Week 244
Positive post Sunday, October 24, 2021- Week 244.
I’m so blessed to be a part of a leadership team at SoCalGas, an innovative company that values and embraces diversity and leads change. In our effort to inform and educate our employees, we’ve created an “Agents of Change” interview series featuring interviews with extraordinary guests who influence, inspire, and empower our communities.
On Friday, October 8th we were honored to have Olympic champion Allyson Felix as our guest in a virtual setting. Allyson is a true Agent of Change. She is not only a very successful athlete, but more importantly, she is an inspirational human being who came from very humble beginnings. Through my experiences in cycling, I have had the opportunity to get to know numerous highly successful pro cyclists personally and professionally. What I have learned from these relationships is that it is not only what they do On the bike but more importantly what they do OFF the bike that defines their overall success and influence.
Allyson is clearly successful both on and off the track. On the track, with her recent success at the Tokyo Olympics, she became the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history. She won her 11th Olympic medal and surpassed the 10 medals earned by Carl Lewis.
Allyson’s influence goes well beyond the track. Off the track, she is a successful businesswoman and champion of civil and women’s rights. She is also a woman of faith and a proud mother who clearly loves her family. You can learn more about her life, the adversity she overcame and her achievements through this link: Allyson Felix – Wikipedia.
There were many takeaways from our hour interview with Allyson, but three were most impactful to me. First, was the extensive preparation she went through over 4 years to run for only 49.46 seconds in Tokyo (her time in the women’s 400-meter final in the 2020 Olympics). Her best time in the 400 was 49.26 (Beijing 2015). A lesson for us all on the patience, commitment and endurance required to be world class.
Another insightful comment was when she was asked what advice she had for those who would like to be “Agents of Change”. She suggested that we have conversations in our inner circles and bring issues to the forefront. She noted that we might feel an issue is really small, but we don’t know the ripple effects it might have on others. Allyson noted that mall moments can create something big!
When asked what she would tell her younger self if she could go back in time she said, be patient, see the big picture, play the long game, embrace the journey, celebrate the victories and learn from the defeats. I find this to be insightful advice not only for aspiring athletes but for all of us as we navigate through our life journeys.
Do you prepare sufficiently for those important milestones you want to achieve in your life? Allyson prepared for 4 years to run for just 49.46 seconds in the 2020 Olympics!
What small moments in your life have the potential to become something big? Make them big!
If you had the change to speak to your younger self, what advice would you share? Share it with your younger family members or younger coworkers now!