100. Golden Reflections on 100 Episodes of Wisdom, Growth and Pursuit
Welcome to a monumental 100th episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast! In this milestone episode, Laura shares her story, her vision, and the invaluable lessons she has gathered from hosting the podcast.
From the momentous start of this podcast in the challenging year of 2020, Laura's mission has been clear: to bring together the tools, knowledge, and inspiration that athletes need to achieve their greatest goals, both in sports and in life. Through insightful conversations with athletes, coaches, and experts from various disciplines, Laura unveils the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects that fuel champions' journeys. As Laura reflects on her own experiences, you'll discover the wisdom gained from overcoming setbacks, finding new pathways, and redefining one’s identity beyond sports. Her pursuit of gold goes far beyond the physical medals to the pursuit of self-discovery, fulfillment, and resilience.
As you will hear, this 100th episode truly encapsulates the very heart and soul of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, reminding athletes that it's not just about the destination but the incredible journey that transforms them into champions, both on and off the field. Thank you for joining Laura Wilkinson on this epic journey, and here's to the next 100 episodes!
Episode Highlights:
The birth of the Pursuit of Gold podcast
Learning from others
Finding fulfillment in sports and life
The mental game
The pursuit of purpose
Embracing change and growth
Quotes:
"Because as I often say to people, I went to three Olympic games but I only brought home one medal, but it didn't make the other two Olympics failures or regrets or I wish I hadn't gone after it."
"Finding fulfillment in your sport carries a lot of weight outside of your sport, too, outside of the pool or the track or the gym or whatever it is. To find that fulfillment in your sport also helps you feel fulfilled outside of your sport."
"You don't stand up on the podium and become a champion. You have to become a champion in the dark when nobody is watching in those days, weeks, months, years leading up to that moment that you get to stand on top of the podium."
"Gold is a great goal. It is something admirable to work for and to try and achieve. But it's the pursuit that makes you who you are, that makes you incredible."
"You don't get to the top of the podium and suddenly everything changes. You have to change in order to stand on top of that podium. You have to change in the pursuit. It's the pursuit of gold that makes you a champion."
“I want you to grow into the athlete and the person that you want to be. I am your biggest fan.”
“By listening and sharing this show with your friends, you make it possible to continue on and impact so many people. So a huge, heartfelt thank you for listening and for being here and being a ‘Pursuit Peep.’”
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92. Paving Your Own Path with 2x Olympic Skier Tricia Mangan
In this week’s captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes the truly remarkable Tricia Mangan, a trailblazing skier who defied conventional norms to ascend to the pinnacle of her sport. As a two time Olympian, the 2023 US. National champion, six time North American Cup title winner, NCAA All American and All Academic Team member, and recent Dartmouth College Mechanical Engineering graduate, Tricia's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams regardless of challenges encountered. Today’s episode immerses listeners in the multi-faceted world of athletic excellence, exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that empower athletes like Tricia to achieve greatness.
As you will hear, Tricia’s journey to the Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially an alternate, she received a last-minute call to join the Olympic team and faced the whirlwind of preparations. The episode highlights her emotions and experiences during this roller-coaster ride, from the excitement of Olympic swag shopping to dealing with self-imposed pressure and doubt. As you dive into this episode, you will gain invaluable insights into Tricia's underdog mindset, her meteoric rise to becoming a two-time Olympian and 2023 US National champion, and her tireless dedication to inspiring the next generation of athletes to relentlessly pursue their dreams. Throughout their conversation, Tricia and Laura also shed light on the inspiring connection between Tricia and her brother (and guest on The Pursuit of Gold Episode 84), para rower Andrew Mangan. Tricia’s incredible journey, as shared here today, serves as a shining example of relentless commitment and the drive to succeed, reaffirming that even amidst the most formidable challenges, athletes can evolve, learn, and continue to pave their own path in their pursuit of gold.
Episode Highlights:
Insights into the tight-knit Mangan family
Tricia's passion for skiing and soccer
The underdog mindset driving Tricia's journey to success
Balancing student-athlete life at Dartmouth College while chasing skiing dreams
Tricia's triumphant return to the US Ski Team
Her Olympic journey
Valuable lessons on process-oriented goal setting
Finding victories in every experience
The mental aspects of competition, handling pressure, and embracing challenges
Quotes:
"I knew that my path made me an underdog, but it was that very mindset that fueled my passion for always improving on and off the hill."
"My twin brother and I were six when we started ski racing. I just loved it because all of our friends did it, kind of the cool kids at the club did it."
"Growing up, I always knew that there were so many better girls out there, so I truly just focused on myself."
"I've learned the most about myself, and I still feel it's just a never-ending challenge."
"Everyone has their own lived experiences, and there's nothing wrong with feeling bad about a race. Like, you put a ton of work into that."
"I just feel so thankful and grateful for all the support I've received, and the most special moments are definitely for me being able to give back and share my journey."
Links:
The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW
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Connect with Tricia:
79. Making a difference through sport with 3 time Olympian Hugo Inglis
Welcome to an electrifying episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast as Laura sits down with three-time Olympian and esteemed member of the New Zealand Black Sticks hockey team, Hugo Inglis, to discuss his remarkable journey in the pursuit of excellence. One of the world's most revered field hockey players - currently training towards his fourth Olympic Games in Paris 2024 - Hugo is not only a successful, multifaceted athlete, but he has also excelled in the realm of academia, earning an MBA with distinction. Today, he and Laura delve into the depths of the mental game in sports, the arduous journey of a professional athlete, and the power of unwavering dedication.
Together, they peel back the layers of what it takes to excel in the world of elite sports as they review Hugo's humble beginnings on the fields of New Zealand to the grand stage of the Olympic Games to Managing Director of High Impact Athlete. The duo explores the trials and triumphs of a professional athlete, reveal the power of mindfulness in boosting performance and nurturing mental well-being, and share invaluable advice on cultivating mental skills from an early age. As the conversation unfolds, you'll be transported to different corners of the globe, as Hugo shares his experiences of playing field hockey in various countries, the unique challenges and rewards that come with that, and the unyielding determination and unbreakable spirit that propelled him to such greatness. This is an episode you won't want to miss, as Laura and Hugo unearth the keys to pursuing excellence, unveil the secrets of a gold-medal mindset, and take you on a journey that will leave you inspired, motivated, and yearning for more.
Episode Highlights:
The role of mindfulness in enhancing performance and mental well-being
Hugo’s journey to becoming a professional athlete
Maintaining a love for the game and embracing one's strengths
Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and finding joy in the pursuit of excellence
Perfection, personal growth, and recognizing one's progress
Mental well-being and the significance of identity beyond winning or losing
Overcoming challenges
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
Balancing professional team commitments and national team obligations
Hugo’s motivation in pursuing an MBA
High Impact Athletes
Quotes:
"I think it's a really beneficial part of my development, was never quite settling."
"Remember what your best part is, what you bring to the game, whatever sport you're playing, and recognize that and be proud of it and own that and let that be your just kind of magic sauce."
"It's about more than just the medal at the end of the competition... I wanted to find out how great I could be."
"Perfection itself is not truly attainable, but the pursuit of perfection is a good thing when we can recognize that we might never get there."
"Our self-worth or value is not dependent on achieving perfection."
"The surgery and the recovery from the surgery was easy. The hard part was standing still for six months to a year with the recurrent back problems."
"When you have purpose, a purpose-based performance, it's going to drive you far more than if you're doing it out of fear or something else."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Hugo:
78. Faithful, available and teachable with Harlem Globetrotter Melvin Adams
Prepare yourself to step into a world of inspiration and resilience in this captivating episode of the Pursuit of Gold as Laura welcomes former professional basketball player, esteemed member of the Harlem Globetrotters, and true force of determination and triumph, Melvin Adams to the podcast. You are about to be treated to a heroic tale that defies the odds, as Melvin's journey unfolds from a humble upbringing in poverty to the heights of athletic achievement. Today, he and Laura delve into the details of that journey and uncover themes of conquering adversity, unearthing purpose beyond the realm of sports, and igniting a beacon of hope to illuminate the lives of others.
You will undoubtedly be captivated as Melvin shares his extraordinary narrative of rejecting limitations as, against the backdrop of discouraging whispers doubting his potential due to his height, Melvin chose to defy the odds and carve his own path to success. Rising as a two-time NCAA All American Basketball player, he surpassed others’ expectations and emerged as a prominent figure in the basketball world. Yet, his journey did not end there. Melvin discovered an unwavering passion for public speaking, harnessing his experiences to inspire and empower the younger generation. Join Laura and Melvin here today as they explore resilience, purpose, leadership, and the transformative power of sports, inspiring us all to reach our full potential and make a lasting impact on the world around us.
Episode Highlights:
Melvin's challenging upbringing and his use of basketball as an escape
The power of resilience, determination, and overcoming obstacles in Melvin's journey.
Melvin's transition to public speaking
His inspiring message of hope
Discovering identity and purpose beyond sports
Lessons learned about leadership and teamwork
Mentoring and passing the torch
Leading by example, finding personal identity, building relationships, and motivating others
Quotes:
"It does not matter where you start, but how you finish."
"Being a leader is not just being the best athlete. It's about character and setting an example."
"Basketball is just what you do, it's not who you are. And I think for so many athletes, we get caught up in our identity or our value even lies in the results at the end."
"You can speak to people till you're blue in the face, but when they see what you do, that speaks so much louder."
"If you have a gift and you're being pushed up, use your gift to bring other people up and make the world a better place."
"If you say you're going to commit to something, commit to it with your heart, your soul, your body, and your mind."
"The Globetrotters taught me that there was more to the game than just winning and losing."
"Don't just think it's going to be forever a winter blizzard. Even in your winter, you can make snowmen."
"It's not your circumstance, it's what you do with that and how you approach it and your attitude toward it."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Melvin:
65. Getting Uncomfortable with Navy Seal John Doolittle
Today, Laura welcomes John Doolittle, a retired Navy SEAL Captain and currently a certified KAATSU Master Specialist who serves as the Chief Revenue Officer of KAATSU Global. Laura and John open the conversation by talking about John’s swimming background and introduction to the Air Force Academy. Supported by his trusted mentor Mike, John decided to join the BUD/S training and become a Navy SEAL. Although the training was one of the most challenging and hardest periods of his life, it served as a great introduction to Navy life.
From becoming a team player to developing mental toughness, John says this program taught him some of the most valuable lessons in life. He dives deep into the power of trust and how it can be applied in sports, too, not just in the military. He goes on to explain the importance of adopting the ‘never quit’ mindset, highlighting its very powerful and contagious nature. Laura and John also address mental health in sports and the military, pointing out the importance of having strong team support and adequate resources. Finally, John shares an inspiring story about his solo swim across the English Channel to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation. He offers an inspiring conclusion to this extraordinary episode by stressing that you can accomplish anything in life if you do it for a reason greater than yourself.
Episode Highlights:
John’s swimming background and introduction to the Air Force Academy
Going from the Air Force Academy to the Navy
The challenging journey of getting into the BUD/S class
The three phases of BUD/S training
Mental toughness vs. physical toughness
Learning to be a team player
Adopt a ‘never give up’ mentality
The importance of trust in teamwork and relationships
The power of little things
Protecting the homeland after 9/11
Pushing yourself without hitting the breaking point
John’s solo swim across the English Channel to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation
Quotes:
“One of my biggest takeaways from my time in the teams was about relationships based on trust. And you know why - that starts with our parents, but it also starts with mentors.”
“Everyone fails physically pretty quick. That first night, you go to failure on just about everything you do. But the mental piece is so important. And you learn very quickly, that when you thought your body was done, you actually do have more to give.”
“You quickly learn at BUD/S training that if you're trying to do something as an individual, you will fail. There are very few things, even this swimming in BUD/S, you can't do it by yourself. Everybody has a swim buddy. And if the two of you fail, don't make the time, you both failed the swim.”
“Part of the goal with that type of training is to identify those that when they get really uncomfortable, when they get really tired, they end up making decisions that maybe are not the best. And whether or not somebody is going to quit, you want to identify that pretty early on.”
“'Never quit mindset' is very, very powerful and contagious to others on the team.”
“When you're doing something really hard in life, try and find a way to do it for something that's bigger than yourself, it's bigger than you, to do it for a reason greater than yourself and you can do damn near anything.”
Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global
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63. Talking Injuries, Underdogs and Epic Advice with Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson
We’re changing things up this week with a slightly different episode from usual, in which our host, Laura Wilkinson, answers some questions gathered from our Instagram followers. The questions cover topics including starting sports at an older age, dealing with injuries and mental blocks, epic advice that Laura’s received, being an underdog versus a favorite, and having purpose.
Episode Highlights:
How Laura got into diving at an older age
Is it ever too late to start diving and compete?
The best advice Laura’s ever received
Being the underdog vs. the favorite
Moving forward from a loss
Laura’s favorite and least favorite dives
How Laura feels watching her kids play sports
Using injury time as an opportunity
Dealing with mental blocks
Setting goals and having purpose
Quotes:
“I wanted to continue learning and pushing boundaries and trying things, and I just kind of realized it was time to move on. But that dream of the Olympics was still in the back of my mind. I just recognized at that point I needed to find a new sport.”
“I’m not sure if it was ever that I recognized my own potential. I just wanted this thing so badly that I was going to pursue it. Whether it was switching sports or, you know, I was just going to pursue it no matter what. I was going to find a sport that I could go to the Olympics, and I was going to find a way to the Olympic Games.”
“If you are interested in diving and competing at any age, give it a whirl. I think, at the very least, you’re going to try something new, you’re going to learn something, and you’re gonna have a blast.”
“Soak it in. You’re at the Olympics, you’re in your dream, you’re getting to do all these things, just live it up. But when it’s your time to dive, when it’s your time to compete, that’s when you just let all that go. And at that point, you’re just at another diving meet against competitors you’ve competed against so many times, doing dives you’ve done a thousand times, you know exactly what you’re doing.”
“When I was kicked off my high school diving team for being a waste of space, yes, obviously, it still gets under my skin today, but I am so glad I was told that because it lit a fire. And sometimes, we need that kind of fire lit under us.”
“We want adversity, we want obstacles because that’s when we rise to the occasion. So I don’t think being labeled an underdog is a bad thing. I think fighting for something, it gives you that fuel—it’s just such a perfect description—that fuel to push forward and to overcome. Because you want this thing, and you’re fighting for it.”
“It’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to just lose it, and just kind of want to cry or vent or whatever, like, make sure you are allowing yourself to experience that emotion. If you are stuffing it in and trying to avoid the emotion of what happened, it will come out later in a much uglier way.”
“Don’t sit in the grief for, like, forever, you know, but give yourself a few days, a few weeks, whatever the timeline is, a little bit of time to process it. Then begin to create a new game plan and analyze and work on what happened and what is going to come next.”
“My other kids are still kind of figuring out what it is that they’re going to do. One has said she is not an athlete, she is an artist, and I respect that, although she will run sprints with me, and so that’s really cool, maybe one day she’ll go for track. But you know, I love, I love, absolutely love watching them find the thing that lights them up the way that I feel like diving lights me up.”
“Don’t be afraid to get more than one opinion on what your injury is. You know, one doctor doesn’t always have the answers or may not pick up everything, like, it’s okay to get two or three opinions on things to make sure you’re making the right choice.”
“When you have injuries, this is the number one thing I will tell people to do: take care of your injury and then train mentally. Everybody says sports is 90% mental, but no one trains that way. Not one. I can pretty much guarantee you that.”
“When you close your eyes as you start implementing all of your senses, you’re not just seeing it with your eyes, you can actually feel what you’re doing. You’re actually firing muscles, like, from the neurons in your brain, you’re starting to react with the right muscles that are going to be doing all of these skills. You’ll be blown away by what you can do if you do this consistently in that time.”
“A lot of times, the issue is not starting in the pool or in the gym. Sometimes, the issue is starting at home or in your personal life. We have this way of carrying stress and anxiety, and it begins to burden us so badly that it comes out in our sport, looking like mental blocks and things like that, or this ultimate fear that is overwhelming. And it’s actually not coming from your sport.”
“A lot of times, our sport, even if you’re a sprinter, the whole process is a marathon, not a sprint. So have that long-term vision and hang on to that.”
“I’m very, very goal-oriented. And so, even when I’ve done really awesome things, I’ve always wanted more. I’ve always strived for more, like, my whole goal wasn’t… I mean, I wanted to win the Olympics, but I also wanted to find out what I was capable of, how good can I be, how hard of dives can I do and do them really, really well, for like nines and tens.”
“I love training as much as I love competing. Competing is exciting and it’s fun. But the hunt to get there is almost better. Like sometimes, when you get to the meet, you’re like, man, I kind of wish it wasn’t here because I love that process. And that hunt. And that work. There’s just something so fulfilling about that to me.”
“My purpose doesn’t just lie in having goals. And it’s not just in what I’m doing. I know that I have worth and value because God created me, and he told me that. And, you know, for me, diving has always been a beautiful way to feel really connected with God. Because that is a gift I know he gave me, and when I do it with everything that I am, it feels like worship. And it feels beautiful and completely fulfilling to me.”
“I’m still learning how to not just juggle all these things, but how to, you know, shift my priorities to where diving isn’t my number one priority, my family is, and then diving will come after that. And learning that I don’t have to be so intense all the time, but I can actually just fully embrace it and enjoy every step of the way.”
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Links:
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
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52. Unwavering Belief with 2-Time Super Bowl Champ Tory James
With the start of the new football season upon us, the timing is perfect for 2-time Super Bowl champ, Tory James, to join Laura on the podcast. During his 11 season career in the NFL, Tory enjoyed great success with a few different teams, especially the Denver Broncos, and even earned a spot in the 2004 Pro Bowl. Tory’s resilience throughout this extensive career is very much a function of the influence his family had upon him, and, especially, the unwavering belief that he had in himself, and he discusses these factors and so much more here today.
He begins by sharing his early involvement in sports, his shift into football, his mom’s perspective on it, and both those who doubted and believed in his potential. He then goes on to summarize his playing career from high school to college to the NFL, the pivotal injury he suffered and his recovery from it, his ability to use fear to help him, and the source of his impressive longevity in the NFL. He finishes up by sharing the hardest and greatest moments in his career and what he does these days in retirement. Throughout this fascinating conversation, Tory highlights the role that family, gratitude, love of the game, and his unwavering belief played in his success, and his story as told here today will undoubtedly move and inspire all who listen.
Episode Highlights:
· How Tory became involved in sports and football in particular
· Listening to the one coach who believed in him
· His feeling of unwavering belief
· His Mom’s perspective on his playing football
· Tory’s impact on those who doubted him
· His transition for high school to college football
· Getting to the NFL
· The difference between the NFL and college football
· His knee injury and recovery
· Using your fear to help you
· His return from the knee injury
· What makes the NFL so tough
· The source of his longevity in the NFL
· Loving to play
· The important role family plays
· The hardest and greatest moments of his career
· What Tory does in retirement
Quotes:
‘‘It hurts so bad. It hurts still to this day, because I still like basketball over football. But I was always good at football, so I took his advice and I started playing football.”
“So when I'm helping little kids, I tell them, ‘See it in your mind, you do it perfect in your mind over and over again until it becomes you and it becomes natural.’”
“For whatever reason, people put their fears on you, and I just never let it affect me.”
“I think you probably changed their entire outlook on how they saw the world, and I think that's huge.”
“That's, like, the joy when I think about playing football - how it made people feel.”
“The power of just having one person believe in you like that one coach when everybody else is saying ‘No’, it makes a huge difference.”
“It was really hard to mess up in Denver, they just had it down. That's probably one of the most professional teams I've ever played for, and it showed by us winning and everybody loved each other, and everybody helped each other. It was amazing.”
“We're all going to go through stuff, and it's how you handle it that's going to grow you as a person and your character and who you are the rest of your life beyond your sport, too.”
“Fear is feeling excited and ready.”
“Now today, what I do is I'm thankful for everything that happens.”
“Hard work, dedication, drive, and just willing to do what you have to do and just not ever giving up on your goal.”
“I hope everybody else that I'm playing with feels like they're the best because that's the type of players I want to play with.”
“You tell me I can't do it, I'm going to find a way to prove you wrong.”
“You made this choice to enjoy it and to have fun and playing the game the whole time.”
“The reason I'm playing is for family.”
“I learned discipline, hard work, to be honest, from my mom.”
“It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me because I think if I wouldn't have gotten hurt early on, I don't think my body would have held up as long as it did.”
“They always kept me grounded and humble, like, you know, and I kept that with me my whole football career.”
“I wanted to get 10 years and I felt like if I got 10 years and that's like my goal, that's like my gold medal.”
“I love your mental mindset. I love your passion, your gratitude, you're always so thankful for every opportunity, good and bad. I love that you showed us your purpose that's beyond yourself, your unwavering belief in your dreams.”
Show Links
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media:
45. Ministry and competition with our host Laura Wilkinson and Power Up Sports Ministry
Today’s episode is a little different in that Laura is actually a guest on another podcast, and is interviewed by veteran broadcaster, Bill Houston and former LPGA Pro, Tracy Hanson, from the Power Up Sports Ministry, an outreach of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Listeners may remember Tracy as a guest on Episode 20 of Pursuit of Gold where she very vulnerably opened up about recognizing and overcoming abuse. As you will hear, this week’s episode is an extra special one for Laura as she shares so much that is close to her heart, but that she doesn’t always get a chance to discuss in other arenas.
She begins by briefly reviewing her personal and professional lives, and then delves deeply into her spiritual journey, including a moving account of the moment her life changed and she started fully trusting God with it. She also describes how she brings her faith into her competitions, the impact that the Tokyo Games postponement has had upon her and her training, her experience of returning to diving after neck surgery, and how she approaches sharing her faith with others. Laura concludes by offering her perspective on ministering to other athletes, as well as details regarding her wonderful family, and what she has learned about herself in her quest to return to the Olympics. Laura truly loves ‘just being able to be open and honest about Jesus and sports’, and that is precisely what she does today in this enlightening and thoroughly inspiring interview.
Episode Highlights:
· A brief history of Laura’s personal and professional lives
· Laura’s spiritual journey and the moment her life began to change
· Trusting God with her life
· Taking her faith into her competitions
· The impact of the Olympic postponement on Laura
· Returning to diving after her neck surgery
· Sharing her faith with others
· Her perspective on ministering to other athletes
· Laura’s family
· What Laura has learned about herself
Quotes:
“I was told I was a waste of space… fortunately for me, it lit a fire.”
“I had reached out and I kind of realized that I had taken the reins of my life and I'd made a mess of things, but I was reaching back out for God.”
“I just remember thinking that God was saying, “Look, when you trust Me with your life, I have plans for you. I have a purpose for you.”
“You are probably impacting people's lives all over the place and you don't always see the fruit of that. But you've got to know when you're trusting God and you're doing what He's asking you to do, like, waves will be made, seeds will be planted, you know, and the harvest will come.”
“I was much better at staying in the moment because of Him, because I was focused on Him.”
“God always gives you these challenges that you're like, ‘No, I don't want to go through this’, but he uses those to equip us in ways that we can't even fathom to help us for something bigger that’s coming ahead.”
“You have to be able to meet people where they are and talk to them where they're at.”
“I think for athletes just constantly, constantly reminding them that, like, you are not the sum total of your score or your place at the end of the competition. Like, you are far more valuable than that. And if you get injured and you can't go on tomorrow, you still have value and purpose and you were created for that purpose.”
“I've gotten really good at juggling, and I have an amazing husband who is very supportive. Without him, I mean, honestly, none of this would have happened.”
“The older I get, the more I realize I don't know.”
“Having kids, they kind of make you really not eat your words, but live up to your words.”
“I think athletes and sports ministry leaders alike can learn from what you're putting out there with the guests that you're having.”
Links:
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Power Up:
44. How to start taking action on your biggest goals with our host Laura Wilkinson
The inspiration for today’s episode can be found in a team meeting that Laura’s coaches called recently. The meeting was all about goals, and included an exercise where each member shared their own goals with the others. Even with her years of experience, Laura still found this a little uncomfortable and even a bit intimidating, but also incredibly powerful and beneficial for herself and her teammates, and definitely important enough to share with listeners today.
She starts this solo episode by highlighting the need to set big goals, and the value of writing down and sharing them. She recounts the role that healthy competitiveness plays in making teammates better, emphasizes the importance of being specific about goals, creating a plan involving both short and long term goals, and explaining the difference between goals and expectations. She finishes up by looking at the importance of having and knowing your ‘why’ and by reviewing today’s main takeaways for listeners. Blessed with wisdom gained through experience and reflection, Laura expands upon a key coaching strategy for elite athletes and eloquently translates it for athletes and non-athletes alike in this relatively brief but hugely impactful episode.
Episode Highlights:
· Setting a goal out of your reach
· Writing down and sharing your goals
· Employing healthy competitiveness to get better
· Being specific with goals and creating a plan to get there
· Setting short and long term goals
· The difference between goals and expectations
· Avoiding the ‘expectation trap’
· The importance of your ‘why’
· Takeaways from today
Quotes:
“If you’re setting a goal that you know you can already achieve, it’s not a goal.”
“If you share it with someone, you are 77% more likely to accomplish it.”
“It’s now real because somebody else knows about it, and they can hold you accountable in a number of different ways.”
“The better your teammate’s getting, that’s just going to push you to get better.”
“It’s important to recognize that expectations tend to have very emotional roots and responses.”
“At some point you’re not going to be able to keep up with that growing expectation because it’s not a tangible result.”
“When you have purpose, you can become capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.”
“You’ve got to start acting like you are the person who is going to achieve that goal.”
“I grew as a person. I grew as an athlete.”
“You are capable of doing great things.”
Links:
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media: