Missy Franklin, Time for Such a Story

I know, I know, it’s so much money, but I can’t put a price on friendship or teammates or that second family, there’s no price for that. – Missy Franklin  

Have you noticed how easy it is to enjoy a bowl of ice cream on another HOT summer night while watching the Olympics?

Maybe it’s “easy” if you’re just a spectator of the games and in life, but I purpose to be a player, a contributor in life. So watching the Olympics, for me, is as much about the stories as the competition. No surprise here, I love the Story.

The Simple Reality of Personal Achievement

The formula has not changed; it’s so simple with four keys to writing your life Story.

1. Dream – What’s your dream? What do hope to contribute, achieve, build, and do with your life? What gets you up in the morning? Do you still have a dream?
2. Goals – What action must you take today to move toward tomorrow in order to make your dream come true?
3. Discipline – What is your systematic method to support getting “there”? What behavior must be changed? How must the physical be subject to the higher calling? How must your thinking change to support the right activity today?
4. Determination – When tempted to give up, who is in your support system? Who is your coach? Who holds your feet to the fire reminding you of the dream which is years in the making?

From the Life of a 17-year-old

If you have four minutes watch this video with NBC’s Chris Jansing’s reporting: “Missy Franklin: passion without pretense”. (There is a 30 second commercial before the story.)

What strikes me about one of “America’s new sweethearts” is how unconventional and authentic this family and this young athlete are. Here are a six key thoughts, for personal success from Janice D’Arcy’s article “Missy Franklin is rewriting the Olympic script”

• Open to a new formula – she has stayed home for her training and did not abandon her support system when her career took off
• Honors others – she continues training with the same local Denver coach she has had since age 7
• Humility in relationships – her swim club, in Aurora, CO doesn’t even own a pool, but she’s not too big for the rented facilities and she continues to swim for her high school
• More than money – she is turning down endorsements worth at least six figures because of her commitment to education and desire to swim in college
• Unconventional wisdom – some suggest her versatility as a swimmer comes from remaining outside the specialized training that most athletes endure
• Life Harmony – “I have the best parents in the entire world, they have taught me to love with my whole heart, be open, and be kind to everyone.”

Yes, Missy is built for the part, 6’ 1”, with a 76-inch wingspan but she has brought so much more to her dream.

Inspiration can come when we least expect it. Thanks Dick and D. A. Franklin for your Story and the principles you taught your daughter … may we all learn to love with our whole heart, be open, and be kind to everyone.

I’d love to read your comments below.

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