On August 5, our nation turned its attention to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Over 207 countries from around the world are competing in 306 events in 28 sports.

As proud Americans, we’ve held our breaths and rooted as our athletes have pushed themselves to go higher, faster and stronger.

Athletes are fiercely goal oriented. You don’t earn a spot competing in the Olympic Games without putting in years of consistent effort, driven to reach a goal.

We’re proud of our athletes, each a champion in their own right. The US Olympic Team has already collected 69 medals and 26 Golds – more than any other country participating in the games. This brings the US’s total count to a staggering 1000 Gold medals since the first Olympic Games in Athens in 1896!

But when Olympic athletes step onto the podium to receive their medals, they don’t stand there alone.

They stand with their family and friends who supported them each step of the way.

They stand with the peers they trained with well before sunrise and late into the night.

Most of all, they stand with their coaches, without whom they would not be where they are today. Coaches work side by side their athletes, mentoring them through the grueling years of training necessary to achieve excellence in their sport.

These coaches teach life lessons that are applicable to all individuals striving to build themselves into champions. This is as true for athletes on the court, field and track as it is for business entrepreneurs striving to achieve monumental success in their industries.

Here are 3 lessons from some of the best coaches of all time that have empowered athletes to reach for gold….and can help you do the same in your business!

“The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”
— Bobby Knight

Athletes don’t win because they have a winning spirit. They win because they plan to win. It’s critical to have a clear goal, but it is thoughtful, strategic planning that will help get you to the finish line. For athletes, that means planning a daily training, meal and even sleep schedule!

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I teach business entrepreneurs the importance of following a step-by-step plan to achieve their sales goals. My clients identify the specific, measurable action steps they need to take each and every day to reach their milestones. These steps include everything from attending networking events and making complimentary sales calls to managing your social media platform and requesting referrals from friends, family and current clients or customers.

Remember: By laying out a solid plan for the year in place, and following that plan with the support of an accountability partner, you set yourself up to achieve success.

“What you do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.”
— Dean Smith

If athletes gave up every time they failed or faltered, there wouldn’t be Olympians! Making mistakes is par de course. No one can win every race or make every shot. In fact, making mistakes is a learning experience that allows you to alter your course of action for better results. It’s important to acknowledge when you make an error and own up to it. That might involve offering an apology or honoring your word when there was a misunderstanding due to lack of clarity on your part.

Once you’ve recognized the error, ask yourself: What can I do differently next time to ensure I don’t make this mistake again? Take the action steps necessary to avoid repeating your mistake, and then put it behind you. Dwelling on mistakes is a sure fire way to get stuck. Don’t let negative self-talk hold you back from learning lessons from your mistakes that will propel you toward success.

“Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.”
— Wayne Gretzky

Marathon runners knows that regular training needs to begin many, many months in advance of the big race. Wait too long to get started or veer off course your training plan and you simply won’t have the strength or stamina necessary to perform competitively. The same holds true in business. Perhaps you’ve set a clear goal to increase your income by a certain percentage by the end of 2016. That’s great! But you can’t wait until November to start working toward your goal.

One way to avoid procrastinating is to establish an accountability partner who will help keep you on track – week after week – so that you can accomplish what you set out to do. When you know you have to report your progress – or lack thereof – to an individual you respect, you’re more likely to take action and complete the tasks on your to-do list. If you’re struggling to get started, discuss why you might be procrastinating and brainstorm practical strategies you can use to get focused.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with business entrepreneurs who are motivated to thrive, not just survive. Much like Olympic athletes, my clients have dreams of winning Gold in their businesses. We work together to ensure they have the plan, mindsets and strategies in place to build lasting, profitable Legacy Businesses they can be proud of.

Do you have golden business aspirations? Do you want to reach higher, go faster and be stronger?

Put a dedicated coach with over 40 years of direct sales experience in your corner. Contact me today.

Until then, Go team USA!

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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