Business | Opinion
Winning medals in corporate world
The Olympic Games manage to hold the attention of millions who don't normally follow sport, and who may not even be very interested in national flag-waving or even gold medals!
- By Carole Spiers, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 23:21 August 18, 2008
The Olympic Games manage to hold the attention of millions who don't normally follow sport, and who may not even be very interested in national flag-waving or even gold medals!
Clearly these events carry some kind of symbolism that reflects our own ambitions, our own wins and losses, our own positioning in life's various league-tables.
It's not hard to see how the Games remind us of parallels and people in our own constant endeavour to gain competitive advantage. The steady characters who slowly improve their technique and performance, over time. The temperamental ones who either come first or drop out of the race altogether. The solo performer who can't work with anyone else. The successful team-captain nursing his squad to success.
Perhaps, like myself, you secretly enjoy watching the unknown newcomer coming from behind to beat the established front-runners. It means that there is always hope for everyone.
There's also the other kind of underdog - the one who's had to fight back from serious illness or injury, to recover their place in the competition. So the drama of the 'comeback kid' is also irresistible to viewers who may have had little or no interest in the earlier history of that competitor.
Lucky 8
Of course this year, there has to be a Chinese dimension as well. The opening date of the Games - 08.08.08 - gave us a triple dose of China's national, lucky number '8'.
I think we all know there are two kinds of luck. The luck you make for yourself by hard work and being single-focused. And the other kind of luck that does, on occasion, just drop from heaven. So here we are, watching these Olympic Games, the long-awaited climax to years of dedicated training, practised teamwork, leadership and achievement in action... and perhaps feeling inspired ourselves to improve our own performance, in the year ahead.
Remember that manager with whom you are in disagreement and to whom you offer only the minimum cooperation? How about a new start, a resolve to see if you cannot both pull together? Or that new recruit who's been written-off as useless - what about another look at that potential?
You may never win a 'Gold', but you could move yourself to a greater effort and a better performance. You could score modest victories, experience some sensations of championship, perhaps feel a little of the warmth of the Olympic flame against your face!
Even though some of us may seem to have more talent than others - we are still all unique and our life is just as valuable as that of Michael Phelps. He may be the greatest Olympian of all time -but you can be the greatest father, or manager or team-leader! Good luck - did I say luck?
- The writer is a BBC broadcaster and motivational speaker, with 20 years' experience as CEO of Carole Spiers Group, an international stress consultancy based in London.
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