5 Words Olympians Never Say

Every two years I get to take a three week break from my daily role 

as CEO of Integrate to enjoy something near and dear in my heart. The Olympics. 

This is my sixth, two competing for the USA as a World Champion Skier and the last four working for NBC as the Athlete Village Correspondent. 

I was raised by two parents who both have a healthy disregard for the impossible and was taught at a young age not to use words like "can't."

With Rio 2016 well underway, I have found it fascinating to observe the correlation between entrepreneurial grit and the mindset of athletes in the Olympic Village. 

Since the Beijing Games in 2008, researchers within the genre of the psychology of success have been analyzing the positive daily language patterns of Olympians, Paralympians, Special Olympians, World Championships and National Football Teams. 

I was curious to understand more about the universal themes uncovered. It’s a given that extreme performers of any kind, whether in the arenas of Brazil or Board Rooms across the United States have highly tweaked mental attitudes.

Nowadays, sporting speech patterns are heavily monitored. Plus, the collective eyes of the nation are focused on over 11,000 athletes from 205 countries here at the Olympics. 

The competitors all have similar unifying speech factors, regardless of what language they speak.

Here are the five words that Olympians have learned to eliminate from their vocabularies:

1. Fail.

This has significant meaning, especially in the wake of the very public clamp down on doping and the repercussions unleashed on Team Russia. 

Since 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA has issued what can only be described as an athlete type bible where the prohibited substances list is updated annually. 

The index applies whether competitors are in or out of competition. Failure is, quite literally, not an option.

Related: How to Wake Up at 4 a.m. and Be Successful

2. Fear.

It is a word that is stripped from athletes terminology very early on by parents and coaches. 

It’s natural for athletes to feel heightened levels of anxiety and trepidation and that can prove to be a good thing. 

But professional athletes must learn how to use fear in constructive ways through mental conditioning.

Related: Ones to Watch: 12 Athletes Show Us How It's Done on Social

3. Impossible.

Once the starting gun is fired, any agitation disappears and unconscious competence honed from years of dedicated and meticulous preparation kicks in. 

Many athletes describe seeing their many years of preparation flash before their eyes as the intensity of live competition takes over. 

An army of emotions is calmed as the body and mind surrender to the task at hand that they have tirelessly prepared for. 

Olympians don’t have a defeatist attitude despite ensuring years of what the rest of the world may describe as the unimaginable pain of perfection in the pursuit of one of three pieces of metal attached to the Rio Olympic ribbons.

4. Lose.

Olympic athletes learn early on that during defeat, you only lose if you fail to learn. 

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team three times but never lost his passion to become the best basketball player in history. 

In 1923, Babe Ruth broke the record for most home runs in a season. That same year he also struck out more times than any other player in Major League Baseball. 

Swinging for the fences means learning how to constructively deal with the inevitable strikeouts while using those moments of adversity to refine the compass that guides us towards our ultimate goal.

Related: 5 Things I Learned Obsessing Over Elon Musk During My Internship

5. Quit.

Olympians always have more in the tank to give and drive them forward.

No matter how difficult or excruciating a toll will be taken on the bodies of athletes in the coming weeks, this collective unit will not give up. 

Quitting is simply not in their DNA. You will see athletes of the Rio Games outperform and underperform expectations but what you won't see is an athlete quit.


There have been global concerns over the Zika virus coupled with the massive cost of staging the games and the inevitable high number of empty seats that will be seen on camera between now and the Closing Ceremony on August 22nd. 

Costing $4.58 billion to stage, Rio 2016 came in at 51 percent over budget. 

In spite of every challenge, this month we have an opportunity to perk up our ears and really listen to what Olympians are saying and use what we learn in our everyday interactions in the world of business

Thank you to Entrepreneur for this article.

As always I wish you success in all you do.

Malcolm

PS Please leave a comment below.

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The Art of Being Interesting

“Be interesting.”  

It’s good advice, but it’s nothing new. You’ve probably known from the beginning that being able to interest readers is a crucial part of growing a popular blog.

It’s pretty obvious that no one is going to stick around unless they find your blog interesting.

But how are you supposed to do it exactly? How can you “be interesting?”

Far too much of what we write about attention and interest is abstract. We talk about differentiation, value, and triggers — all useful concepts, but you can’t point to them.

You can’t hold out your hand and say, “Give me some differentiation.” As a result, it’s hard to wrap your mind around what those things actually mean.

I’d like to change that. Right now.

Far too much of what we write about attention and interest is abstract. We talk about differentiation, value, and triggers — all useful concepts, but you can’t point to them.

You can’t hold out your hand and say, “Give me some differentiation.” As a result, it’s hard to wrap your mind around what those things actually mean.

I’d like to change that. Right now.

I’ve been paying attention to the things that command attention, both of myself and others, and I’ve made a list of 21 techniques that work. This list is far from all of them I’m sure, but it should be enough to get you started …

1. Be wrong

The world is full of people trying to do the right things. It’s become so common that many of us are bored by it. We long for someone that’s willing to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, be the wrong thing. If you have the courage to be that person, you’ll find lots of people paying attention to you.

2. Be right

You can also gain attention by being right … but only if you’re more right than everyone else. Run a mile faster than anyone else, explain your topic more clearly than anyone else, be funnier than everyone else. Embody perfection, and people will take notice.

3. Communicate what others can’t

As writers, we take ideas from our heads and put them on the page. Sometimes we forget how difficult that is for some people and how valuable that makes us. Lots of people would give anything to be able to say what they mean. But they can’t. So, they turn to songs, books, and art that communicate for them. Be a producer of those things, and you’ll never lose their attention.

4. Do something

Everybody online is trying to say something important, but very few are trying to do something important. If you want attention, dare not to just give advice to others, but to live that advice yourself. Then publish it to the open web.

5. Surprise people

Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick, say that one of the best ways to set yourself apart is to break people’s “guessing machines.” Take a surprising position, making outlandish analogy, or otherwise do the opposite of what you normally do. As long as it’s unexpected, people will stop and pay attention.

6. Make people laugh

Bloggers are far too serious. We’re so busy teaching that we sometimes forget to entertain. As a result, large portions of our readerships fall asleep. And what’s the best way to wake people up? Humor. Public speakers have been using it for ages, and as long as it’s appropriate for your audience, humor can wake your readers up and get them paying attention again.

7. Offer them an aspirin

Some of the best blog posts ever written are simple as an aspirin. Your reader has a headache, you have a cure, so you offer them that cure in the form of a blog post. They pay attention … not because of how pretty or well crafted your blog post is, but because it cures their headache. Conclusion: try acting like a pharmacist, not a blogger, and you’ll never lack for attention.

8. Show a (half) naked woman

Ever noticed that a disproportionate number of advertisements feature a scantily clad woman? That’s because it works. It draws the attention of not only men (as you’d expect), but also women. For whatever reason, nearly everyone finds their attention drawn to it. Here’s proof that it even works with blog posts.

9. Tell them who they are

“Who am I?” is not just a question; it’s a universal quest that most of us follow for our entire lives, continually defining and redefining ourselves, always insecure about whether who we are being is really us. As a blogger, you can (and should) harness that insecurity. Turn your blog into something that defines your readers.

10. Predict the future

Every once in awhile, use your expertise to make a bizarre claim about the future. If you have any authority at all, people will take notice. Imagine if Brian or Sonia wrote a convincing, well reasoned argument that online courses are the business model of the future. Oh wait… they did, and some of the biggest names in online marketing continue to talk about it.

11. Unleash your inner dork

Many blog posts are like miniature textbooks; they’re instructive, well-organized, and put you to sleep with their lack of enthusiasm. If you want to become famous on the web, stop trying to sound like an all-knowing teacher and unleash the “inner dork” inside of you — the part of you that’s so enamored with your topic that everyone else thinks it’s funny … but they pay attention anyway. More on dorkyness here.

12. Be courageous

The fact is, pretty much everyone has felt the foot of adversity on their neck, but very few of us respond to it with courage and grace. Be one of those people, and you’ll find the world will be watching.

13. Be startlingly honest

Every once in awhile, tell the truth. Be so honest that you’re scared to click the “Post” button. Be so honest that no one knows what to say in the comments section. Be so honest that your lawyer tells you to stop. You’ll feel better … and people will talk about you.

14. Be irreverent

Want to stir people up? Make fun of their god, their politics, their family — anything they hold dear. Yes, they’ll be offended, but lots of other people will think it’s hilarious. If you can’t stomach being hated by a portion of the world and loved by another, then you don’t deserve to have a blog.

15. Tell a good story

This one has been drilled into us so many times that I almost didn’t include it … except for one thing: people still don’t get it. Yes, stories support your points, make solid openers, and teach people while entertaining them, but a good story can make you a legend. I’m not talking about the little anecdotes that pepper the blogosphere. I’m talking about the story that haunts you on your deathbed. Forget about all the others. Tell me that one.

16. Break an important piece of news

Every time Google does something new, thousands of bloggers write about it. That’s great for Google, but where’s the real benefit for the bloggers? The first one to break the story is the only one that matters. It gets all of the traffic, links, and authority. Everyone else is just an echo.

17. Disprove the proven

For a long time, everyone thought you had to be the best to be successful. Then Chris Anderson came along and turned the world upside down with The Long Tail. He disproved what a lot of people held to be true, and it made him (even more) famous. Granted, it’s hard to engineer a breakthrough, but if you run across one, people will talk about you for years.

18. Pick the perfect picture

Want to make a good post better? Pick a picture that expresses exactly what you mean, and put it at the top of your post. Yes, it takes time, but the extra traffic is more than worth it.

19. Master the metaphor

Metaphors are the paths we create to lead our readers to our ideas. Create one strong enough, and it will become a highway of attention, leading readers to your blog more quickly than any other technique here (except maybe the last one. More on metaphors here.

20. Create a work of art

Many bloggers crank out posts the way slaughterhouses crank out chickens. They’re ugly things, fit for nothing but consumption. If you want to surprise people, stop and put some actual effort into your blog posts, creating a work of art. You’ll be surprised by how many people remember it long after it’s been swept off your front page.

21. Put your readers first

Yes, you’re the blogger. Yes, you’re the one with talent. Yes, you’re the one working your tail off. But it doesn’t matter. The one and only thing of consequence is your reader. You can rail against this fact for as long as you like, but as long you do, you’ll never be interesting.

Thank you to Copyblogger for this article.

As always I wish you success in all you do.

Malcolm

PS If you have anything to add, please leave a comment below.

Are you looking to make more money?

Want to find out more? 

What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Filmmakers and Their Craft

                                                                       Image credit: Shutterstock.com

As an entrepreneur in the throes of building a company, 

I always find myself looking for inspiration 

in terms of what it takes to do that successfully. 

So when I was invited to sit down with both established and emerging filmmakers at the Sonoma International Film Festival this past spring, 

I couldn’t have been more excited to pick their brains about their craft.

From my conversations with Hollywood veteran Bob Yari 

(producer of films like Crash, The Illusionist and Hostage) to emerging 

filmmaker Laura Sheehy (Chasing the Win), 

I quickly learned that many aspects of bringing a film to life are synonymous 

with building a company: pulling together a stellar team, 

committing to the vision, working within a budget (often limited) 

and ultimately learning from your failures in order to create 

something truly unique and often groundbreaking.

Related: What Filmmakers Can Teach Entrepreneurs

Ultimately, great filmmakers and entrepreneurs possess a number of the same qualities. 

Here are a few things I gleaned from these fascinating conversations.

1. Success takes time.

"Hollywood," actor Kevin Hart told Oprah in an interview, 

"has a way of making everything seem like an overnight success.” 

The same could be said for Silicon Valley. 

But anyone who has built a company and seen it succeed

knows it takes more than a few toddler years to “make it” to a comfortable, 

if not yet profitable, place. Same goes for films.

Director/producer Chris Million’s documentary film Jack London: 20th Century Man 

took 10 years to complete, although he’d begun researching the subject years before. 

He shared, “The average time to complete an independent documentary these days is about seven years, unless it’s a topical story that needs to get out there quickly.”

Film directors Chris Ghelfi and Laura Sheehy spent six years producing 

and polishing the film Chasing the Win, a documentary about an imperfect racehorse, 

its owner and a rookie trainer who collectively took a surprising win 

at the Dubai World Cup.

The message: With both entrepreneurship and film production, 

you’re looking at least half a decade of work (if you’re lucky).

2. Major problem-solving skills are a must.  

Yari Film Group’s Papa Hemingway in Cuba recounts the story 

of a young journalist who travels to Havana, Cuba, 

during the Cuban Revolution to meet his writing idol, Ernest Hemingway. 

Though the film won several awards, including Best Narrative Film, 

at Key West Film Festival, and Best World Feature at Sonoma International Film Festival, 

those honors didn’t come without a fight and a lot of work.

Yari Film Group producer Amanda Harvey shared a few challenges 

she and Bob Yari faced when filming in Cuba: 

“Producers are problem-solvers," she said.

 "As a producer in America, you have everything at your fingertips. Make a call, send an email and anything can be fixed in 10 minutes".

"In Cuba there is no such concept. Once you walk out of your hotel, 

you have no Internet or cell phone reception. 

You are completely disconnected. You learn to find solutions within your bubble

and make effective choices based on the resources in front of you. 

The Cuban crew taught me how to be effective, with limited resources.”

The message: Whether you’re an entrepreneur working to solve customer problems or a film producer making an outdoor scene work in the rain, it’s all about putting out fires as you go.

Related: These 3 Organizations Are Working to Boost Female Entrepreneurs

3. Perseverance and persistence are crucial.

Setbacks in business are inevitable, 

but those who exhibit the ability to persevere and persistently 

get back up to bat are the ones that cross the finish line (whatever that means to you).

“There are many times during independent film production when others suggest you tell the story in a different way," said Million, the director/producer. 

"Funders will question your approach and refuse to fund you; collaborators will disagree or drop out of the project; and that editor you had your heart set on may not ‘get’ the project."

"You have to keep going, believe in your idea, and recognize that these setbacks are experienced by everyone in the industry.” .

Added Harvey, the producer: “Never take ‘no’ for an answer. Giving up is not an option.”

The message: Entrepreneurs, does Harvey's advice sound familiar?

4. Flexibility keeps the ship afloat.

In business and filmmaking alike, there’s always a level of uncertainty; 

Where will your next round of funding come from? 

If your new editor or marketing director doesn’t work out, what then? 

Commented Ghelfi, the director: “In documentary filmmaking you have to be open to uncertainty. There will be so many things that are out of your control. 

If you are able to accept this, or even better -- get excited by this -- that excitement will be evident in the final product.”

Million echoed that thought. “There will be times when you have to change your plan 

in order to improve your film and its chances in the marketplace," he said. 

"It doesn’t mean compromising your artistic vision, but rather recognizing 

that your approach may not fit your budget or audience(s) as time goes on."

5. Audience is everything.

For entrepreneurs and business owners, customer data informs how brands 

interact with them at every touchpoint along their journeys. 

In filmmaking, obviously, audience is just as important.

Said Million: “With independent film today, it’s all about finding your audience. 

I’ve learned that you have to figure out who your core audience is for every film, 

so you can embrace them and market to them. 

This is more critical than ever in this day of multiple-viewing platforms and narrowcasting."

He added: "It’s important to find those audiences early on in the process 

because they can help you spread the word, gain funding and get potential viewers 

before the film is complete, whether through crowdfunding, social media, etc.”

6. Collaboration is key.

Two heads are clearly better than one. And whether you’re building a company 

or producing a film, a whole group of heads is needed. 

As Million said, “It’s virtually impossible to do it alone. 

You need to identify good people to work with, who share your vision and commitment 

to the project. They may not have the exact same working style as you, 

but as long as they’re good at what they do and are dedicated to your 

shared artistic vision, they can help your film.”

This goes for everyone from the actors to the set designer. 

Ultimately, those involved have to be fully invested in creating a stellar "product" 

and collaborating with the entire team. 

You know what they say about one bad apple? 

Needless to say, it's a universal truth.

Ghelfi commented: “I learned that collaboration is a gift. 

If you find someone with whom you have chemistry, take advantage of that. 

It's like having four-wheel drive. 

You may not need it all the time, but when you get stuck in the mud, 

you'll be so glad you have it.”

Final thoughts

The road to success can be full of potholes, which is exactly why 

not everyone takes the risk of entrepreneurship -- or filmmaking. 

But those who do pursue these aims do so because 

not doing it just isn’t an option. 

Not succeeding is not an option.

Related: Steven Spielberg Commencement Speech, Harvard University, May 2016 (Transcript)

As Harvey put it, “Most people equate success with how much money 

your business or film makes. 

I think 'success' means trying your hardest 

and grabbing opportunity when you see it.”

Thank you to Entrepreneur for this article.

As always I wish you success in all you do.

Malcolm

PS If you have anything to add from your own experience, 

please leave a comment below.

Are you looking to make more money?

Want to find out more? 

Muhammad Ali's Greatest Quotes of All Time

                                         Image credit: Harry Benson I Getty Images

Muhammad Ali didn’t just float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, 

he also lost 3 and a half prime years of his career 

while fighting the draft as doggedly as he did Sonny Liston. 

He controversially converted to Islam at a time when most 

Americans didn’t even know what that was (but they knew they didn’t like it)

and even raised the roof by way of talking a suicidal jumper off of one.

The man did a lot. With his fists and with his mouth. 

Born as Cassius Clay, his mesmerizing ability to fight 

with wars with his words could best be described 

as flow years before hip hop was even a thing. 

And his talent was so titanic that, well, Titanic up and 

plagiarized the self-described “king of the world”.  

Hell, the real life super hero even negotiated 

the release of American hostages in Iraq!

RELATED: 7 Lesson from the Boxing Ring

Last night Ali passed away due to respiratory issues, 

surrounded by family at a Phoenix area hospital, 

at the age of 74. 

Here are some of the most memorable words spoken 

and shouted by this incredible fighter and activist. 

RIP, GOAT.

 

On Achieving Greatness

“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.”

On Aging

“A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

RELATED: 15 Motivational Quotes from Legends in Sports

 

On Fortitude

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

On Preparation

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it—then I can achieve it.”

On Golf

"I'm the best. I just haven't played yet."

On Regret

"Turning my back on Malcolm X was one of the mistakes I regret most in my life. 

I wish I'd been able to tell Malcolm I was sorry."

On Race

“The Nation Of Islam taught that white people are devils. 

I don’t believe that now; in fact, I never really believed that.”

On Being Humble

“At home I am a nice guy: but I don’t want the world to know. 

Humble people, I’ve found, don’t get very far.”

On His Achievements

“I’ve wrestled with alligators; I’ve tussled with a whale; 

I done handcuffed lightning; and throw thunder in jail.”

On Victory

“The will must be stronger than the skill.”

On Payback

“You kill my dog, you better hide your cat."

On Dreams

"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.”

Thank you to Entrepreneur for the original article.

As always I wish you success in all you do.

Malcolm

PS Please leave any comment below.

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