Ryan Wilcox

Writing. Photography. Storytelling.

3 Lessons from the Olympics: Goals, Perseverance…. and Twitter

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As the London 2012 Olympics draw to a close, I started thinking about the lessons we can draw from watching athletes compete at the highest level. The Olympics hold so many parallels for success in your career and life, so I thought I’d touch on a couple that stood out to me.

Focus on Your Goals

NBC did a great job of profiling Olympic athletes. In every case, the athletes showed a singular focus on their goal. One such profile was of South African track athlete Oscar Pistorius, the first double amputee to compete in Olympic history. His story is inspiring, and an example of what is possible when we refuse to let obstacles be obstacles.

“Being disabled doesn’t have to be a disadvantage.” – Oscar Pistorius (@OscarPistorius on Twitter)

What are your goals? What could we achieve if we had the focus of an Olympic athlete?

Perseverance

Things don’t always come easy, for the Olympic athlete or the rest of us. We saw in this Olympics that failure builds character. When life throws you a curve ball, take it as a learning experience. The ability to “get up off the mat” is crucial in life as well as sports. This parallel is one of the reasons I find sports so compelling.

You are Bob Costas

Social media had a big impact on the fan experience of London 2012, which has been called the first “social” Games. Twitter’s partnership with NBC made it easy to follow the action. In 2012 and beyond, you don’t need a journalism degree to comment on, or even make news. You just need an Internet connection and a social network.

Your turn!

What will you take away from the London 2012 Olympic Games? How will Twitter and other social media outlets impact future events?

3 Reasons Working With Youth Improves My Communication Skills

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I have several years experience working with youth.

I have a passion for impacting the lives of youth. I’ve worked or volunteered for several organizations, including the Epilepsy Foundation and Fort Worth Zoo. But at first glance, you might think this experience has nothing to do with a professional career promoting non-profits.

In fact, I have found that these experiences have helped me be a better communicator.

I believe there are three reasons for this:

1. Patience, Patience, Patience….

Do you have a colleague that frustrates you? Staying patient isn’t easy when we are working with difficult colleagues or trying to meet deadlines. But, if you are working as part of a team, it’s an important skill. When working with youth, staying patient was important so that I didn’t overreact to any one situation.

2. Go Team!

Teamwork is essential to the success of any non-profit, and this is especially true for anyone working in child-care. I’ve worked in classrooms of 35-40 children, so having the support of the other instructors was essential. I learned how to delegate responsibility and carry out tasks assigned for the success of the team.

3. Lessons in Crisis Management

Let’s face it, sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Your brand, business or non-profit won’t always get positive press. My experience working directly with youth has taught me to react quickly, whether the situation called for me to discipline a child or bandage a skinned knee.

As communicators, we have to be ready for whatever is around the corner.

Working with youth is a great way to make a difference and improve your communication skills. The next time you need a lesson in crisis management, just volunteer.

“It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know” Goes Social

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Social Media
A job search in today’s market has to include social media sites like LinkedIn.

For as long as I can remember, I have been told by advisors and colleagues that job boards are ineffective tools in a job search. If you are looking for new employment, using your contacts and finding connections with people is the best way to go.

Increasingly, job searches have become more than just handing out business cards and making connections over the phone. Social media sites like LinkedIn have become tools to make connections and even find that next job. I have been an active user of Facebook and LinkedIn since I was in college. Admittedly, though, I’ve been reluctant to take advantage of social media in my job search. That is until recently.

As competitive as today’s job market is, I’m learning that sending in a resume and cover letter alone doesn’t guarantee an interview. So, I’ve started using LinkedIn’s various groups to make connections and learn of possible leads. I’ve learned of job openings through LinkedIn that weren’t posted on any company website.

Though social media sites like LinkedIn won’t replace the traditional resume and portfolio, they do offer a way to make connections in advance of the interview process. With the advent of Google+ and the explosion of Twitter, job seekers have a number of ways to promote themselves online. I see this trend continuing in 2012 and beyond. As long as job seekers use the same professionalism online as they do in an interview setting, these tools can be very useful.

If you would like to connect with me on Twitter, click here.