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Each day during the Olympics, I’ll post a nugget relating a value of sportsmanship and the Olympics to your professional life. You can sign up here to get my Daily Olympic Nugget delivered straight to your inbox one day before I publish it on my blog with BONUS content you won't find anywhere else!
Today’s Olympic Nugget: Sacrifice is more the rule than it is the exception. US swimmer Eric Shanteau found out he had cancer days before the 2008 Olympic Trials. He decided to postpone treatment until after the Olympics were over. He is now cancer free and competing in London.
Shanteau made a particularly risky sacrifice to actualize the goal of being an Olympic athlete, but most athletes and professionals make sacrifices to chase their dreams and reach their goals. If the road to greatness and success were easy, we'd all be there already, wouldn't we? When one's unique situation calls for sacrifice, it's important that he or she weigh out the risks, options, and possible outcomes and make the decision that works best for him or her.
Perhaps reaching a professional goal means waiting to get married or have children, going without fun things so you can go back to school, or living away from family as you gain experience. Whatever the sacrifice is, be sure it is worth it to you. Think long and hard about the risks and possible outcomes; you might decide it's not a sacrifice worth making.
Are you in the middle of a sacrifice for your professional goals? Have you made a sacrifice in your past that helped you get to where you are now?
Cecilia is a professional in the non-profit world that makes professional development part of her daily routine, just like brushing teeth, preparing a meal, or walking the dog. She knows what she wants out of her career and takes small steps daily to realize her goals. Follow Cecilia and learn how to see professional development as an ongoing process that you can work on a few minutes every day so you can be ready for desired opportunities at a moment’s notice. Updating your resume is not a chore with the Resume Reviver!
