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"Not everyone wants to be an Olympian, but everyone has some goal they want to achieve, in school, in sports, or in an activity. To achieve your goal, there is no shortcut, no 'luck' without hard work. Half-hearted trying will just create a disappointment. I have learned five things about achieving success.

Daily commitment Expect obstacles Win with your circumstances Be 'coachable' It's the journey that counts"

"There is a lot of emphasis on making a commitment -- I'm going to get a 'A' in math, I'm going to make the team, I'm going to join a club. But getting there, achieving that goal requires daily commitment, not just the day you make the commitment."

"Most Olympians do not have perfect bodies. They do not have perfect health, live next door to great facilities, or have conflict-free relationships. The world has not given them their dreams on a silver platter. Going over, around, and through obstacles is normal. Expect obstacles. Achieving our goals requires us to stretch our ideas about what we think is possible."

"We are not all blessed with the same abilities, and our lives all have different circumstances. What I can achieve my way may be different than what you can achieve your way. We need to learn to achieve our goals by winning with our personal circumstances."

"Everyone talks about a mentor, but we need the skill to be mentorable, or 'coachable,' to achieve our goals. I define being coachable as giving another person permission to demand the very best of you. Allowing someone else to contribute to your success -- to challenge you to go further and work harder. Even when you don't want to."

"For me, the honor and glory of the Olympics came from the journey -- all the commitment and hard work -- snot from winning a medal. My life was changed, not because I stood on the victory platform, but because of the struggle -- I went for it without holding anything back."

More Athletes

Ann Meyers Drysdale Bart Conner Billy Mills Baron Pierre de Coubertin Gail Devers Greg Barton Henry Marsh John Naber

Karch Kiraly Mary Lou Retton Matt Ghaffari Milt Campbell Nadia Comaneci Nancy Hogshead Paul Gonzales Terry Schroeder

For more great stories about Olympians, ask your librarian for books about Olympic spirit, including Awaken the Olympian Within complied by John Naber, and The Olympic Dream and Spirit, Vol. 1, 2, and 3, with Bob Schaller.