Jillian Swift’s Post

Let's change "It's not about winning, it's about trying" to "I'm happy to compete!". ⛸ Fairplay in sports is one of the most important things, it allows you to empathize with your opponents and in defeat show grace, but that doesn't mean you don't learn from it. As a teenager, I was a roller skating champion in my hometown for two years in a row and 10th at the National level. I've always disliked the "it's about trying" motto because even though I knew where it came from, from an expectation management sort of place, I wholeheartedly disagree with what it taught kids my age. Competing taught me resilience, discipline, and the power of learning from every outcome. 🎖 Fast forward to today, and as a marketing professional, I find that same thrill in the competition of the business world. Whether it’s pitching a new idea or going up against a tough competitor, the challenge drives me to always look for the unexpected and be prepared. Just like in skating, it’s not about always winning — it’s about embracing the journey, learning from every experience, and coming back stronger. Competing isn’t just about victory. It’s about growth, innovation, and constantly pushing the limits. And for me, that's where the real excitement lies. 🏆 #dacaramba #lessons #competition #marketingconsultancy #growth

Stephen Nedoroscik... what a story. Stephen is an event specialist. He has focused his gymnastics career on being the best on pommel horse. Yesterday he was the last US athlete to compete on the final rotation. Not only did he perform a routine with insane difficulty, he secured the first team medal in men's gymnastics in 16 years. During the rest of the competition, he was cheering for his teammates, getting them water, and countless high-fives - truly focused on the team. In the marketing world, people are often "swiss-army knives" or jack-of-all-trades. Learning to do it all but really specializing or excelling at none. Marketing teams can benefit from have several Stephen's on their team in many ways. It can help avoid burnout by allowing employees to focus on what energizes them. Leveraging expertise and efficiency creates more effective work and increased performance. Specialization encourages collaboration and leveraging different skills that complement each other, and leads to better outcomes. Don't be afraid to be a Stephen. #marketingspecialization #teamusa #olympics

For reflection during this Olympic season, where many extraordinary athletes compete for a gold medal, they have battled and are battling for this unique moment in an athlete's life. Run to Win Have you ever trained hard to compete in something you really wanted to win? You probably have a goal when working hard to win: status, fame, validation of your hard work, a sense of accomplishment, even a trophy or medal. There’s a prize at the end. The harder the road, the bigger the prize may feel. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” Paul had his eyes fixed on the end goal: an eternity with Jesus and an eternal crown of reward for the life he lived on earth! Have you ever started in on a new challenge, only to bail quickly once things became difficult? Think about that time and ask yourself, did you have a clear picture of what waited for you at the finish line? How does knowing an eternal reward waits for you at the finish line of this life encourage you to give this race everything you’ve got? It’s incredible to witness the intense training athletes endure and the sacrifices they make when their aim is to win. How much more so can the eternal value of the race we run as believers motivate us? When it feels like living a life of faith is too hard, ask yourself, “What’s the prize?” Like Paul, let it fuel you to RUN.

🔹I often get asked how I can help athletes improve performance, but performance issues are rarely isolated concerns. 🔹Coaches: are you aware of your team’s culture? Do you know who gets along and who doesn’t? How do you navigate conflicts within your team? It’s amazing to me how many coaches I meet with that are unaware of the reality of their team culture outside of performance. 🔹Athletes: how are you navigating, avoiding, or contributing to team culture between athletes and coaches? How are you navigating, avoiding, or contributing to your relationships outside of your sport? 🔹Mental fortitude is applicable to everyone in and out of sport. If you’re not working on developing this outside of performance, you won’t be as strong in performance. When it becomes second nature to implement different skills and ways of being, then it will truly translate into sport. #mentalfortitude #mental #strength #mma #combatsports #football #olympics #gymnastics #swimming #trackandfield #rugby

𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 In the world of competitive speed skating, Kjeld Nuis exemplifies the potential of embracing change and achieving success. By stepping beyond tried-and-true methods and re-evaluating techniques once considered flawless, Nuis redefines what it means to be fast; earning him the title of the fastest human on skates. This mindset of challenging the "known" and chasing improvement is captured in this Red Bull video, which not only showcases Nuis’s remarkable journey but also serves as a powerful reminder for us all. To stay ahead, we must consistently challenge our assumptions, experiment boldly, and take calculated risks. The future belongs to those who innovate and adapt, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙤. If doggedly stick to the same approach, you risk stagnation. Commit to being a pioneer. Step forward, challenge the familiar, and embrace the new possibilities that lie ahead. Be the leader who drives the future, or you'll be the one trying to catch up. #presales #sales #consulting #customerexperience #mentoring https://lnkd.in/gNrDJYYn

“I’m gutted it didn’t go the way I had hoped” The last week has seen alot of posts congratulating Olympic medalists and performances, rightly so. This post however, is celebrating the strength of character of Max Whitlock sharing his disappointment on his performance tonight. He is a true competitor, his record says it all, but tonight he wasn’t good enough. He didn’t give any excuses about age, or personal commitments or just saying “Getting here was the victory” He just sat in the grief, knowing he would rather feel this pain than know he had quit. "I think giving yourself a good shot, giving yourself the opportunity to go forward rather than quitting out of fear of failure.” I also have to say well done to Nile Wilson Gymnastics for not trying to make him feel better with falsities and just allowing him express his feelings. It’s a lesson to us all, that as high performers we want to win everything, that’s what makes us who we are. Sometimes though, we don’t. We have to lick our wounds and move on, learning from the experience. I would argue, the way Max Whitlock has conducted himself here, is more inspiring than him winning just another medal to add to his already incredible resumé. My question to you on this Saturday evening is, are there challenges burning inside you that you shying away from because you are scared of failing? If there are and you support to just go for it, send me a DM. #olympics #Gymnastics #fearoffailure #highperformance #leadership

I was glued to the track & field Olympics this weekend 🏅 🏃♀️ As a former athlete & runner, there's something about running that is so raw, powerful and inspiring to me. But while watching the 100M men's finals, the strength and physical power of these incredible athletes wasn't what struck me the most. What struck me the most was Noah Lyles's (the gold medal winner from the US) attitude, conviction and confidence. His entrance alone leading up the 100M final yesterday said it all as he riled up the stadium with a tarzan-like show 💪 He's been slammed by the track & field community for being arrogant, sometimes trash-talking his fellow competitors. But I think Noah Lyles is teaching us what it means to be a winner. Being a winner starts in your mind. No one can question that Noah didn't just believe he was going to win, he KNEW it. 👊 The majority of us will never compete at the Olympic level, but that doesn't matter. Your life is your own personal olympics every day. And if our thoughts drive our beliefs which drive our behaviors, then why aren't we choosing to walk around believing (KNOWING) that we are going to win whatever race we're running? Believing you will win is a prerequisite to winning. 🥇 Dare to dream. If you don't dream you'll become a prisoner of your past. Define such a compelling vision for your future that you can't NOT take steps toward it. 🥈 Visualize your dream until you FEEL it. Close your eyes, picture yourself "already there." What does it look / feel like? 🥉 Take the next step. Dreams are built one rep at a time. Hold that vision close and go lay your next brick. 🏃♂️ Noah Lyles, now the fastest man in the world, won because he BELIEVED with deep conviction that he would win. So I ask you: What are YOU believing today? What's good for Humans is good for business ❤️ #noahlyles #daretodream #mindset

Some of the best life lessons come from the journey to success rather than the success itself. Stephen Nedoroscik's path to Olympic bronze is a testament to this idea. His triumph wasn’t just about mastering the pommel horse; it was about embracing setbacks, sharpening his focus, and redefining his limits. Stephen's final performance, which clinched the medal, is the culmination of several boundaries he has pushed along the way. In the high-pressure world of gymnastics, his journey offers a wealth of business lessons. His success stems from intense specialization and unwavering focus, reminding us that deep expertise can drive breakthrough results. Despite past failures, he redirected his energy toward continuous improvement—illustrating the power of resilience in overcoming setbacks. Finally, his ability to perform under pressure, despite visual challenges, underscores the importance of adaptability and mental strength in achieving excellence. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐? If this message resonates with you, then follow me at 👉 https://lnkd.in/g5auf9kv #talentmanagement #womeninleadership #marketing https://lnkd.in/gGRRKY3i

🎉 Celebrating Team USA’s Victory: Leadership Lessons from the Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team! 🎉 Today, Team USA’s Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team clinched the gold with a stellar performance, and there are valuable leadership lessons we can all take from their success: 🔹 Playing to Their Strengths: While stars like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles competed in all categories, others like Suni Lee focused on their strongest events. By knowing and leveraging their unique strengths, each team member contributed to the overall success. 🔹 Strategic Planning: Understanding the collective power of their team, they didn’t need to perform the most challenging routines. The strength of the team carried them to victory, proving that knowing when to conserve energy and when to go all out is crucial. 🔹 Team Over Individual: The team was highly strategic in leveraging their strengths to secure enough points for the gold. They knew it was a team competition and worked together, making tactical decisions for the best outcome. 🔹 Unified Celebration: The victory was a true team effort. Every member’s strengths were equally valued and celebrated, creating an incredible sense of unity and shared achievement. At A.Leigh Solutions we understand the importance of knowing and leveraging strengths within a team. This is why we utilize tools like CliftonStrengths and the The Six Types of Working Genius , helping leaders and teams recognize and understand their strengths to achieve their best. Congratulations to Team USA for exemplifying what it means to be a strong and cohesive team! 🏅 #TeamUSA #LeadershipLessons #Teamwork #Strengths

Olympic Coaching Post 5 - Make Sure You're Asking the Right Questions. Olympics Reviews....How to review the actual performances of athletes, coaches and teams at a major event. Fans count gold medals. Administrators count medals. Coaches count EVERYTHING.....i.e. everything that matters. For example: If swimming or athletics.... Fans - How many Gold medals did we win? Administrators - How many Medals did we win? Coaches....everything...including: Who achieved their own personal best time at the 'Games? Who went faster or slower when comparing their national selection trials to the 'Games? How many national records did we equal or break? Who qualified for semi finals / finals? Who improved their performance through the rounds - i.e. went better heats to semi-finals, semi-finals to final. Who improved compared to their last major international event? Who improved compared to the previous Olympics (if applicable?) How did we perform relative to the performances of other athletes / teams? How did we perform relative to our own world ranking as a team and as individual athletes? How did we improve by event / by gender / by distance / by age / by coach / by program / by region? And... A million other things. Ask the right questions to get the right answers! #waynegoldsmith #wgcoaching #coaching #performancereview #olympics #olympicgames