The 2024 Olympics were packed with both glorious and entertaining performances but Cole Hocker's magnificent win really stood out for me ๐ฅ ๐
Cole was considered an underdog in the menโs 1500m race going against high-profile competitors such as Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr. His moment of victory came when he made his move on the final turn of the race, capturing Olympic gold with a record time of 3:27.65.
Both the crowd and his competitors were stunned (and, frankly, I think so was Cole!)
The story
In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, most of the attention in the 1500m was focused on Ingebrigtsen, the reigning Olympic champion, and Josh Kerr, the reigning world champion. Hocker, by contrast, was seen as an outsider, someone who might make the final but not necessarily contend for a medal, let alone win gold.
But, Hocker's strategy was a masterclass in tactical racing. He stayed with the lead pack throughout the race, conserving energy for a final push. Unlike his competitors, who might have been preoccupied with each other, Hocker focused on positioning himself perfectly for a late surge.
A valuable lesson on resilience, humility and seizing the moment.
Mindset wins every race: with the odds stacked against him, Cole could have easily allowed his negativity bias and defeatism take over. Instead, he focused on (quite literally) putting one foot in front of the other and maintained his mental fortitude.
Focus on personal #performance, not external expectations: no matter what the competitive landscape looks like for you, your personal growth must aim at individual #goals and milestones. Your biggest competitor is yourself. Instead of trying to overpower everyone else, focus on becoming better than your previous version.
Strike while the iron is hot: strategy has a lot to do with being ready to grab opportunities when they knock on your door. High performers are able to stay alert, act decisively and take well-calculated risks in critical moments that define their #success.
. . .
๐ It's very likely that you will feel like the underdog in your career race at some point. You might think that the odds are stacked against you and you have lost your power or control over your desired outcome. But, if there is one take-away from Cole's story, it's that #mindset + timing = success.
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