UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 07.30.21
Dear Team:
I suspect many of you, like me and my family, are spending a few more hours than normal watching television lately, specifically the 32nd Olympiad. The Tokyo games were supposed to be held last year but were disrupted by the pandemic and pushed out a year. While my preference is to watch live sporting events, over the years, the once every four-year (five in this case) Olympic games have made for some incredibly memorable and inspiring television moments. As we have already seen, there have been more than a few great stories and shocking Olympic moments in just the first couple of days of competition.
Since this is the Olympic season, I thought I might share a few reflections on some of the parallels all of us have with our favorite Olympic athletes, and some things we might learn from those who reach the summit of their respective sport or profession.
Persistence, being willing to fight through adversity, and knowing how to adapt to those occasional and unforeseen curveballs are all critically important to achieving your goals. Olympians train for what is often a once-in-a-lifetime event. When the games were postponed in 2021, athletes had to bounce back from incredible disappointment to focus and train for another 12 months. When the Olympics finally did begin a week ago, some competitors had last-minute issues and could not travel to Tokyo. Those who did found out only days before they left that their family and friends couldn’t be in the stands to support them. Still, they persevered, and so must we when we have setbacks or the unexpected happens at work and in life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting being persistent guarantees success or victory. However, I do know that giving up greatly limits your chances of learning and getting better.
Everyone is the product of a team. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Olympics. Just as it takes coaches, trainers, nutritionists, psychologists, families, and so many more individuals and resources to prepare an Olympian, each of us has (or had) a team behind us at some point to get where we are today. No athlete got to Tokyo by themselves, and no professional achieves at their highest potential without collaborating with others. Remember to embrace your team and be supportive of each other. When we work together, we can celebrate our collective accomplishments.
So, there you have it, my Olympic musings. If you are watching the games, there are at least nine former University of Illinois athletes representing three different countries in Tokyo. Cheers to them and cheers to you for an enjoyable, if not athletic, weekend.
Best,
Jim