I love to watch the Olympics. Simply put, every time they come around, I’m hooked. My oldest Olympics memories date back to my mother tuning in to watch Olga Korbut in Montreal 1976. We lived in a suburb of Detroit at the time, so we could watch the coverage on both US and Canadian TV channels. (You know, back in the dark ages before cable TV.) Although my mother focused on gymnastics and ice skating, I’m not limited to those spotlight sports. In fact, I’ve been skipping the ice skating this season when there’s something more exciting on a different channel. There’s skiing, skating, sliding…so many options. And, because the Olympics are on the TV as I’m writing this column, it has me thinking about why exactly I love to watch and how it affects my outlook on work.
In the greater scheme of things, there are very few people who aspire to be Olympians, and even less who will succeed in participating in the games. But in our own lives, we can draw parallels to the few thousand people who are able to attend for their sport every 4 years.
Heart Without Medals
Every day, thousands of people commit to doing their best at their jobs. They do so even while knowing that no one may notice. They do so while knowing that they may not be recognized for their effort. There will be no medal. Their efforts may not result in a corporate sponsor (a bonus or raise). But still, they (we) do their jobs well because that is the activity to which they (we) have committed this time and effort.
We may not have the same passion for our daily sport, but we are trying to succeed on our own playing field. That person who only manages a “personal best,” which can be a euphemism for “nowhere near a medal,” is still someone trying very hard to be better, to do their best, to show they are working toward their goal regardless of the obstacles in their path. And, they are a part of their national team, working to make their country proud, and to be proud of the team (company) they support and represent.
Sharing the Joy of Success
Most of all, the best part of watching the Olympics is sharing in the joy of people’s success. If you’re mad you only got a silver medal, then get out of the way and give it to the guy who’d be glad to crack into the top ten. Maybe the winner is the person who has expected to win and has now proven to be the best. Maybe the winner is someone who had the best day of their life and won an unexpected podium placement. The point is—we can feel happy for them. We can appreciate their hard work and their dedication. We can smile at their joy. We can celebrate the moment and cheer for their success. And then we can turn back to our daily routines, feeling just a little bit happier.