Musings of Erin

I’m seriously addicted to the Olympics this year - partially because I’ve always really admired those athletes, and partially because most of my generation will be out of them by the time Vancouver in 2010 rolls around.

While watching the Men’s Speed Skating the other night, I realized how much instinct plays in the sport. Apolo Anton Ohno was racing the 1000m - it was a great race! Started out the race at the end of the pack of, I think, 6 skaters. He was very calculating, sparing energy until the very last moment - until Lee Ho-Suk moved up to the lead. Then, Ohno sped up and got into the 2nd position and waited to strike for gold.

I’m sure everything looked lovely from his end. He had a plan, and he was ready to pounce on 1st place. Just as he was about to take over the 1st position - on the second-to-last turn (I believe), out of nowhere Ahn Hyun-Soo zoomed by him in the turn and Ohno was left in third place. He couldn’t pass either Hyun-Soo or Ho-Suk, and ended with the bronze medal.

Now, I’m not saying that the bronze is anything to scoff at - I’m surely not an olympian athlete. But, I’m sure Ohno wasn’t counting on getting the third position that day.

After looking over the race again later in the evening, I saw what Hyun-Soo did - he hung back just like Ohno did, and took a wide turn to get extra speed and a good angle around that corner. In doing so, he was able to zoom by Ohno and race to the finish in 2nd place.

Now, what exactly does this have to do with business? A lot, in my opinion.

A lot of us, we want to start out in the first place position. We want to get there, and when we are there we expect to stay there. Interestingly enough, those who begin in first place rarely finish there

Others, we are smart and bide our time until the opportunity arises. We are calculating - and we usually win. Sometimes though, we are overthrown with those who are just a little more patient than us, by those who are able to see the bigger picture.

When I see new business owners that are ready to explode onto the scene - on many levels I want to make them slow down. I want to tell them that they’re going too fast, that they’re going to blow all their steam before the race is half over.

Why don’t I? I’m not a coach - so I suppose it’s not my place. But, it makes me wonder if business coaches are really telling their clients to hold back… or, if they’re teaching them the skills to bide their time and snatch that victory at the most opportune time.

~E

Olympics, business, speedskating, Apolo Anton Ohno