Coaching the Dream Blog – Empowering Others with Home Business Education, Training and Coaching

Welcome Back! If You Enjoy My Posts, Be Sure to Join My Free Newsletter To Get Even More Coaching on Your Home Business!

Part of my job as a business coach is to encourage those that are disappointed to keep going, no matter what. In any business, there will be those times that you feel like you fell down. But the true mark of a champion is when you get up and do it again.

I am reminded of one of the greatest perseverance stories I have ever heard while reading “Amazing Athletes, Amazing Moments” by Steve Riach. Do you remember Dan Jansen, the US Olympic speed skater? When you hear his name are you reminded of all his failures or his day of victory? I have to say for me I remember him as a champion.

So you do know how many Winter Olympics it took before Jansen became a Medal winner? This is either the most insane “stick-to-itiveness” or the guy had a dream that just was not gonna die. He participated in the Winter Games in Sarajevo 1984, Calgary 1988, Albertville 1992, and Lillehammer, Norway 1994.

During the 1980s and 1990s he was considered the best speed skater in the world. Yet, he didn’t have the Olympic Gold Medal (or any medal for that matter) to prove it, despite being the favorite each time. Each attempt he lost his balance, slipped or fell down, completely devastating his chances and his reputation as the best. It wasn’t like he was just out of medal contention by a valiant effort that just wasn’t quite good enough to match the competition. No, he actually fell down, again and again! Now that has to take a toll on your self esteem.

At that point, you have to wonder if the guy has any self respect left. Is his Olympic vision crippled yet by the reality of his repeated efforts? Does he worry what the skating world must think of man who is repeatedly favored, yet can not stand up to the pressure to accomplish the dream?

Seriously, seven races over a ten year period and nothing to show for the hard work but extreme disappointment. Wow, now how many of us would get back up and try it again and again and again and AGAIN!

Well, Jansen did. His last chance came at his last Olympics, during his last race in 1994. Does he still hold the dream that he is an Olympic Gold Medalist? Can that even still exist in his mind of possibilities after so many failures? The last race in the 1,000 meters pitted him against seven competitors who all had better times than his career best.

Does history repeat itself? Does it become the expectation of the viewers that disaster will befall him yet again? Does this replay in his mind as he prepares to take one last chance at the dream?

Jansen made it to the next to last turn without a problem. But, then fatigued, he slightly slips and his hand grazes the ice. But this time he stays on his feet. He even achieves a new world record as he becomes the Gold Medal winner.

This is just an absolute amazing story to me. What dedication, perseverance, and belief in himself and his dream. A ten year journey. Four Olympic Games. Eight races. One Gold Medal. And a memoir that will live in my memory as a lesson that “A Champion Always Gets Up and Tries Again.”

Possibly Related Posts:

• How much are your dreams worth?
• Power of Song
• Leader’s Liability
• Happy New Year
• Merry Christmas!

Tags: a champion gets up, accomplish the dream, Albertville, amazing athletes amazing moments, best speed skater in the world, business, business coach, Calgary, champion, Dan Jansen, day of victory, dedication, greatest perseverance stories, Lillehammer Norway, medal winner, memoir, new world record, Olympic gold medal, olympic gold medalist, Olympic vision, one last chance at the dream, perseverance, Sarajevo, skating world, Steve Riach, the gold medal winner, true mark of a champion, US Olympic speed skater, winter games, winter olympics

Trackback URI | Comments RSS