Three Reflections Inspired By The Paris Olympics
- Aug 14, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 15, 2024
Danny Bader's is a near-death survivor, keynote speaker, best-selling author and podcast host. Danny brings a unique perspective and powerful message to his audiences,drawing from his own experiences to support, inspire and influence them on their life’s journey to greater levels of fulfillment and resilience always.
The 2024 Paris Olympics were wonderful, and I’m no longer surprised by the powerful lessons the athletes offered us viewers. When you pay attention, you can learn a lot in the classroom, which I call ‘life.’ While the athletes in Paris gave us so many impressive performances, a few stood out. Below are a few timeless principles we can all benefit from applying to our lives completely and consistently.
Realize the power in routine
A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed. It is the ancestor of habit and is powerful when we want to improve, grow, and overcome.
Our daughter, Lizzy, participated in gymnastics from age 3 to 14, and I was amazed at how many times she and her teammates would repeat the same routine. Her outstanding European coaches demanded discipline from the gymnasts, and Lizzy is thankful for this discipline, which she knows contributes to her continued success in life.
Think about how often those Olympic athletes did the same thing, over and over and over again until the routine evolved into a habit. It evolved into a feeling and behavior these athletes could call upon and perform on demand. When they fell, faltered, or failed to meet their coaches or their expectations, they would do it again. And then again.
Watching these fantastic athletes reminded me of things I want to create in my life and business. It focused me on what actions I needed to begin taking completely and consistently until my routine became a value-producing habit. How about you? Is there anything you need to do over and over until you realize the value you’ve been thinking about and seeking?
Stay in the game/ race/ match/ dive/ jump and so on
American golfer Scottie Scheffler won the Gold medal in golf after shooting an incredible final round of 62, posting a 29 on the back nine holes. He set an Olympic record for 72 holes, finishing at -19.
He has six PGA tour wins this year and earnings in excess of $28 million. He welcomed his first child, Bennett, with his wife Meredith in May, and he was arrested the morning before the final round of his PGA Championship victory for a minor traffic violation. He was the fifth player to win the Masters and PGA in the same year since 1960.
Jon Rahm was the leader for the early part of the final Olympic round. He birdied the 10th hole to move to -20, whereas Scheffler was -14 after playing the 10th hole that day. Rahm’s expected win percentage that day was 90%, while Scheffler’s was as low as 0.4%. When Scheffler wrote his Paris goal on a whiteboard earlier in the week, he wrote: “Have Fun.” And he did. He was -6 on the back nine, and Rahm was +4.
Scheffler stayed focused only on what he could do, how he could think, and what he could control. He gained ten strokes in 9 holes, and yes, he did Have Fun!
What are you focused on creating, and perhaps feeling like the odds are not in your favor? Like Scheffler, take a breath, have a little fun, and keep going to stay in the game!
Be humble & in service to others
My favorite story and performance in the games came from American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, known as “the pommel horse guy,” who won the bronze medal in Saturday's pommel horse final at the Olympic Games in Paris. He also performed fantastically in the men’s team finals final event and secured another bronze medal in the team competition.
I am sure this is a favorite story for many. Nedoroscik is an unassuming athlete who only competes on the pommel horse. He has dedicated himself to this event and provides fantastic support, encouragement, and inspiration to his teammates as they compete in the other five events in the men’s competition.
He's also an inspiration because Nedoroscik has overcome sight challenges. He is not blind, although he suffers from light sensitivity and other symptoms that have prevented him from getting his driver’s license.
After sitting all day as the other events completed and the pommel horse competition arrived, Nedoroscik removed his glasses, hung them on the chalk bowl, and proceeded to perform an amazing routine, locking up the bronze medal for the US men’s team, the first medal for them in sixteen years.
It is a joy for me to watch and listen to Stephen. He is committed to his pursuit of excellence and, even more so, is a humble young man who enjoys the brotherhood he and his teammates share. He said that as he was finishing his routine, he looked to the judges and his teammates during his dismount and said it was one of the most amazing feelings ever.
How about you? Where do you perhaps need to be thankful, humble, and a bit more committed to the wellness and service of others? I know I have some work to do.
After all, love is when your well-being depends on that of another person. Peace.
Danny Bader, Keynote Speaker, Author
Danny Bader's transformation from a harrowing near-death experience to a source of inspiration is indeed remarkable. His journey highlights the incredible resilience of the human Spirit and serves as a testament to the power of turning adversity into growth and opportunity. As a keynote speaker, best-selling author, and podcast host, Danny uses his experiences to craft a message that touches and resonates deeply with audiences worldwide. His unique perspective allows him to connect with people on a profound level, offering them not just motivation, but tangible strategies for navigating life's challenges to create greater levels of fulfillment and resilience always.
