Leadership Lessons from USA Judo’s Kayla Harrison – A Goal Set is a Goal Met

1. She has talent – Kayla followed an interest in judo, and then realized she was truly talented in the sport. There is no denying that talent is required for success. Work ethic will “put you over the top”, but a base talent level must match your pursuits. Otherwise, everyone would be star athletes, entertainers or CEOs.
2. She has dreams – It is liberating to finally discover the match between our talents and our pursuits. But pursuit implies a conclusion. There has to be a dream or big goal worth pursuing, or else we will naturally under-achieve our talents. Kayla’s dreams are to be both World Champion and Olympic Champion…and she became World Champion in 2010!
3. She sets goals – If Kayla’s only goal was achieving her dream, then any number of obstacles, failures or distractions could dissuade her from achieving that dream. She focuses on mini-goals in training and competition, and those mini-goals are consistent with accomplishing her life dreams through a series of “small successes”. She took one of her favorite quotes from her coach Jimmy Pedro: A Goal Set is a Goal Met. It takes confidence and determination to make that quote come true.
4. She makes sacrifices – Kayla knew that she could not accomplish her goals or dreams by staying in her comfort zone at home, sleeping in on the weekends, maxing out on sugar and video games, and maybe hitting a local tournament occasionally. Instead, she sacrificed everything she knew to go train under an Olympic medalist. She gave up her rights to be a “normal teenager”, so she could pursue the exceptional.
5. She perseveres – Kayla did not win a gold medal every time she entered a competition. She also fulfilled one of her dreams as 2010 World Champion only to have lesser results in subsequent tournaments. I am sure that a teenager also had many days when she would wake up and simply wish to go back home to family! Kayla has not been deterred, she remains focused, and she stands at the brink of the unthinkable: An American judoka winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games!

Now ask yourself…

• Are you exhibiting these championship leadership qualities in your own life and career?
• Have you found your talents and your dreams?
• Have you set goals and been willing to make sacrifices?
• Are you willing to persevere when success does not come easy?

Join me in congratulating Kayla Harrison on a wonderful career that hopefully culminates in Olympic Gold on August 2nd, 2012!