Expectations - good or bad
I watched the opening rounds of the canoe slalom competition today http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/canoeing/7554256.stm
Great to see a selection of the world's best paddlers in action, and I was particularly impressed to see Britain's (Scotland's) Dave Florence produce the fastest run of the competition and finish third in qualifying. By putting two seconds between him and previous Olympic champions like France's Patrick Estanguet and Slovakia's Martin Martikan, he's shown the potential to win a medal tomorrow. But these guys are hugely experienced and we've not seen their best yet - they know that its the final that counts, not qualifying. So while Florence's performance is potentially a huge confidence booster it will add to the challenge he faces over the next 18 hours. He's closer than ever to his dream of an Olympic medal, yet he'll need to stay calm and focused, not on the future, but on each step of his preparation. The cliche is true - it's about staying 'in the moment'.
I think the same process applies to everyone trying to achieve something significant. We need positive expectations and the energy and optimism that they bring. We need evidence that we can do what we desire. Yet at the same time, we need to stay grounded in the present moment's demands. Dave Florence will learn a lot about himself over the next 18 hours - and I can't wait to see him race again tomorrow.
