| Ever since I was a young girl, I've been captivated | | | | program warm-up and claimed to have left his aura |
| by the Olympic Games. My family would watch the | | | | at the Olympic Village. As a result, he arrived late to |
| television coverage together, and we'd marvel as the | | | | the ice arena and was unable to focus on turning in a |
| stories of victory and defeat unfolded.My dad (Ron | | | | medal-worthy performance.In business, preparation, |
| Soble) was a world-class track athlete who won | | | | discipline, and focus on the goal are essential |
| medals in the national championships. He even tried | | | | ingredients to winning performance. Being late to the |
| out for the Olympic team. Sadly, he fouled out in his | | | | big event offers cold comfort to fellow team |
| attempt at the running long jump and missed his | | | | members with every reason to expect extraordinary |
| chance to compete for Olympic glory, much to his | | | | performance.If you can't deliver the goods, offer no |
| great disappointment.Stories about the athletes and | | | | excuses. U.S. speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno's star |
| their journeys to greatness or defeat have always | | | | rose with his gracious comments about the Olympic |
| captured my attention. That's why I continue to tune | | | | experience and his competitors from South Korea |
| in, even though all the viewing statistics seem to | | | | when accepting one of his bronze medals. |
| indicate that I am one of few who make a habit of | | | | Sometimes, you just don't get it done. As Ohno |
| watching. The lessons that unfold inform my | | | | says, "That's short track."Wait to celebrate until the |
| storytelling as a public relations professional, and they | | | | job is done. Skier Bode Miller came to the games |
| offer compelling ideas to inspire business people | | | | prepared to party at the Olympic level. Too bad he |
| worldwide. Here are a few lessons from the Olympic | | | | was unprepared to perform on skis. In addition, |
| Games in Torino, Italy to inspire your winning ways.If | | | | snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis got carried away in |
| you can't go the distance, give your place on the | | | | her apparent victory in snowboard cross and did a |
| team to someone who can. Figure skater Michelle | | | | showboat move en route to the finish line. She lost |
| Kwan recognized early in her practice that her groin | | | | the gold medal in the process.In business, don't take |
| injury would compromise her ability to win the gold. | | | | unnecessary risks or missteps. Perform like a |
| She gave up her place on the Olympic team to Emily | | | | champion. Represent yourself and your organization in |
| Hughes to give the U.S. a better chance.In business | | | | a winning way. Say and do the right things, and you'll |
| or sport, it is crucial to assemble the best possible | | | | never have reason for regret. And remember always |
| team. Have the courage to make the tough calls | | | | that it's not over until it's over.Use your 15 minutes of |
| when assembling your team so your vision for | | | | fame to make a difference for others. Long track |
| company performance has its best chance to shine.It | | | | speed skating gold and silver medalist Joey Cheek |
| is far better to under-promise and over-deliver than | | | | used his time on the podium to draw attention to a |
| run the risk of a highly visible defeat. The U.S. ski | | | | non-profit organization that would benefit from his |
| team was heralded as the best in the world prior to | | | | Olympic cash winnings. In doing so, he set an |
| these games. Expectations were high, and many of | | | | example for people worldwide to follow. Corporate |
| them were dashed in the snow.A lesson for business | | | | matching funds took the donation total to over a |
| is to fly below the radar, keep focus on the end | | | | quarter of a million dollars.The stories that unfolded in |
| game, and emerge victorious with your team for | | | | the spirit of Olympic competition gave us all pause to |
| having applied consistent effort on performance that | | | | consider what is possible beyond the world of sport |
| speaks for itself.If you falter, get up. Skier Lindsey | | | | when we set out to achieve our wildest dreams and |
| Kildow took a horrific fall in her downhill race that | | | | go the distance in our own authentic ways.Nancy S. |
| resulted in an overnight stay in the hospital. Still, she | | | | Juetten owns Nancy S. Juetten Marketing Inc., a |
| returned the next day to give her next event her | | | | public relations and marketing communications agency |
| best effort. Courageous Olympic recoveries are | | | | that helps winning companies tell their stories and |
| sweet and give team members and fans courage to | | | | build their brands. She is also the creator/author of |
| face their own challenges with keen resolve. In | | | | the Media-Savvy-to-Go publicity tips booklets, audio |
| business, how one faces disappointments is an | | | | CD's, and e-workbook that help business owners and |
| important measure of true spirit and leadership.Jim | | | | independent professionals earn their own ink and air |
| Collins' best-selling book Good to Great maintains that | | | | without spending a fortune. Publicity Hound Joan |
| successful organizations get the right people on the | | | | Stewart ( says the tips booklets are a fabulous crash |
| bus to achieve great results. An important corollary | | | | course on how to be media-savvy and that Publicity |
| to this is to avoid missing the bus and run the risk of | | | | Hounds everywhere need to read Nancy's tips. Visit |
| poor performance when it counts.Olympic figure | | | | to learn more. |
| skater Peter Weir missed the bus to the long | | | | |