Business Insights
An Athlete`s Mindset for Business
How we can benefit from thinking like an Athlete
When photographing cyclist and Olympic Gold medal winner Franziska Brauße in Reutlingen, I asked her, what helped her the most as a professional athlete. She replied: „A certain degree of serenity. Not to be too do-or-die and yet keep the goal in sight. To believe in it and to continually work towards it. Not to become insecure when experiencing setbacks. And a family and friends who have got your back!“
Here`s a photo of the editorial photo story that was published in the German health magazine Vida.
I guess what Franziska said about what helped her the most goes for all sorts of professional goals, be it on the bike, at the desk, or behind the shop counter. When we are too grim chasing our goal, we risk losing our motivation and enthusiasm which we need so urgently. At the same time, we mustn’t be sloppy, but we need to keep on pushing forward. It’s all about a healthy balance in order to keep on going long-term – which is not always easy to maintain.
In order to reach a certain goal, we need to keep it in sight constantly and do something for it on a regular basis. Like the athlete does all sorts of training most days of the week. Consistency is key! However, it can be hard to keep the much-needed consistency if we don`t truly believe in reaching our target. So, we mustn`t let setbacks intimidate us. One way to do so is to remind ourselves that setbacks are a natural part of the process. The most famous people report having to deal with severe crises in their careers – it`s just part of the game for everyone. Those who end up being successful are those who not only have some talent or skill in regards to what they do but they also are persistent and able to overcome obstacles that are naturally in their way.
Trust!
Also, we can`t do it on our own. Knowing that God has our back can be the one factor that sustains our motivation and drive in tough times. To stay relaxed and focused at the same time it helps to intentionally trust God and know that his timing is best. Whenever we get anxious about wether we will reach our goals, we can remind ourselves of the fact that God knows what`s best for us and he will give us the opportunities that we need.
How do you keep your balance? What keeps you going during times when things don`t go as planned or when you have failed? We can learn a lot from athletes and their mindset because they naturally fail a lot and hence need to have strategies in place to deal with these situations. And possibly not just deal with them but use them to their benefit. The former American basketball player Michael Jordan said: “If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” And here is a quote from the famous tennis player Serena Williams: “I don’t like to lose at anything… Yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is God’s reward, then losing is how he teaches us.”
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About the author: www.business-photographer.com
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