of my office and
new levels of performance.become part of the global community, everything
Receiving coaching was very difficult when I firstchanged. All of a sudden, things I had resisted needed
began rowing. I took things personally, finding theto be overcome. I had to get past my own comfort
constant feedback overwhelming. There were alwayszone to reach my purpose and I was determined to
several things needing improvement. Because it wasdo whatever was necessary to make that happen. By
new, I was receiving more negative feedback thantransforming my mindset, what was once difficult was
positive.now easy.
For awhile I began avoiding the coaches. My rationaleAs you watch the Olympics, realize there is a coach
was that I didn't truly care about my technique I justand a team behind every athlete. Each athlete has
wanted to get a good workout. Avoidance was notwhat it takes to be a winner; their mindset is in the right
helping me. I knew I had to change my perceptionplace. Now it is your turn to build a winning business.
about coaching if I was going to improve myApply all of these aspects to your business and watch
performance.it soar.
As I became more interested in my technique andActivity: Look at all of the different hats you are
improving my skill level, I began to seek out coaching. Iwearing for your business. Are you a lone ranger or a
decided to ask for positive feedback when I receivedteam player? List 3 tasks you have continued to do
coaching. This one change, to ask for what I needed,although you don't really enjoy doing them. What
helped significantly.prevents you from passing on those responsibilities?
I eventually realized the feedback was not truly aboutHow would things change if you could train someone
me as a person, I was taking it too personally. Once Ito do those jobs according to your system? Even if
got out of my own way, everything changed. Theyou are not ready to pass on those jobs right now,
transformation was impressive, being able to hear thewrite the system of exactly what you do. That way
coach's instruction without feeling judged.when the time comes you will have an easy to follow,
Coaching is valuable. I decided to have a businessstep-by-step instructions of how you want it done.