Marnie McBean's Blog, page 10

Never stop learning – the secret

Posted in Mentor Messages

What makes you great as a start-up rarely keeps you great for your career.

In the next year – Olympic selection, qualification and ultimately the competition won’t be easy, but you are on the right track. Last year Canadian athletes collectively won 26 World Championship medals, 7 of which were gold. This should feel good.  With only 4 events left to be contested Canada is ‘on the podium’, just 1 medal behind Germany and 8 behind Norway. ( M & W Ice Hockey, M Curling and Mixed Team Figure Skating remain.) When I watch athletes who dominate their event it seems as if they know a secret to winning that allows them to put their hands firmly on the wheel. It is as if these athletes can control and steer towards more and more success. You may have felt this: When you know the secret – it feels great.

When I tried out for my first Olympic rowing team I was young but boldly confident. I had a bronze medal from the Jr. Worlds, an erg (rowing machine) score that ranked me with the women who were on the Sr. Team, and…I thought I was great. It turned out, in hindsight that I wasn’t.

When I was cut from that Olympic team the coach told me that he was “glad” that I didn’t make it (as you can imagine, I’ve never forgotten that part). He went on to tell me that the Olympic Team was not the place to learn how to be good, but the place to learn how to win. At the time I didn’t understand what he meant – but it was the best kick in the ass I ever got. He told me to go home and focus on the basics.

Pissed off – I went home intent on proving him wrong. I would show him that I WAS ready. But as I learned and improved, all I did was prove him right. I didn’t have the foundation to be a champion: I wasn’t ready. I should be honest – after that medal at the Jr. Worlds the coaches ‘playfully’ told that they’d never seen someone go so fast and look so bad. I had thought it was a compliment – some respect for my natural abilities- but later discovered that it was anything but.

After being cut I went home and dedicated myself that year (and every year after) to the technical and tactical basics of rowing and the physical and mental elements of being a healthy and competitive athlete. I began to not just understand the basics but master them.  As I did this I started to win and didn’t stop winning for the next 12 years. People then started to say they had never seen anyone go so fast and make it look so easy.

Everyone has there own beginning – that was mine. Your plan is to go to the Olympics next year, and – if I were to guess – your other plan – is to win a medal. You are already ahead of me; you are already great at your sport; this may be nowhere near the beginning of your career.  It’s never a bad time to be reminded that the secret to winning comes in your push and passion for learning. Do not make the mistake of assuming that it will always just come to you naturally. This secret demands a hunger to get better as much as a hunger to win. Nothing helps you win more than simply being better – better than you were yesterday, better than they will be tomorrow.

Your competitive season may be just about over or done. You may be about to take a much deserved summer break. Enjoy it; breath, relax and have fun. Then be strategic. This is not the time to be stubborn or arrogant: entitlement is the mark of an average performance. Champions are never above working on the basics – they know that brilliance rises from them.

Listen to the people who draw attention to your weaknesses – then make a plan to fix them (the weaknesses not the people!). Explore and push your natural strengths and continue to have fun with them. Let it be “play” again. When you do, you will radiate as if you know the answer to a secret that eludes everyone else- that’s where a champion’s swagger comes from.

Never stop learning- that’s the secret to feeling and being not just good, but great.

Happy April.

Marnie

Between now and the 2014 Olympic Games I will be sending out a monthly email. Think of it as a talking point; you may agree with me, maybe disagree… It may serve as a heads up or reminder to some ups and downs that are a natural point of believing that you can more than just go, more than just compete, but compete at your very BEST at the Olympics. My goal will never be to add to your stress, but to help you wear it well. I’ll always try to keep them short, and I always appreciate feedback.

Archived mentor messages can be found here

>>>>>>>>

Le secret? Ne jamais cesser d’apprendre

Au cours de l’année prochaine, la sélection, la qualification et la compétition olympiques ne seront pas faciles, mais vous êtes sur la bonne voie. L’année dernière, les athlètes canadiens ont récolté 26 médailles aux championnats du monde, dont 7 d’or. C’est une merveilleuse sensation. Il ne reste au Canada que quatre compétitions à disputer, mais le pays est « sur le podium », avec seulement une médaille de moins que l’Allemagne et huit de moins que la Norvège. (Il reste encore le hockey sur glace masculin et féminin, le curling masculin et le patinage artistique par équipe.) Lorsque je regarde les athlètes qui dominent leur épreuve, j’ai l’impression qu’ils connaissent le secret pour gagner, ce qui leur permet de tenir fermement les rênes de la compétition. C’est comme si ces athlètes peuvent contrôler leur performance et remporter succès après succès. Vous avez peut-être déjà éprouvé cette sensation : lorsqu’on connaît le secret, on se sent bien.

Lorsque j’ai essayé de me qualifier pour ma première équipe d’aviron olympique, j’étais jeune, mais audacieuse. J’avais à mon actif une médaille de bronze remportée aux Mondiaux juniors, un score à l’ergomètre (la machine à ramer) qui me classait parmi les femmes de l’équipe senior, et… je me croyais extraordinaire. Il se trouve qu’en réalité je ne l’étais pas.

Lorsque j’ai été écartée de l’équipe olympique, l’entraîneur m’a dit qu’il était « content » que je n’aie pas réussi à me qualifier (comme vous pouvez l’imaginer, je ne l’ai jamais oublié). Il m’a également dit que l’équipe olympique n’était pas l’endroit approprié pour apprendre à être performant, mais l’endroit pour apprendre à gagner. À l’époque, je n’avais pas compris ce qu’il voulait dire, mais c’est le meilleur coup de pied au derrière que j’ai reçu dans ma vie. Il m’a conseillé de retourner à la maison et de me concentrer sur les bases.

Je lui en voulais. Je suis rentrée à la maison dans l’intention de lui prouver qu’il avait tort. Je voulais lui montrer que J’ÉTAIS prête. Toutefois, à mesure que j’apprenais et que je m’améliorais, tout ce que j’ai réussi à faire, c’était de lui prouver qu’il avait raison. Je n’avais pas les bases requises pour être une championne, donc je n’étais pas prête. Honnêtement, après cette médaille aux Mondiaux juniors, les entraîneurs ont « malicieusement » commenté qu’ils n’avaient jamais vu quelqu’un aller aussi vite et être en aussi mauvaise forme. Je pensais que c’était un compliment – qu’ils démontraient du respect pour mes aptitudes naturelles – mais j’ai découvert plus tard que c’était loin d’être le cas.

Après avoir été écartée de l’équipe, je suis rentrée chez moi et je me suis consacrée durant cette année-là (et toutes celles qui ont suivi) aux bases techniques et tactiques de l’aviron et aux éléments physiques et mentaux en vue de devenir une athlète compétitive et en santé. J’ai commencé à non seulement comprendre les bases, mais à les maîtriser. Au fur et à mesure, j’ai commencé à gagner et je n’ai pas arrêté de gagner pendant les 12 années qui ont suivi. Les gens ont commencé à dire qu’ils n’avaient jamais vu quelqu’un aller aussi vite tout en donnant l’impression que c’était facile.

Chacun de nous a connu des débuts différents; je vous ai présenté mon expérience. Votre plan est d’aller aux Jeux olympiques l’année prochaine, et – si je devine bien – votre autre plan – est de gagner une médaille. Vous avez une longueur d’avance sur moi; vous êtes déjà performants dans votre sport; vous êtes peut-être loin d’être en début de carrière. Il n’est jamais trop tard pour se rappeler que le secret de la victoire vient de votre détermination et de votre soif d’apprendre. Ne faites pas l’erreur de supposer que cela vous viendra naturellement. Ce secret requiert un désir profond de s’améliorer et de gagner. Il n’y a rien qui vous aide à gagner autant que le fait d’être meilleur – meilleur que vous l’étiez hier et meilleur qu’ils le seront demain.

Votre saison de compétition est probablement presque ou sur le point d’être terminée. Vous vous préparez à prendre une pause bien méritée pour l’été. Profitez-en, respirez, détendez-vous, amusez-vous. Par ailleurs, faites preuve de stratégie. Ce n’est pas le moment de se montrer têtu ou arrogant : lorsqu’on a le sentiment que tout nous est dû, nous nous dirigeons assurément vers une performance ordinaire. Les champions ne sont jamais trop bien pour travailler les bases; ils savent que la virtuosité émane de là.

Écoutez les gens qui attirent l’attention sur vos faiblesses, ensuite élaborez un plan pour les corriger (les faiblesses, bien sûr, pas les gens!). Explorez et travaillez vos forces; et ce faisant, continuez de vous amuser. Faites que le sport ressemble de nouveau à « un jeu ». Lorsque vous y parviendrez, vous donnerez l’impression de connaître un secret qui échappe à tous les autres : c’est ce qui fait la marque d’un champion.

Ne cessez jamais d’apprendre : c’est le secret qui vous permettra non seulement d’être et de vous sentir performants, mais aussi exceptionnels.

Je vous souhaite un joyeux mois d’avril.

Marnie

D’ici aux Jeux olympiques de 2014, je te ferai parvenir un courriel tous les mois. Vois-le comme un sujet de discussion; tu peux être d’accord avec moi ou en désaccord… Cela peut te servir de rappel ou d’avertissement des hauts et des bas qui sont des étapes normales de croire que tu peux faire plus que simplement te rendre aux Jeux et y participer, mais que tu peux faire de ton MIEUX. Mon objectif ne sera pas d’ajouter à ton stress, mais de t’aider à bien le vivre. J’essaierai de garder mon courriel bref et j’aime beaucoup recevoir des commentaires.

Suggested by Indigo!!

Posted in Marnie in the News

Okay.. So this is kind of a dream! I have to admit – every time I go into Chapters/Indigo I look at the “Heather’s Picks” and dream… wouldn’t it be awesome to see The Power of More there. Every time I walk through the airport I look at the books that are on sale and wonder, ‘How do I get there?’

So recently – after returning from a vacation – and going through the pile of emails that collected while away – I’m left wondering – Is this one a joke?! For sure I always hoped that one of these emails that I receive from Indigo would one day mention The Power of More … on-line only – but it finally happened!

This hit my inbox on March 22, 2013 and it’s so awesome! These other books are huge!

 

Can’t see this email? Read a copy on the web.

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Nice to know vs Need to know: The important bits and pieces

Posted in Mentor Messages

2013- athletes get to be tourists. 2014 athletes will be ‘working’

A few years ago, Dr. Robert Thirsk, a Canadian astronaut, spoke at an Olympic Excellence Series meeting. He told us that before he went up on the Space Shuttle Columbia he needed to master over 20 simulators that represented bits and pieces of a single task that he had to perform in space. None of them, he said, could simulate totally what it would be like to perform his task in the weightless environment of space. When the time came, it was his ability to combine the variety of his experiences and training that made him effective in space. I was struck by how similar his experience is to an athlete’s preparation for an Olympics. There is no one thing that you can do to prepare for competition inside the Olympic bubble but you still need to be familiar with and master as many bits and pieces that you can.

I have written and erased this message many times … it wasn’t working and I couldn’t figure out why. I wanted to write about my recent familiarization trip to Sochi/Adler/Rosa Khutor and the bits and pieces that I observed while there. I was having a lot of fun thinking about the chaos of the construction and traffic that I saw. Nothing says ‘ready for the world’ like gaping manholes with no covers, knee-deep mud surrounding omnipresent construction, grocery shelves stocked with meat-in-a-can, and summer Olympic temperatures in a winter Olympic city.

But the reason I kept hitting delete on my draft message is that I try to make these messages pertinent to your Olympic preparation. Those crazy bits and pieces that I was writing about are, I realized, outside of the Olympic bubble that you are preparing for.  I, like you, need to remember to separate the nice to know bits of ‘Russian experience’ that will be outside the Olympic ‘fences’ from the need to know pieces of ‘Olympic experience’ that you want to have inside them.

Some inside the fence bits and pieces that I observed:

Athletes told me, repeatedly, that the 2014 Olympic venues are spectacular and offer excellent competition environments;
Most alpine and nordic athletes will have the luxury of living practically in a ski-in/out location;
The Extreme Park and Freestyle Centre is an intimate cluster of 7 courses uniquely finishing in just 2 corrals; and
The Sliding Centre, like all the venues in coastal Adler (also intimately clustered right beside an athlete’s village) is impressive and gorgeous – inside and out;
Local workforce and volunteers working the venues do not have much experience hosting major events and are on a steep learning curve;
Regardless of the technical conditions that were presented by the host in 2012 and 2013, all venues have the potential of being best-in-class in 2014.

With regards to all the construction that is going on, what I have learned after 8 Olympics is that even if a host city is behind – it is never behind on the competition sites. The Olympic competition venues and village accommodations are always ready. No one has ever promised that the bedrooms will be 5-star but they will be finished and comfortable. And while I do recall for the 2004 Athens Games they were rolling out sod in the village 5 days after the Games began (!) – that was just a “look and feel” issue which is hardly a competition concern.

A caterer will prepare excellent food and while transportation is always a pre-Games worry, at Games time 95% of those problems are cleared away. The high-speed trains will likely be packed and very efficient – but quite frankly, they will be of no concern to your competition experience. The non-accredited crowds and spectators including any travel-hardy friends and family of yours who join them will have to deal with all the outside-the-fence chaos – that will be their Olympic experience and form their (hopefully fond!) memories.

As for the variable weather that many of you experienced – not only is that an obvious part of outdoor sport –but mastering all conditions is part of becoming the career champion that you want to be. Never forget that someone is going to win – regardless of the snow/ice conditions.

The Sochi familiarization tour that over 400(so far) Canadian athletes and coaches took part in this year was just one piece of many intended to help you with next year’s Olympic experience. Even though 2014 will be different than 2012 and 2013, the bits and pieces that you, your teammates and your coaches are collecting all become parts of your imagination, your reactions and your performance plans. There is no one bit or piece that can ensure that you are ready to achieve your goals but the more experiences that you can combine – the better your chances of success will be.

Marnie

Between now and the 2014 Olympic Games I will be sending out a monthly email. Think of it as a talking point; you may agree with me, maybe disagree… It may serve as a heads up or reminder to some ups and downs that are a natural point of believing that you can more than just go, more than just compete, but compete at your very BEST at the Olympics. My goal will never be to add to your stress, but to help you wear it well. I’ll always try to keep them short, and I always appreciate feedback.

Archived mentor messages can be found here

 

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Bon à savoir ou besoin de le savoir : les choses importantes.

Il y a quelques années, le docteur Robert Thirsk, un astronaute canadien, a donné une conférence lors d’une rencontre de la Série de l’excellence olympique. Il nous a raconté qu’avant de s’embarquer dans la navette Columbia, il lui fallait maîtriser une vingtaine de simulateurs qui représentaient des portions d’une seule tâche qu’il aurait à accomplir dans l’espace. Aucun simulateur n’était en mesure de simuler parfaitement l’accomplissement de cette tâche en apesanteur. Le moment venu, il pouvait compter sur la variété des expériences et de l’entraînement qu’il avait reçu pour être efficace dans l’espace. La ressemblance avec la préparation d’un athlète en vue des Jeux olympiques m’a frappée. Aucune activité ne te préparera parfaitement à compétitionner dans la bulle des Jeux olympiques, mais tu devras connaître et maîtriser le plus de parcelles possible.

J’ai commencé et effacé ce message à plusieurs reprises…  il ne fonctionnait pas et je n’arrivais pas à comprendre pourquoi. Je voulais écrire sur mon voyage de familiarisation à Sotchi, Adler et Rosa Khutor et ce que j’y ai observé. Le chaos occasionné par la construction et la circulation m’a beaucoup amusée. Il n’y a rien comme des bouches d’égout sans couvercle, des mares de boue entourant les multiples édifices en construction, les étagères des épiceries remplies de viande en canne et des températures dignes des Jeux olympiques d’été pour les Jeux d’hiver pour indiquer qu’une ville est prête à accueillir le monde entier.

Mais je persistais à effacer mon brouillon parce que je n’arrivais pas à rendre ces messages pertinents pour votre préparation olympique. Tous ces faits amusants étaient à l’extérieur de la bulle olympique à laquelle tu te prépares. Comme toi, je dois faire la différence entre les choses qui sont bonnes à savoir et qui relèvent de « l’expérience olympique » et qui sont extérieures à la chose olympique et celles que tu as besoin de savoir et qui font partie de l’expérience olympique.

Voici quelqu’un des éléments à l’intérieur de la bulle olympique que j’ai observée :

Plusieurs athlètes m’ont dit que les sites de compétition des Jeux de 2014 sont spectaculaires et qu’ils offrent d’excellents environnements de compétition;
La plupart des skieurs et des fondeurs auront la chance d’habiter pratiquement sur les pentes;
Le parc extrême et le centre de ski acrobatique sont un complexe intime de 7 parcours qui se termine en deux aires; et
Le centre de glisse, comme tous les sites qui se trouvent dans l’ensemble côtier d’Adler (et qui est situé à  côté d’un village des athlètes) est superbe et impressionnant, dedans comme dehors;
Les ouvriers et les bénévoles locaux n’ont pas beaucoup d’expérience en organisation d’événement d’envergure et doivent apprendre rapidement;
Peu importe les difficultés techniques rencontrées en 2012 et 2013, tous les sites ont la capacité d’être à la fine pointe en 2014.

Un petit mot sur la construction. En huit éditions des Jeux olympiques, j’ai appris que même si une ville tire de l’arrière, il n’y a jamais de retard dans la construction des sites de compétition. Les sites de compétition et les villages des athlètes sont toujours prêts à temps. Personne ne promet des chambres cinq étoiles, mais celles-ci seront prêtes à temps et confortables. Je me souviens toutefois qu’aux Jeux de 2004 à Athènes, on a installé le gazon au village cinq jours après le début des Jeux (!), mais ce n’était qu’une considération esthétique qui n’avait aucune incidence sur les compétitions.

On sait qu’un traiteur se chargera de préparer de bons repas. Le transport cause toujours du souci avant les Jeux, mais au début des Jeux, 95 % des problèmes auront été réglés. Les trains à grande vitesse seront fort probablement pleins à craquer et très efficaces, mais ils n’affecteront aucunement votre expérience de compétition. Les personnes non accréditées et les spectateurs, y compris les grands voyageurs parmi vos amis et les membres de votre famille qui en feront partie, auront à négocier le chaos propre aux Jeux olympiques, mais il s’agira de leur expérience olympique et de leurs souvenirs olympiques (qui, espérons-le, seront de beaux souvenirs!).

En ce qui a trait à la température changeante à laquelle plusieurs d’entre vous ont eu droit, c’est une variable inévitable des sports qui se pratiquent en plein air et maîtriser toutes les conditions est essentiel pour devenir le champion que vous aspirez à être. N’oublie jamais que quelqu’un montera sur la plus haute marche du podium peu importe l’état de la neige et de la glace.

Les visites de familiarisation de Sotchi auxquels plus de 400 athlètes et entraîneurs canadiens (jusqu’à maintenant) ont pris part cette année ne sont qu’un des aspects destinés à vous aider dans votre expérience olympique de l’an prochain. Même si 2014 sera différente de 2012 et 2013, les expériences récoltées par toi, tes coéquipiers et leurs entraîneurs s’intégreront à ton imagination, à tes réactions et à tes plans de performance. Ce n’est pas une seule chose qui fera en sorte que tu sois prêt à atteindre tes objectifs, mais la somme de tes expériences et plus il y en aura, meilleures seront tes chances de succès.

Marnie

D’ici aux Jeux olympiques de 2014, je te ferai parvenir un courriel tous les mois. Vois-le comme un sujet de discussion; tu peux être d’accord avec moi ou en désaccord… Cela peut te servir de rappel ou d’avertissement des hauts et des bas qui sont des étapes normales de croire que tu peux faire plus que simplement te rendre aux Jeux et y participer, mais que tu peux faire de ton MIEUX. Mon objectif ne sera pas d’ajouter à ton stress, mais de t’aider à bien le vivre. J’essaierai de garder mon courriel bref et j’aime beaucoup recevoir des commentaires.

Discussing Goal Achieving with Kathleen Petty

Posted in Marnie in the News

On Feb. 20th I was on CBC Radio’s ‘Ontario Today’ with host Kathleen Petty. Following a discussion of the challenges of achieving goals the phone lines were open for callers to weigh in with their goal achieving paths. I had a tonne of fun and was so impressed by the diversity of challenges and goals that people called in to share.

Olympian Marnie McBean on Achieving Goals

CBC Radio’s Ontario Today interviewed three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Athlete Mentor for the Canadian Olympic Team Marnie McBean about her recently published book, The Power of More: How Small Steps Can Help You Achieve Big Goals, and how she achieved her own.

Time and Action

Posted in Mentor Messages

La version française suite

This might be quite obvious, but February comes up really quickly in the calendar year. What I mean is, we’re only 31 days into 2013 and already it is February. Not surprisingly… the same thing will happen next year. In 2014 those first 31 days will move extraordinarily slowlyand unbelievably quickly. (Actually, this whole pre-Olympic year might go that way.) Seems that time always moves that way with respect to anticipation; simultaneously slow and fast.

As a summer athlete I had 6 or 7 months at the beginning of a year to get comfortable with the fact that my Olympic year – those numbers that had been in my head forever (’92, ’96, 2000) – had arrived.  I could be way off on this, but sometimes I think that the Winter Olympics must kind of sneak up on people. Don’t let that happen to you: Be comfortable and ready when 2014 and specifically, February 2014 arrives.

There is a lot of time between now and Feb. 7-23, 2014. In the next year you will learn and do so much but – in a very healthy way – just before the Olympics you will wonder if you have done enough – I know I always did. In February 2014, I will tell you that all that you have done is absolutely enough. I will tell you to be comfortable and confident with the tools that you have and to use them to their full potential. But now, in February 2013,my advice to you is – Don’t wait to ‘do’: Every day matters. In Sochi, they will matter to you physically, technically, mentally and emotionally.

“Regardless of the outcome, the courage to pursue your dreams will never leave you with less than when you started.”

Kelly VanderBeek. Olympic Alpine skiing

Approaching the Olympics, everyone has a short and long term plan to be the best. Do not underestimate the way the Olympics (and even just qualifying for //the Olympics,) inspire people to rise up from their own normal. Plan with your team/coach so that you will rise up from your normal… just a bit more. In your competitions and training pay attention to everything. Know who has a target on their back. You? Them? What is that person doing to put it there?

Try and see the weaknesses that others see in you and then simply, day by day, work to make them strengths. Work on your strengths to make them stronger. Be curious, bring your team along with you and rise up to a new level. Let people push you like hell. This is the time to be going for it!

(I feel it is important I mention that I believe that a rest/recovery plan is as important as a competition/training plan. Respect and value them both.)

For a fun clip from a movie that has always struck the ‘moments sneaks up on you” point… Don’t get caught waiting (vimeo)

Don’t get caught waiting from Marnie McBean on Vimeo.

Have a great February!

Marnie

Between now and the 2014 Olympic Games I will be sending out a monthly email. Think of it as a talking point; you may agree with me, maybe disagree… It may serve as a heads up or reminder to some ups and downs that are a natural point of believing that you can more than just go, more than just compete, but compete at your very BEST at the Olympics. My goal will never be to add to your stress, but to help you wear it well. I’ll always try to keep them short, and I always appreciate feedback.

>>>>>>>>>>

Temps et action

Ça peut sembler cliché, mais je trouve que le mois de février arrive toujours trop vite. Ce que je veux dire, c’est qu’il n’y a que 31 jours de l’année 2013 de passé, et c’est déjà le mois de février. Sans surprise, ce sera la même chose l’an prochain. En 2014, ces 31 journées passeront extraordinairement lentement et incroyablement vite. (En fait, c’est toute l’année pré-olympique qui se déroulera comme ça.) Lorsqu’on anticipe quelque chose, le temps semble toujours s’écouler de cette façon : lentement et rapidement en même temps.

Comme je pratiquais des sports d’été, j’avais six ou sept mois après le début de l’année pour me faire à l’idée que l’année olympique que j’avais constamment à l’esprit (1992, 1996, 2000) était enfin arrivée. Je pourrais me tromper, mais j’ai l’impression que les Jeux olympiques d’hiver doivent arriver un peu par surprise. Ne les laisse pas te prendre par surprise : sois à l’aise et prêt quand 2014, et particulièrement février 2014, arrivera.

Il reste encore beaucoup de temps avant la semaine du 7 au 23 février 2014. Pendant l’année qui vient, tu auras beaucoup à faire et à apprendre. Mais juste avant les Jeux olympiques, tu te demanderas si tu en as fait assez. Ça se passait toujours comme ça pour moi. En février 2014, je te dirai que tu as fait exactement ce que tu avais à faire. Je te recommanderai d’être à l’aise et confiant avec les outils que tu as et de les utiliser du mieux que tu peux. Mais pour l’instant, en février 2013,je te donne le conseil suivant : n’attends pas avant d’agir. Chaque jour compte. À Sotchi, tu auras besoin de chaque jour de travail que ce soit physiquement, techniquement, mentalement et émotivement.

« Peu importe le résultat, avoir le courage d’agir pour réaliser ses rêves, c’est avoir l’assurance de ne pas reculer au-delà de notre point de départ. »

Kelly VanderBeek. Skieuse alpine olympique

À l’approche des Jeux olympiques, tout le monde prévoit être le meilleur à court et à long terme. Ne sous-estime pas la façon dont les Jeux olympiques (et même les qualifications pour les Jeux olympiques) poussent les athlètes à dépasser leur niveau habituel. En compétition et à l’entraînement, sois attentif à chacun des détails. Qui est la cible? Toi? Ton adversaire? Que fait cette personne pour exceller?

Trouve les faiblesses que les autres voient en toi et travaille un peu chaque jour à les surmonter. Renforce tes forces pour les rendre inébranlables. Sois curieux et entraîne ton équipe dans ton sillage pour vous élever à un autre niveau. Laisse les autres te pousser au bout de tes forces. C’est le moment de le faire!

(Je dois cependant mentionner qu’à mon avis, un plan de compétition et d’entraînement doit comprendre une phase de récupération et de repos. Respecte et apprécie-les tous les deux.)

 

Voici un vidéo amusant extrait d’un film qui met très bien en lumière ce fameux moment où l’on se laisse prendre par surprise… Don’t get caught waiting (vimeo)

Passe un bon mois de février!

Marnie

D’ici aux Jeux olympiques de 2014, je te ferai parvenir un courriel tous les mois. Vois-le comme un sujet de discussion; tu peux être d’accord avec moi ou en désaccord… Cela peut te servir de rappel ou d’avertissement des hauts et des bas qui sont des étapes normales de croire que tu peux faire plus que simplement te rendre aux Jeux et y participer, mais que tu peux faire de ton MIEUX. Mon objectif ne sera pas d’ajouter à ton stress, mais de t’aider à bien le vivre. J’essaierai de garder mon courriel bref et j’aime beaucoup recevoir des commentaires.

 

 

 

 

Setting new goals and keeping your New Year resolutions

Posted in Marnie in the News

Putting a medal on a cat might seems way easier than putting jam on one – but the ‘jam’ has to come first!

After a conversation with Matt Galloway, the host of CBC Radio’s Metro Morning ( Toronto, RadioOne) a podcast of our conversation and this article was posted on CBC Books web site. Their title is partly right… but the truth of the “Jammed Cat” is that it helps anyone achieve any goal, big or small. In no way is the Power of More about Olympic size goals only.

How to win an Olympic medal with a jammed cat

Three-time Canadian Olympic gold-medalist Marnie McBean knows it’s a weird concept. But she can’t help comparing her journey to becoming Canada’s most successful summer Olympic athlete to a cat slathered in jam.

One day, McBean’s jam-covered piece of toast fell, she told Metro Morning. Of course, the toast fell jam side down. It always does. Most people, would make a new piece of toast, but McBean started wondering if there was any way to stop the open-faced sandwich from falling that way.

“What happens if you put jam on the back of a cat and you dropped it?” she said. “It would never land … like a perpetual motion type of machine.”

She let the idea go, but it came up again when she started working with other athletes, mentoring and preparing them for the Olympic games. She realized athletes are often happy with their performance, but unhappy with the overall result. Imagine logging a personal best for a marathon, but not placing in the top three.

“So the idea of a jammed cat is that in the presence of ambition – in a very healthy way – we just always want to achieve a little bit more, and we keep spinning,” she said. “Our cat, which is our goal, never quite lands until we’re prepared to take the ambition off of it.”

McBean is the author of The Power of More: How Small Steps Can Help You Achieve Big Goals – a topic she knows lots about. Growing up in Etobicoke, Ont., McBean was a self-described couch potato, vegging on her sofa at home and watching up to eight hours of TV a day. “But one day, I learned to row,” she said, explaining her path to success. “And the next day, I wanted to row better.”

She advises people to break down their goals, making them small steps to a large accomplishment. Picture yourself today, she says, and then picture who you want to be in the future. Start connecting those two images with other pictures, creating a photo album of smaller goals.


“Simply close the gap between the picture of you today and the picture of [who] you want to be tomorrow.”

Listen to my full conversation about setting goals and sticking to them with Matt Galloway here

 

Cool – you did that too?

Posted in Marnie's Adventures

Since I’m on a reminiscing kick… ( see the previous blog post about my mom’s gift)

In 1992, I came home from Barcelona with two Olympic Gold medals. I was 24, a world and olympic champion and when I went back to university – even with all that success – it seemed that no one knew (or cared?) what I’d achieved. I remember walking around the Western campus realizing that no one cared about the Olympics or had any idea of what an awesome summer I’d just had. I was disappointed… But not totally surprised, after all – I was just a canadian rower.

On my first Thursday night at the Ceeps that changed a little bit. The Ceeps is an off-campus bar (I actually worked there, bussing tables when I could work it in with my training schedule) – and it seemed that after a few pints of beer canadians had a much better memory! I was shown that they were passionate about the Games and Canada’s success. Maybe it was just liquid courage to share, but suddenly I heard about all the time they had spent jumping up and down on their couches – screaming “GO CANADA!!! ” and singing with/at their TVs. It was awesome! I was so proud of what we’d done and it was so great to hear how Canadians were too. That said, the wee bit of fame didn’t last long. Pretty soon, everyone – including myself – got back to our normal lives and the summer Games seemed far away. The Olympics and the mistaken idea that I’d be ‘famous’ for winning at the Olympics…faded.

Until my Pert Plus commercial.

Curt Harnett, the multi-medalled sprint cyclist, had done a Pert Plus commercial that ran during the Olympics. Proctor and Gamble must have liked how it went because I got hired to do a post-Games follow up. It was going to be tough to follow up Curt’s gorgeous blond locks… but I was game! Being behind the scenes was an eye-opening experience. Making the 30 second spot  took over 4 days of my time and I’m sure exponentially more of the editor’s & director’s time to create. The way they filmed me so it would look like I was actually rowing was so creative and the attention they paid to the “glamour shots” was incredible.

When the commercial started to run I was super proud. “Marnie McBean; Olympic Gold Medal rower…” the deep voice began…. Suddenly almost a year after the Olympics, when I walked down the street people would wave at me, or even stop me;  ”Hey!! Are you Marnie McBean? I saw you on TV!” they’d say. I thought it was awesome. Had I become a recognizable athlete? I’m not going to lie…my ego kind of liked it.

One night, at the Ceeps someone gave me the “Hey! You’re the Pert Girl!” line. I was proud – but also a bit frustrated by the number of times I’d heard that particular shout-out so I responded – “Yes – but I’d prefer for being known for winning two gold medals at the Olympics!”  The guy’s response? – “Cool. You did that too?” honestly??? that’s why they knew me???? 

Oh boy, some things really do keep your feet on the ground (and thankfully – my ego in check!) I got my head out of the clouds and got back to training.

Recently, I spoke at an event for Proctor and Gamble and they gave me a copy of that commercial from long ago. Thanks again P&G!

For a chuckle – here it is.

Pert Plus commercial – McBean from Marnie McBean on Vimeo.

My Rowing Career in a Book: My mom’s incredible labour of love

Posted in Marnie's Adventures

“Once there was a dream… The result is history”

My mom gave me an amazing gift for Christmas this year. It’s the most incredible book/binder that includes all the press clippings that she had kept from my entire rowing career.

Apparently it’s been her project for months. She was working on it all summer: sorting, cutting, compiling…. From the scribble page in my high school note book that was and ode to the sport I was just learning in 1986* (!!!! How did she find THAT!), through Jr. Worlds, rowing/awards at Western University, Sr Worlds, PanAms, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, Arctic adventures, snowboarding, triathlons, fundraising, sponsorships, profiles, Kilimanjaro climbs, awards, inductions, Olympic bids, PanAm bids, civic/ambassador events, job announcements, car articles, home reno articles, more fundraising, mentoring and … finally my book launch in 2012. Coopers and Lybrand, Timex, Pert Plus, Milk, AT&T, Avon, Pepsi, Zurich Financial put me in some incredible campaigns. Each clipping she included shows the date, and which newspaper – usually via a clipping from that days newspaper.

It’s all there.

There is stuff I forgot and pictures and articles that I never saw. There are event, sponsorship and promotional notices that I would never have kept – but are kind of cool to see again. (Not to mention a crazy collection of long hair, straight hair, curly hair, pony tailed hair, short hair, and …very often messy hair shots)

It was all from “that” pile of newspapers and magazines in an armoire – often referred to as ‘old crap’, because quite honestly – that’s what it looked like. It looked like nothing… until my mom brought out all the little bits that counted to her… and to me.

I can’t believe the incredible list of journalists who continued to pop-up throughout the 26 years that this book covers. It brought tears to my eyes to see how much of my life the late Randy Starkman (Toronto Star) had documented.

My story was also told by so many other great Canadian sport journalists. Elliot Friedman, (The Western Gazette), Jim Proudfoot (Toronto Star), Rosie Dimanno (Toronto Star), Terry Jones (Edmonton Sun), Christie Blatchford (Toronto Sun), Mary Jollimore (Globe and Mail), Randy Starkman (Toronto Star), Steve Buffery (Financial Post, Toronto Sun), James Christie (Globe and Mail), Dave Perkins (Toronto Star), Cam Cole (Vancouver Sun), Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun), James Deacon (Macleans), Wendy Long (Vancouver Sun), Beverly Smith (Globe and Mail), Jim Kernaghan (Toronto Sun), Neil Stevens (CP), Dave Feschuck (National Post, ) and Patricia Young (Globe and Mail). And there were many others too – my mom selected articles from papers across the country – since her friends had sent them everything they had kept for me/her too.

It was an incredible effort by my mom- but who is fooling who?! An athlete’s career is their parents’ career too. My parents believed in me, supported me, encouraged me and cheered for me. They were rocks when I struggled, my number one fans regardless of my results and my constant resource to share my unfiltered emotions. (You want to know what an athlete REALLY thinks – their confidence, their frustrations, and their fears?? Ask their parents!!)

Thank you mom. I may not leave it out on my coffee table, it might be a bit much to leave The Book of ME out like that, but I will treasure it always; partly because it shows what I did, but mostly because it shows what you did. I love you mom.

* included with the limited number of rowing words I knew in my first year of rowing is this little gem of a self-promise…”I will one day go to the olympics and represent my country in the rowing events. Myself and my friends and my country will be proud.“

Ambition toward Sochi … Happy 2013

Posted in Mentor Messages

Happy New Year!                       

“Today we live in a world of instant everything – food, career, money, victory, happiness – we want it all now. The concept of working towards something for several years and overcoming seemingly endless obstacles to achieve a goal is not as pervasive as it once was.” Kristina Groves

This quote was part of Kristina’s blog in early December, just after Jean-Philippe Le Guellec who has been competing with the national biathlon team for 9 years, won his first World Cup race. (Congrats J-P!) She was recalling how long it took for her to win her first race and “the special kind of attitude to find the simple joys and appreciate small steps forward within the endless struggle to the top.”

The fact that you care about each step and every detail, and have an insatiable curiosity to do – and achieve— more, is what makes you so good at your sport. Often a by-product of caring like that is stress. That stress exists only in the presence of ambition— the kind that you feel for training and competition, the kind that makes you want to do more than just GO to a World Championships, or Olympics — is the spice in a fantastic life. Continue to ambitiously plan big because there is little joy celebrating a mediocre goal.

 

Inspirations and ideas come from everywhere and I thought Kristina’s was a great quote to start this series off. Your goals are not easy, but you are not alone and your target is not impossible. My name is Marnie McBean. I was a rower and raced in 2 Olympics and won 3 golds and a bronze medal (I went to a 3rd Olympics but had to withdraw due to injury).  I raced and won medals in big boats – with 8 others and by myself in the single; most of my success came with Kathleen Heddle in the pair or double. She was perhaps a saint of an introvert putting up with all of my extroverted tendencies. I have now been to 8 Olympics (as an athlete, athlete mentor or media) and through it all I’ve learned a lot.

Some of you will recall the monthly emails I sent out before the Vancouver Olympics. Your positive responses after those Games were incredibly flattering and led me to write a book; thank you.  The Canadian Olympic Committee asked me to repeat that program for the London Olympic team and, as hoped, they led to consideration and discussion amongst teammates, coaches and mental performance consultants.

 

Between now and the 2014 Olympic Games I will be sending out a monthly email. Think of it as a talking point; you may agree with me, maybe disagree… It may serve as a heads up or reminder to some ups and downs that are a natural point of believing that you can more than just go, more than just compete, but compete at your very BEST at the Olympics. My goal will never be to add to your stress, but to help you wear it well. I’ll always try to keep them short, and I always appreciate feedback.

Happy New Year,

Marnie

 

Bonne année!

« Nous vivons à l’ère de l’instantané : la nourriture, la carrière, l’argent, la victoire, le bonheur. Nous voulons tout, tout de suite. Il ne va plus de soi de travailler pendant de longues années en franchissant des obstacles en apparence insurmontables. » Kristina Groves

La citation est tirée d’un billet du blogue de Kristina écrit au début du mois de décembre à la suite de la première victoire de Jean-Philippe Le Guellec en Coupe du monde après neuf ans au sein de l’équipe nationale (félicitations, J-P!) Kristina raconte qu’il lui a fallu plusieurs années avant de remporter sa première course et parle de « l’attitude particulière qui lui a permis d’apprécier les petits bonheurs et chaque étape franchie dans sa lutte incessante vers le sommet. »

C’est parce que tu es attentif à chaque étape et à chaque détail et qu’une curiosité insatiable t’habite que tu performes dans ton sport. Mais un tel dévouement peut être source de stress. Mais sans stress, il n’y a pas d’ambition. C’est le stress que tu ressens à l’entraînement et en compétition, le stress qui te pousse à vouloir davantage que juste PARTICIPER aux Championnats du monde ou aux Jeux olympiques. C’est le sel d’une vie fantastique. Continue à viser haut parce que célébrer la réalisation d’un objectif médiocre n’a rien de réjouissant.

 

On trouve de l’inspiration et des idées partout et je pense que la citation de Kristina permet de commencer cette série de belle façon. Les objectifs que tu t’es fixés ne sont pas faciles à atteindre, mais tu n’es pas seul et ils ne sont pas impossibles à atteindre. Je m’appelle Marnie McBean. Je suis une rameuse et j’ai participé à deux éditions des Jeux olympiques où j’ai remporté trois médailles d’or et une de bronze (j’ai participé à une troisième édition des Jeux olympiques, mais j’ai dû me retirer en raison d’une blessure). J’ai remporté des médailles en huit de pointe en compagnie de mes huit coéquipières et toute seule en skiff, mais j’ai obtenu la plupart de mes succès en deux de pointe avec Kathleen Heddle. À mon avis, Kathleen est une sainte parce qu’elle a supporté mes tendances extraverties même si elle est plus introvertie. J’ai maintenant huit éditions des Jeux à mon actif (comme athlète, mentor ou représentante des médias) et les différents rôles m’ont énormément appris.

Certains d’entre vous se souviennent sûrement des courriels mensuels que j’envoyais avant les Jeux de Vancouver. Les commentaires positifs que vous m’avez envoyés après les Jeux étaient si flatteurs que j’ai décidé d’écrire un livre. Je vous en remercie. Le Comité olympique canadien m’a ensuite demandé de répéter l’expérience pour l’Équipe olympique des Jeux de Londres et j’espère que mes courriels ont suscité des discussions entre les coéquipiers, les entraîneurs et les consultants en performance mentale.

 

D’ici aux Jeux olympiques de 2014, je te ferai parvenir un courriel tous les mois. Vois-le comme un sujet de discussion; tu peux être d’accord avec moi ou en désaccord… Cela peut te servir de rappel ou d’avertissement des hauts et des bas qui sont des étapes normales de croire que tu peux faire plus que simplement te rendre aux Jeux et y participer, mais que tu peux faire de ton MIEUX. Mon objectif ne sera pas d’ajouter à ton stress, mais de t’aider à bien le vivre. J’essaierai de garder mon courriel bref et j’aime beaucoup recevoir des commentaires.

Bonne année,

Marnie

 

 

 

PERFECTION MAY BE A MYTH, BUT IT’S WORTH TRYING FOR

Posted in Mentor Messages

Over the years I have enjoyed a number of exchanges with Kristina Groves, a world champ speed skater with 4 Olympic medals, where we have discussed the value of technique. We freely admit that we were completely dedicated (obsessed?) to perfecting it and that parking our brains on it was often the only thing that helped us to avoid realizing how hard we were pushing ourselves and how much pain our bodies were in as we were training or racing.

The idea of perfection has popped up in a few blogs I’ve seen recently and, for the most part, everyone seems to agree that the quest for it can be, and I’ll paraphrase –  distracting. In a mentor message to the 2012 Team and in the Power of More I shared my ideas on perfection and I thought I’d bring them to the surface again. Here, from the section of my book on Preparation, is an excerpt that discusses the myth of perfection;

To achieve more, critical analysis is essential. This is true not just in sport but in sales, artistic performances, and even our relationships. We want to know how we are doing so that we can adjust and correct as necessary. Athletes and performers can become hypercritical of their training because they are striving for the perfect performance.

If you ask athletes right after their competition how they did, they will likely be able to give you a list of things, however obvious or minute, that they would like to have done better. It’s not very often that they will tell you all the things that they did right; that’s just the nature of the beast.

Even Nadia Comaneci, the Romanian gymnast who earned an incredible seven perfect-10 scores at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, is quick to question whether perfection even exists. In a 2009 interview with Simon Barnes of the Sunday Times, she was quite clear that her beam performance, credited as being her best routine at the Olympics, was anything but perfect. “I remember that sometimes I was a bit off,” she said. “I felt it during the routine. I told myself, ‘No, I can’t make a mistake, because this is the Olympic Games.’ It was not perfect, I had done it better in training.” (She had become so hypercritical of herself that she went on to say, “It was a mistake, but only I knew it. It didn’t show; you can look at the routine now, you can see it doesn’t show.”)

Perfection may be something we strive for, but we have to accept that it’s almost impossible to achieve. The type of person who has the ambition to be perfect will most likely believe that there is always a bit more to be done to achieve it. The curiosity to discover what that bit more is, and to be able to perform it on demand, comes from our ambitious drive and clear goal setting. It is what drives us toward improved performance. We are constantly satisfied and unsatisfied.  

There is no plateau ahead of us that when we arrive will our lives be made easier. Why? Because in a healthy and fun way, when we reach our next or even ‘ultimate’ level we can see what more can be done. Achieving one goal often reveals a pathway to the next one and this is how perfection eludes us.

I remember a quote from another detail-focused athlete, Veronica Brenner, Olympic silver medalist, Freestyle Skiing/Aerials  ”If I were to have waited for the perfect coach, the perfect training and the perfect day I would never have gotten anything done.”

Believe in perfection; prepare towards it, but don’t wait for it.