What Olympic Athletes Know About a Successful Mary Kay Business
August 26th, 2008 by Ann Vertel
The Olympics seemed to come and go in a flash. I must confess I only caught the closing ceremonies but continue to be impressed with the athletes that show up for a chance to compete.
And, of course, that got me thinking about business.
Not one of those athletes “ended up” at the Olympics. They didn’t accidentally get good enough to compete. They didn’t just wish and hope and dream and visualize themselves being there.
And they didn’t listen to their critics. Like the gymnast whose father told her she was too awkward to do gymnastics. Or the hockey player whose older brother said he’d always be a loser. Or the volleyball champion whose well-meaning friends smiled to her face but always talked behind her back about how she wasted so much time on her “hobby.”
What they did do was train as hard as they could…every day.
They didn’t just decide that they wanted to go to the Olympics, they committed themselves to it. What’s the difference? Deciding is mental; committing is backed up by measureable action - something you can see, count, replicate, and repeat.
I’ve done a lot of research on what makes women successful - specifically in four distinct areas. Their individual characteristics, traits, and beliefs are always a telling sign but that’s really about their potential for success.
The deciding factor is their behavior. What exactly do they do with all that potential?
The winners act. They step out. They take risks. They do things that are uncomfortable. They challenge themselves…every day. They choose what’s hard over what’s convenient.
Are there other athletes in this country who had the potential to go to the Olympics? Absolutely.
Are there women in Mary Kay with the potential to go to the top? Almost every single one of them. Maybe we’re talking about you.
The deciding factor, however, isn’t how bad you want it or how much belief you have or whether you are task oriented or a people person or whether you live in the right neighborhood or whether you’re single, thin, young, beautiful, smart, willing, deserving, or educated.
The single deciding factor in whether or not you “win the gold” in your business is what you actually do in your business today…and tomorrow…and the next day…and the day after that.
Believe you can do it. Don’t listen to your critics (they haven’t done it either!) and take the biggest, boldest, most outrageous action step you can think of today. Then
repeat
repeat
repeat!!!
Now go have a POWERFUL day!
- Ann Vertel, UnitCoach
You Might Also Like...
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 2:41 pm and is filed under Self Confidence. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
What a great way to put it…what makes a champion.
My name means victor, crowned with a Laurel wreath. This summer olympics spoke to my heart deeply. It challenged my committment, my action, my comfort zone, and shed light on the fact that I sit on my laurel wreaths after certain victories.
What you said here is not new, but I needed to hear “repeat-see, count, replicate, repeat and choose” the hard over the convenient.
Thank you for a great newsletter.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Ann,
Thank yo for this article… FABUOLOUS!! I was just thinking about this very thing a couple days ago on how these athletes didn’t just “get there”. About how the “accomplished swimmer” Mark didn’t acknowledge those that teased him when he was younger. It is like putting on side shields and “working” toward what only you can see.
AWESOME letter, thank you again,
Jill
August 27th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Thank you for such powerful words of wisdom! You are sooo right, the athletes are COMMITTED. To reach our goals we must be committed 24/7 and act 24/7~
August 27th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Thank you Ann for this. I made a point of watching as much of the games as we could with my son. We talked a lot about how several of the teams were not considered “medal teams” but still took one home because their hearts didn’t know they weren’t supposed to.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:16 am
The Olympics were a wonderful review of never quitting. The athletes work hard to reach the gold and then have opportunity to rest for a moment. I believe my business is the same. I stretch and reach for a certain goal and it is usually a several months project. Then I allow myself a few days of reflection to evaluate my performance and success and then map out my new goals. Our commitment to our business shows in our successes, just as the athletes win through commitment and hard work. Thank you so much for relating us to Olympians to succeed in our goals.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Thanks! I didn’t watch much of the Olympics either but it seem that after seminar this is a perfectly good time to see the Big picture using the concept of the Olympics as an example. Thanks again.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
[...] What Olympic Athletes Know About a Successful Mary Kay Business [...]
August 28th, 2008 at 8:58 am
This year, the closest I got to “Gold” was Awards Siminar Sect. 22 Row D seat #2. I watched In awe and amazement, all of the Mary Kay olympic athletes as they proudly crossed the stage to receive their well deserved accolades. I decided that Seminar “09″, I to will enter the arena and cross the stage as a major athlete. After having read your article, “I commit to crossing the stage in 2009″. I will never forget how eloquently you describe the true makings and mindset of winners in any arena whether it be the Olympics or Mary Kay. It’s not merely the decision but the committment backed by measurabe action that qualifies one as a winner!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I see such HUGE shifts in productivity when clients finally “get it” and realize that action is the missing piece to their positive vision, belief, focus, desire, dream, and knowledge.
You will NEVER regret productive activity. You will not stand on that stage and say, “wow, I really wish I hadn’t done all those skin care classes.”
Rock on!
- Ann Vertel, UnitCoach
August 28th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Thanks, Ann, for reiterating what we REALLY all KNOW ….. practice - practice - practice … and FOCUS!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Ann,
Thanks for telling it like it is! I’ve been “frozen”, for awhile and allowing a few no’s to stop my belief in this business. Thanks for reminding me to move past the no’s by taking action and not stopping!!
September 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hi Hazel,
You’re welcome! Olympic athletes wear “blinders” to the people who tell them no, no you can’t, it’ll be hard, etc. Each challenge must make them even more determined to go the distance. So glad to hear you are too because you deserve the gold!!!
Warm regards,
Ann
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Ann, I always enjoy your messages and this one hits close to home. I’ve been a different person and better consultant since coming home from seminar. Mary Kay IS a life changing experience just like the Olympics. I love your analogy and thank you for being there for the inspiration we all need for our businesses.
Signed, Fourth and Final Month of Car Production!!
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
Hi Laurie,
So glad to hear you are approaching your goals with an “olympic” mindset. You’re unstoppable now!
Ann