“Believe in yourself. Believe that you deserve to chase your dreams and that you deserve to give yourself the time to live without regret.”

Cherissa Kell (1:00:13 - 1:00:24)

The recipe for your success. 

Most people wouldn’t even dream of going to the Olympics with no collegiate or professional background in athletics. But Cherissa Kell isn’t like most people. After hearing that females physically peak in their 30’s, Cherissa decided at the age of 24 that she would train hard to prove that theory true. She hopped on the marathon bandwagon, started surfing, and eventually fell in love with triathlons. Now at the age of 34 and living in Japan, she is well on her way to competing as a female triathlete for USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. But the journey has proved far from easy or kind.

Two emergency C-sections just 12 months apart completely ripped apart Cherissa’s midline. Everything felt hopeless. The family had recently moved to the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin with the nearest gym 45 minutes away. It wasn’t possible for Cherissa to repair her body and fulfill her Olympic dream with two boys and no support system. Or was it? You may feel it is impossible to reach your full potential as Cherissa did. But the truth is, it isn’t. There is a recipe for your success.

“It’s not a matter of whether or not you will have to sacrifice. The question is what are you willing to sacrifice?”

 - Janelle Lara (53:55 - 54:07)

With the encouragement and support of her husband, Cherissa began researching her options. A life of regret was not what she wanted. Through her research of the professional triathlete and US Olympian, Gwen Jorgensen, Cherissa discovered a reputable coach. An email and phone conversation later, Cherissa was put in touch with her now coach who oversees all elite US female triathletes. 

I’m sure you can imagine the investment of time, energy, and money for an Olympic dream. But just to put things into perspective, Cherissa’s bike alone was $7,000. That’s a tremendous sacrifice for a family of four to make! But it’s not a matter of whether you will have to sacrifice for your dream. It’s a question of what are you willing to sacrifice? 

There are actually many similarities between training for the Olympics and building your own startup. Both require four essential ingredients for success.

1. Raw Talent. Everyone is created with a specific purpose in mind. Cherissa is 130lbs at 5’9 with long legs, a great wingspan, “paddle” hands, and no major health issues or irregular menstrual cycles in the past. Her body is structurally sound to handle the rigor and trauma of training for, and competing in the Olympics. While this might not be the case for you, you are gifted in your own way for something truly amazing! Perhaps you have an inclination? Identify your raw talent to head in the right direction!
2. A Plan. You know you have what it takes. Now you need a plan. Cherissa knew she needed a lot of training to get her body up to peak performance after two emergency C-sections. So she invested in a top coach and got to work! What is holding you back from achieving your dream? What do you need to move forward? Be honest with yourself! Create a plan of personal growth to develop positive habits and master the skills necessary to reach success.
3. A Team. The journey to success is not meant to be lonely. In fact, it’s near impossible to build a business on your own. You need a team! There were some days, Cherissa admitted, where she just didn’t want to get out of bed, train, or leave her sons. But her husband reminded her of her Olympic dream and cheered her on! A parent, spouse, coach or close loved one will always see the best in you even on your most challenging day. Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for their help. Surround yourself with the right teammates that will provide good sound counsel and encouragement on the journey ahead.
4. Self-Confidence. Unfortunately, you can’t purchase or receive this last ingredient from anyone or anywhere. It’s something that you will have to dig deep to unearth. Whenever Cherissa found herself on the verge of self-doubt, she would immediately think, “Why not me?” So, why not YOU? If you don’t know already, then let me be the first to tell you. You are one strong woman capable and deserving of something truly amazing! You just got to have a little faith in yourself.

“Seeking out council is essential... Surround yourself with good council. Take their advice. Ask questions. Don’t try to build your business alone.”

 - Cherissa Kell (33:09 - 33:43)

After mixing these four essential ingredients, it may very well be that you don’t succeed. You will probably fail many many times in the process. But guess what? That’s okay. Behind most success stories are many stories of failure. If you continue to utilize a plan to develop your raw talent with the support of a team and up your self-confidence, then one of your batches is bound to turn out exactly the way you want. What’s important is to not give up and stay positive. 

I know it’s scary to take the initial step. What if it doesn’t work? 

But what if it does? 

You’ll never know until you try! Allow yourself the chance to chase your dreams and reach your full potential! You deserve it.

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!
• Follow Cherissa Kell and her 2024 Paris Olympic journey @swimbikerun_live!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 

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