Hurdles: Beijing and Beyond

This post brought to you by Dana Petersen - our August Guest Blogger


With all eyes on the Olympics, I can't help but envy how the athletes make things look so easy. The perfect routine? You got it. A new world record? No problem. Regardless of their seemingly effortless performances, all the competitors have developed their skills with years - and in some cases - decades of training.



Despite all the preparation, setbacks can happen. Injuries are especially frustrating for athletes because they impact their professional lives in a personal way. Hungarian weightlifter Janos Baranyai suffered a dislocated elbow. American sprinter Tyson Gay was favored to win the Olympic 100m event, but he lost his rhythm in the semifinal heat and didn't qualify for the final race. American gymnasts Paul and Morgan Hamm were sidelined by lingering injuries and couldn't even compete in Beijing.



Unlike these athletes, your on-the-job training doesn't require starting blocks, but that doesn't mean there aren't any hurdles in your path. You will undoubtedly encounter challenges in your career that test your skills and your patience. These issues may add tension to the work environment or they may be closer to home. Keep in mind, what defines people is not the height of their hurdles, but how they choose to overcome them.


Training day and night doesn't guarantee a world record, but overcoming obstacles does guarantee personal growth. Even if you don't take home the gold, clearing those hurdles one step at a time will lead you to the finish line and to the next chance to prove yourself.


*Dana Petersen is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in Marketing and Ag Business. Her versatile writing background includes news articles, technical writing, and observational humor. She currently works with agricultural exchange students at the Foundation for Worldwide International Student Exchange in west Tennessee. Contact her here if you'd like to learn more.