Resume Reviver

Olympic Lessons for the Workplace

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: There is a well-trained, hungry underdog in all of us. Unleash him! 15 year-old swimmer Ruta Meilutyte was just happy to be representing Lithuania at the 2012 Olympics. No one expected much from her. Even Ruta herself didn't expect much, but that has changed since she unexpectedly set a European record at the preliminaries for the 100m Breaststroke. We shall see how the next chapter in her story finishes on Monday, but one thing is certain, she now has hopes of a podium finish that she didn't have even a day ago.

Ruta is clearly talented and loves what she does. There's no way she would make it this far in her sport if she didn't have that combination. Like Ruta, sometimes we believe we're only capable of so much because that's what others around us tell us or expect from us. But, like any other day, we give it 100%, and sometimes we surprise even ourselves!

There is a strong, amazing underdog that lives in each of us. If we're serious and disciplined about our professional goals, he gets a little stronger every day. Perhaps our company doesn't expect much out of us because we are new, young or quiet. Don't let those outside expectations influence how you feel about yourself. Take care of that inner underdog and give every day 100%. One of these days, he will charge out in the perfect situation. The world and your peers might be surprised, but you won't be because you knew he was in there all along. Do you believe in your inner underdog? Has he saved the day before and brought you to new heights? Photo by momopeche