Today we are inspired by the last few weeks of the winter Olympic games, where the world comes together to compete in peace and harmony. There were rumors and threats by terrorists, but the games went on and provide outstanding drama, entertainment and inspiration.

Adam Toren, a writer published in Entrepreneur magazine, wrote a terrific piece called “Go For The Gold: 5 Business Principles to Learn from Olympians," which you can read here:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/231516

1. Big vision: Adam’s article poses the question, ” What separates someone who just skis from someone who skis the Olympic downhill course? To start, big vision.” Olympic skiers have had Olympics in their sights for years. Many since childhood. It doesn’t matter when it starts, but it does matter how big, bold and nearly impossible your dream is. If you want to always be wired and energized for success, then you need to create and focus on a goal that’s much bigger than “just getting by.” You can do that!

2. Tenacity – After speed skater Ahn Hyun-soo had already won two gold medals for his native South Korea in speed skating, he suffered from a fractured team in 2006 and a fractured knee in 2008. He nearly gave up the sport. Instead, he joined the Russian speed skating team, reinvented and renamed himself Viktor Ahn (Viktor is Russian for “winner”) and trained with great coaches to go on to win gold again in Sochi. When you have a setback, think about the figure skaters and ski jumpers who have devastating falls and injuries only to brush themselves off and get back in the game with a focus on winning. You can do that!

3. Grace Under Pressure – Olympians prepare themselves for what usually amounts to a few minutes or seconds of performance. In music, amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong, no matter how much pressure is present. In business, pressure and setbacks are abundant, but truly successful people do the preparation and personal development to stay cool and rise above all adversity, and therefore can play a bigger game with more at stake. If you play bigger, you win bigger in business. You can do that!

4. Mentors – Adam writes well on this subject, saying: “Coaches push their athletes during training and cheer for them during the moment of their performance. These athletes in return work hard, listen to the advice offered and push themselves to be the star their coaches see in them. You can do the same. Learn from the Olympic athletes and get yourself a coach. Your performance will make the investment well worth it.”

5. Teammates – in one of the speed skating competitions, Viktor Ahn was clearly helped to the gold position by his teammate’s crafty positioning and blocking. Adam makes the correlation in business by writing, “It’s up to you to select, support and sell them on your vision and surrender your interests to get them on board for the overall greatest success of your vision. Be an Olympian and assemble the best team available.” Again, I say – you can do that!!

SO… how will you apply the inspiration of the winter Olympics to be a champion in your business career?