Hello,
If you’ve been following Lyon’s Letters, you already know I’m not exactly the athletic type. In the post “The Pen, the Throw, and the Mindset,” I wrote about how in high school, I once faked an asthma attack just to avoid running the mile for the President’s Physical Fitness Test. And now, even though I have an adjustable desk at work, I often have to remind myself that it’s made for standing… but I usually choose to sit.
While I may not be an athlete, I’ve spent plenty of time on the sidelines. With three kids who have been three-season athletes, I’ve watched more games, meets, and practices than I can count. In a way, I’ve earned my own version of a varsity letter in fandom.
And let’s be honest, we love watching the pros. From the Olympics to March Madness to the Daytona 500, sports captivate us because athletes make it look so easy. We marvel at their speed, their strength, their grace. But what we don’t always see is the hard work behind the scenes—the years of practice, the hours of training, the relentless dedication that makes it all possible.
Take Aly Raisman, a two-time Olympic gymnast, and the winner of six Olympic medals. Her daily schedule was packed with hours of training, stretching, meals, and recovery. Even in the off-season, athletes like Caitlin Clark are putting in countless hours to stay at the top of their game. And after the big events? They collapse at the finish line, completely spent. The “effortless” performance we saw was a trick worthy of a magician–what looked easy takes years of practice and dedication to achieve.
The athletes competing on the world’s biggest stages are the best of the best. Every gymnast at the Olympics has spent years perfecting their routines. Every NFL player was once the star of their high school team. The odds of making it to these elite levels are astronomical. And yet, these athletes make it look like anyone could do it.
What we see in those final performances—the grace, the speed, the precision—is just the tip of the iceberg. Behind it all lies a world of relentless practice, discipline, and sacrifice. After a race, runners collapse at the finish line, completely spent from the effort. Swimmers grip the lane ropes and continue to try to catch their breaths during the interviews several minutes later. Football players on the sidelines are seen gulping for air, sometimes with oxygen masks. The illusion of ease comes from the years of work that lead up to those moments.
Now, let’s bring this back to our own lives. We may not be competing in the Olympics or playing in the NBA, but we face our own challenges every day. The work we do—whether it’s in an office, a classroom, or anywhere else—requires its own kind of dedication. And often, the better we get at something, the more effortless it looks to others.
While it may seem like athletes are the only ones with fans, the same is true for all of us. Who are your fans? Who’s watching you and thinking that you’re making it look easy? Maybe it’s your team at work, your kids, or even your friends who look up to you. They may not see the late nights, the early mornings, or the moments of doubt, but they see you show up, deliver, and make it seem effortless.
But just like those athletes, we put in a lot of work that others might not notice. And it’s important to humanize ourselves and let people see the behind-the-scenes effort. How can we do that?
Share Your Process: Whether it's with your team at work or others who depend on you, give a glimpse into the steps it took to achieve your goals. Talk about the challenges you overcame or the strategies that worked.
Acknowledge the Grind: Just as athletes talk about their training regimens, we can acknowledge the effort that goes into our work. It doesn’t have to be boastful—just a reminder that excellence takes time and perseverance.
Invite Others to Learn: If people are looking up to you, invite them to learn alongside you. Share what you’re learning, the mistakes you’re making, and the growth that’s happening because of it.
Celebrate the Small Wins: Athletes celebrate milestones along the way, not just the gold medals. We should do the same in our work—recognize the progress, even when it feels incremental.
Stay Humble, But Honest: There’s a fine line between showing off and being transparent. You don’t need to brag, but it’s okay to let people see the sweat and effort behind the scenes.
The truth is, we all have people watching us, admiring the way we navigate our professional lives. And while it may seem like we’re making it look easy, it’s important to acknowledge—and share—the hard work that happens behind the scenes. By doing that, we help others see what true dedication looks like and maybe inspire them to push harder toward their own goals.
Just like the athletes we admire, we all have a story of effort and perseverance. Let’s make sure that story gets told.
~Heather
P.S. This week’s Catch of the Week is a compilation video of Olympic fails. The point is not to experience pleasure in someone else’s struggle, but to highlight that even the best of the best don’t get it right 100% of the time. The goal is not perfection, it’s dedication.
P.P.S. Please remember to...
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