An Olympic Lesson in Motivation

The saying goes: The expert in anything was once a beginner in everything. Truer words were never spoken.

But this isn't what we see. This isn't what we feel when we watch these Olympians. It isn't what we think when we watch any expert or great success.

We see the finished product, shining brightly in designer packaging. We see triumph and achievement, not training. We see the riches, not the rags.

And this, as much as anything else, is why motivation - that inner drive that carries us toward all we desire - continues to escape us.

Today that comes to an end. Today I will open your eyes to a new way of viewing the changes you wish to carry out and the challenges that are attempting to stop you.

The Olympians we admire might possess unique physical talent and natural gifts, but that inner fire that compels them forward is within us all. It's time to set it free.


Authors Don't Write Books
Whether it's a a friend who lost forty pounds or a track star streaking across the screen, our eyes can only see what is in front of us.

And more often than not, that picture of success is daunting.

It's overwhelming, to see ourselves reaching those heights. No, it's more than that. It's unbelievable.

When we view success at its peak, we feel separated from it. We see ourselves as incapable of doing something similar.

Take a book, for instance.

Seeing a novel on a shelf leads to the same conclusion in the minds of anyone posed with the question: 'Oh, I could never write a book.'

This view is all wrong. The reason? Authors don't write books.

What Do Authors Write?
Authors don't write books; authors write words.

This is one of the most important ideas to understand. I know it sounds simple, but it separates those who progress from those who wish and wait.

We've already said that most see the finished product and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of achieving the same goal.

If this only occurred when watching an Olympic athlete, there would be little issue. But that's not how it works. We get that same sense of inability when viewing any worthwhile achievement.

Losing weight, finding a new career, starting a business or new relationship, overcoming personal debt - these are outcomes millions wish to pursue but don't believe they can achieve.

They can't see past the finished product.

To get motivated, to truly ignite your drive, you must see your goals as achievable. You must believe in yourself and your abilities. You must see success, not as a matter of unattainable greatness, but merely as a matter of time.

Losing weight begins with a single decision. Finding the job you love begins with a single Google search. And starting a new relationship begins with a single look.

The world is built upon blocks, not one massive stone.

One step, one movement, one decision, one action. These are the things that feed success. These are things that you can do today.