JOHN REGISTER,
CS P, is a two-time
Paralympic athlete
and long jump silver
medalist who uses his
voice to inspire business
professionals to hurdle
their adversity and create life’s new normal.
WITH JOHN REGISTER, CSP
The Spirit to Win
Lessons from
elite athletes John Register, CSP, won the Paralympic silver medal only six years after having his left leg amputated. Paralympians are athletes with disabilities who compete
on the global stage two weeks after the
Olympic Games in the same venues.
Prior to his injury, he qualified for two
Olympic Trials. After Register found his
new normal, he won the Paralympic long
jump silver medal while setting the U.S.
record in the process.
Q: What inspires Paralympic
and Olympic athletes to work so
hard toward their goals?
A: Citius, Altius, Fortius. These three
words have been inspiring Olympians and
Paralympians since 776 B.C. The words
translate as “swifter, higher, stronger.”
Notice, they are not written in the superlative of swiftest, highest, or strongest. We
can have our best performances today and
be even better tomorrow.
Q: How can speakers apply these ideas
to our business?
A: SWIFTER: Ask yourself, are you swift at
recognizing trends and letting go of pet
rocks and old ideas? Are you using current
technology to deliver content? Are your
materials up to date? Are your videos the
right length for your market? Is your web-site mobile-responsive? Do your clients
describe you as innovative?
HIGHER: Do you have a clear vision of
where your company is going? Are you so
busy getting the work done that you are not
choosing the right work? Is it time to step
up and level up?
STRONGER: To me, this represents internal courage. Standing firm on your values
when times are good is par for the course.
When values are challenged, that is when we
must rise. How do you pick yourself up when
things don’t go as planned? What are you
doing to hone your skills, even if you already
are good at what you do?
Q: How do you face off the competition?
A: Olympic and Paralympic athletes must
be better tomorrow than today because our
competitors will not look at our credentials
and hand over the win. It is the same with
speakers. Your competitors are good. So,
you must be actively working to be as good,
or better, to win. ■
