I just love watching the Olympics!  I’m fascinated by the amazing stories of how the athletes have prepared and the endless obstacles they’ve worked to overcome.  Over the years, I’ve noticed that the characteristics displayed by Olympic athletes are the very same characteristics that create a winning pageant contestant.  So here are some Olympic champion tips for your next competition!

1. You’ve got to have a dream.  Without fail, every Olympic hopeful has a dream or goal in mind.  Whether it’s the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team’s dream of winning gold or Michael Phelps’ goal of being the most decorated Olympian ever, everything started with a dream. So go ahead and pick out a definite goal: maybe it’s to be a semi-finalist, win a specialty award, or go home with the crown and sash.  Just pick a dream, commit to doing your personal best and nourish that Olympic champion deep down inside!

2. Work consistently towards your dream.  Don’t you love the stories of Olympic athletes who started their sport in their backyards?  With makeshift equipment and shabby facilities they developed their skills and years later they’re practicing with state-of-the-art equipment and have mastered the skills of their sport.  Pageant competition is not much different:  contestants who consistently improve and never give up on their dream are the ones who ultimately achieve their pageant goals.  Start by making small improvements and just continue working toward your goals.  Consistency towards your goal is the key to achieving your dream!

3. Hard work is part of the game.  Olympic athletes don’t just roll out of bed in the morning perfectly prepared to compete.  They put in time and energy developing a training plan and then they work that plan.  As a top pageant contestant, you need to put in a little work reaching for your dream.  Sure, sometimes it’s hard work at the gym, or developing solid content for your pageant interview, but the hard work will definitely pay off.  No one accidentally wins the title; they win by working for it!

4. Work with a mentor or coach to quickly improve your skills.  Pageant competition is a little bit like Ice Skating in the Olympics.  You develop your skills, get top-notch coaching, put on a cute outfit, and then work those skills.  Top competitive athletes don’t just wing it in their competitions and neither should you!  Find a qualified, experienced coach or mentor and listen, listen, listen.  Follow-up on their advice and commit to improving your skills.  If you want to improve your skills quickly, there’s no better resource than a coach!

So from now on, go ahead and think of yourself as an Olympic pageant champion in the making.  Only along with that crown, you’re pursuing winning memories that will last a lifetime!

Love and success,