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?