: Dave Striegel
: Take Your Shot How Small Business Owners Can Consistently Lead at a Higher Level
: Indie Books International
: 9781952233654
: 1
: CHF 10.50
:
: Management
: English
: 137
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Did you know that what helps elite athletes and coaches perform better under pressure applies directly to the world of business? The author of this book, Dave 'Dr. Dave' Striegel, draws on his experiences with world-class athletes to help you pursue excellence as the leader of a small business. Take Your Shot is about the day-to-day actions and interactions that move the needle. How you mentally prepare to lead, communicate your expectations, and offer feedback are building blocks of leadership. You'll be motivated and entertained by the inspiring stories from the world of professional sports and small businesses.
1
WHY THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE MATTERS
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
While sitting in the stands at the alpine ski venue for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Park City, Utah, I was reflecting upon the power of habit. Nervous with anticipation for the ski competition, I was thinking,This is what sports are all about.
I was in Park City to cheer on my client and friend, Erik Schlopy, who was competing in multiple events at what would be his second of three Olympic Games.
The excitement in the air was palpable, but not because of my natural pride and competitiveness in wanting Erik and the US team to do well. Rather, the positive energy was from the knowledge that so many athletes and coaches, regardless of their nationality, had committed themselves to pursue excellence in sports. This was their time.
A rare few would perform well enough to win a medal. Most would not. All would be able to say they entered the ring and gave it their best. There is tremendous honor in that, and it is what binds all the Olympics participants together. It is also what binds everyone together who strives for excellence in what they do. President Teddy Roosevelt famously spoke about those valiant enough to enter the arena; the courage to do so is something we should value.
Erik is a valiant competitor you want your child to emulate. Not because he set records or won Olympic gold. Others did that. Not because he became a worldwide celebrity or an endorsement magnet. Others did that, too. Erik is a quintessential role model because he epitomized the pursuit of excellence throughout his career. He fought through unimaginable adversity for over twenty years, never giving up hope and relentlessly pushing himself to become the best he could be. He is a great example of why pursuing excellence matters, not just for the victors but even more so for the masses who don’t experience victory, or what our culture would define as the ultimate success.
You might think that having a last name like Schlopy would mean you would be destined to become a world-class alpine skier. You would be right. Erik started competing at a young age and, from the beginning, showed a gift for balancing fearless speed with precise technique. He also demonstrated a competitive quality that might have come across as annoying to adults but would end up being a key to the perseverance he would show throughout his sports career and beyond.
He just would not give up, no matter how lopsided the odds or the score. He said, “If I was behind 19-2 at ping pong, I’d keep fighting, then right away want t