Disruption, BAU, and the Olympic Dream

Over the past few weeks, I have talked about the dissonance between what is happening in the United States right now and our day-to-day lives. That business as usual (BAU) doesn't feel like it should be BAU.

With the start of the Winter Olympics this week, I am drawn to the parallels between those on the front lines in American cities with athletes from Ukraine and other war-torn areas. How do elite athletes handle the BAU of training for the largest stage in sport in the middle of total disruption, including fear of their own safety and that of loved ones? And what can we learn from them as we navigate our own lives?

This is what I'll be exploring over the next few weeks. I invite you to join in the conversation and add your perspective and your own strategies to the collective.

How do we carry on during disruption?

I vacillate between wanting to put my head in the sand and ignore what is happening and feeling like I should jump into the front lines of the fray. And that is exactly the first step: acknowledge that the disruption and cognitive dissonance exist.

This is not a "once and done" action, it is something we must examine often because the world is changing daily, and the media is constantly challenging our perceptions. Taking time daily to acknowledge the fight between that desire to put your head down and continue working and your desire to contribute to the larger effort. Know that the urge to protect your energy for self-preservation and your call to something larger than yourself is perfectly normal. This tug-of-war between your emotions will go back and forth based on a variety of factors, just as your energy will ebb and flow throughout the day and the week.

So if the first step is awareness and acknowledgement of the tug-of-war between the need for work to continue and the conflict in the larger world, what do we do once we acknowledge those conflicting emotions inside us?

We find a purpose beyond “winning”.

There is only one gold medal, one official “winner” of an Olympic event. All of the other athletes, no matter how dedicated and focused, will not “win”. Or will they? 

The vast majority of athletes come to the games knowing they don’t have even the slightest chance of getting that gold medal, or even of finishing in the top 10.  So why take all that time to train, spend all the money on coaches, travel, qualifying competitions, equipment, and so on if there is no hope of a gold medal?

They have found a reason beyond winning. Their daily actions are not defined by a single 3 minute performance on a single day. Instead, they embed their daily actions with a purpose greater than themselves, greater than an individual event.

This is where we can learn from even the youngest Olympians. 

If we can find meaning and purpose in our business as usual routine, we can begin to resolve that cognitive dissonance we are feeling.

For me, I was reminded this week that one of my core values is service. I have built my business model on serving others, helping them even if they are not clients, connecting them with people and organizations that can help them achieve their dreams. By helping them get unstuck in even the smallest ways, they become happier people and I find joy in watching them succeed. And the world needs more joy, especially now.

The tug-of-war between BAU and the strife outside my door is still there, but knowing that my daily work connects to a larger purpose is helping me understand how those two sides are connected.

❓What is one purpose beyond winning that you see in your business as usual?