Outlook, Outcomes, Greatness & Everything

The stories of the London 2012 Olympic Games are as numerous as the almost 11,000 athletes. Elation, disappointment, heartaches and hearts vindicated still flow from these varied experiences. Instead of limiting the view of achievement to outcomes, a broader perspective of what it takes to perform well provides opportunities for learning. This starts with gaining a fuller context of what an Olympian is by asking, “How do they get here from there?” Is it perseverance, heart, training, support, drive, giftedness, determination, passion, belief, overcoming fear, avoiding what doesn't contribute or having the will to find the way?

Do Not Run Aimlessly

Who didn't see or hear of Oscar Pistorius? A double, below the knee amputee, whose mother refused to treat him like he had a disability. He qualified to run in the Olympics, plus had to fight for the legal right. This approach is similar to the Ray Charles story and others. Oscar is a champion in the Olympics, Paralympics and in life. He has a tattoo of I Cor. 9:26 that reads: “I do not run like a man who is running aimlessly.”

Preparation

In an interview, Michael Phelps spoke of not winning the gold medal by five hundredths of a second in the 200M Butterfly. “The most prepared person wins,” he said.

Strengthening Weakness

After winning gold in the 110M Hurdles, Aries Merritt explained how he changed his starting foot in just eight months, a feat similar to switching writing hands. “Diligence. It took me a long, long time and a lot of hours that I put into, to building power on my weaker side, to balance it out. I think that's why I've had so much success this year because I focused so much on my weaker side and it balanced things out so now I have equal power in both legs so I'm able to apply equal force.”

Champion The Hard Way

"It means so much, all the hard work and dedication and effort put in the gym and hard days. "And hard days are the best because that's where champions are made, so if you push through the hard days you can get through anything," Gabrielle Douglas, All-Around Gymnastics Champion at age 16, reminds us.

Almost Out-Never Down

a. The Russian Men's Volleyball Team was one point away from losing the match. They then scored the next three points to win the set. Russia then won the next two sets to win the match against the USA. Individuals centered themselves on core beliefs and made the same kind of comeback in the championship match against Brazil.
b. The Brazilian Women's Volleyball Team, the favorites against Russia, facing six match points and elimination, stayed true to the game of focusing on each point that could be won and not those already lost. Brazil won the match. They steadied themselves with this same wisdom in the championship match. After getting blasted in the opening set, they won the next three.
c. Brittney Reese, the favorite to win the Women's Long Jump, fouled on several jumps and was not in medal contention. With pressure building and time disappearing, she pulled herself together and did what she came to do and was capable of doing.
d. Manteo Mitchell, in his first Olympics, continued running after breaking his leg partway through his portion of the 4x400M Relay Preliminary Round. Without coming in first, he won because he kept going. He said he couldn't let his teammates down. “Faith, Focus, Finish” helped him succeed.

During every Olympics, there are far more winners than medals awarded. There are also far more winners in everyday life - those striving to become better. Though unheralded nationally, millions are reaching personal bests, even though they have not touched the pinnacles they pursue. This is true because greatness is not determined by outcome but by outlook. Outlook answers the question because it goes with everything.

Related: Mental Preparation & The Basics Of Performance