Spreading Olympic success.

• Author: Anderson, Shawn
• Position: SPORTS SCENE

CHEERING for a favorite Olympian to succeed or feeling the intense emotion of witnessing an underdog step onto the medal stand certainly made for energizing television viewing last month, but there is much more than just a night of inspiration that can be gained by watching these success-driven athletes. An Olympic athlete is one of the best examples of what can happen when a person stays dedicated to a mission. Much more than heart-pumping entertainment, the just-completed Winter Olympics--all Olympics for that matter--offer a number of life-changing reminders that can empower us to create more of what we want for ourselves.

Here are some secrets to success that Olympians possess, and we can embrace them in order to achieve our own personal goals:

Olympians have unstoppable purpose. They know what they want, and they are passionate in their pursuit of going after it. Injury might sideline them occasionally and a bad performance might spark negative comments, but nothing hijacks the ultimate goal. The late three-time Gold medal track star Florence Griffith Joyner used to say, "When anyone tells me I can't do anything, I'm just not listening anymore."

Olympians make every day count. They recognize that time is limited, and they are disciplined in working as hard as they can each day. Many athletes plan their training schedule up to four years in advance to make sure they reach specific performance goals.

Olympians do not make excuses. They focus on reasons why they "can" and not why they "cannot." Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn did not let the excuse of age stop him from winning Olympic Gold at the age of 60. Even at 72, Oscar competed in the 1920 Olympics.

Olympians link up with others. They connect with the best coaches in order to excel. The U.S.'s Gabby Douglas left the security of home for two years to train with one of the best gymnastic coaches in the world--and ended up with two Gold medals.

Olympians grow "good" from "bad." They know that they have a choice in how to respond to every event or occurrence. At age four, Wilma Rudolph was...