Ginger Wilcox on channeling an Olympic mentality

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Even though it’s officially fall, I’m still thinking about the spirit of the Summer Olympics. I always look forward to seeing the world’s best athletes compete on a global stage as I am continually inspired by their achievements, accolades and individual paths to success. Often their stories are filled with setbacks and obstacles, just as much as hard work and triumph.

Joseph Campbell, author of The hero’s journeysays, “Opportunities to find deeper strengths within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.”

That’s true whether you’re an Olympic athlete or a real estate professional.

Go for gold

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Olympic volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings, who spoke at our brand event in September about the mindset that drove her success as an athlete. Jennings spoke of her unyielding desire to never be satisfied – an unquenchable fire within her that drove her to the highest pinnacle of success: the gold medal. And not just one, but three gold medals.

Naturally, her journey required enormous physical and mental effort. When we think about the dedication it takes to achieve Olympic gold medal status, it becomes clear how crucial discipline is in the pursuit of excellence.

Discipline can often be the deciding factor between success and failure. During our conversation, I asked Jennings how she maintained discipline when faced with challenges. She shared a transformative perspective: self-discipline is an expression of self-love. Working hard every day means loving yourself every day.

Adopt a gold medal mentality

This perspective emphasizes the importance of mindset, which can be just as important as the actual work we do every day as real estate professionals. For me, excellence is a mindset. It is something we purposefully commit to and something we practice constantly, similar to a sport.

Here are some ways we can adopt an Olympic mindset.

1. Become self-aware

Conduct an honest evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. Identify areas for improvement and potential threats to your excellence. What skills are you lacking that could ultimately threaten your excellence? How can you address the pain points in your business?

This self-awareness will form the basis for mindfulness. And don’t just do this once and cross it off your list. This exercise should be a regular “self-assessment” that you perform to identify areas where you can improve.

2. Use mindfulness through meditation

Meditation can involve visualizing success or discovering inspirational words to keep you motivated. Spend time on this mental exercise regularly, and if you practice consistently, you will see noticeable improvements over time.

I recently formalized my love of yoga and meditation, which I have been practicing for several years, by obtaining an instructor certification. You may wonder where I find the time to do this, but I don’t think I would be where I am today without the mindfulness that yoga brings me.

3. Commit to continuous learning

When challenges arise, Kerri advises to “get curious.” Think about the questions your customers and colleagues are asking: How can I improve my skills and value proposition? Are there new customer segments, technologies or marketing tactics to explore? How can I provide unparalleled value to my customers?

While mastering new skills won’t immediately generate leads, the depth of your knowledge and the breadth of your abilities will set you apart from the competition, positioning you as an indispensable resource for your clients.

The pursuit of excellence

Uncovering the deeper forces that Joseph Campbell refers to is in line with the pursuit of excellence. It’s about setting higher standards for yourself and constantly striving for excellence. It’s about self-discipline and self-love. It’s about recognizing that your mindset and your actions will determine your future.

During difficult times you have a choice: be a victim or a victor. You can’t be both. And the difference between the two is simple: it all comes down to mentality.