Life, when a hundredth of a second counts! (And your brilliant idea is just 5% away)

by Dorine Reinstein

Akani Simbine. Remember that name. In yesterday’s 100m final, the South African ran his heart out. And guess what? So did three other guys! A photo finish where a hundredth of a second – literally – separated glory from “oh well, there’s always next time.” 

This, for me, is personal. We practically live at the track – six days a week, two hours a day. My daughter eats, sleeps, and breathes track and field. She’s currently third in South Africa in her age category (shameless brag, I know 😉). We train alongside Olympic athletes, witnessing the blood, sweat, and tears poured into chasing those milliseconds.

And it got me thinking: the corporate world could learn a thing or two from these athletes.

Take that near miss in the 100m. Imagine that in your office. Your team is  5% away from landing that game-changing deal. Do you throw in the towel like a soggy tracksuit? No! You channel your inner Usain Bolt (or should we now say: Noah Lyles), dig deep, and find that extra 5%. 

We live in the age of distraction. Case in point: I start writing this Monday Musings, aiming for zen-like focus, and BAM! Teams is blowing up. Thirty messages in ten minutes about… who knows what? It’s like trying to run a 100-meter sprint while your phone buzzes non-stop. But here’s where we can learn from those Olympians: they don’t let distractions derail them.

Remember that Turkish sharp shooter everyone’s talking about? Dude showed up without equipment, hand casually tucked in his pocket. He knew his stuff, trusted his skills, and embraced the chaos. Now that’s how you deal with a Monday morning IT outage.

The Olympics aren’t just about perfectly executed flips and superhuman speed – it’s about resilience, a quality desperately needed in our chaotic corporate world. Just take Aussie boxer Harry Garside. He poured his heart out after a tough loss. But you know what? He owned it. Acknowledged the heartbreak, the pressure, the weight of expectations. He reminded us that even in defeat, there’s courage in vulnerability.

These athletes spend years honing their skills, embracing the discipline to push past pain and setbacks most of us wouldn’t even dream of. They understand the power of supporting their team, the importance of mental fortitude when the pressure’s on. No, we don’t need to be Simone Biles defying gravity. But that mindset? That adaptability? That ‘never give up’ attitude? Now those are things we can take back to the office.

So, the next time your inbox is exploding and deadlines loom like hurdles, take a deep breath, remember Akani Simbine, and embrace the fact that sometimes, life, just like the Olympics, comes down to a hundredth of a second. Make it count!

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Move over, Michelangelo!

Turns out, ladies can wield a spray can (and paintbrush) with serious skill. This Women’s Month, South Africa’s celebrating its fierce female muralists, proving public art isn’t just a boys’ club.

Busted bus? No sweat for these Olympic skateboarders!

They just turned the Parisian streets into their own personal halfpipe and skated their way to the competition. Talk about commitment! Guess when you live life on wheels, a little detour doesn’t faze you

Forget Paris 2024, we’re here for the epic fails of TikTok 2024!

Move over, Olympic champions, there’s a new breed of athletes taking TikTok by storm: the “almost made it” crew. From gymnasts face-planting to divers perfecting the belly flop, these hilarious videos prove that reaching for your dreams often involves a lot of… well… falling down.

Paw-fum? Yes, Please!

Take note, Chanel No. 5, there’s a new (fur)ociously fashionable fragrance in town! Dolce & Gabbana is now spritzing its signature opulence on our canine companions with Fefé, a luxurious perfume designed to make your dog the best-smelling pup on the block.

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