The following was written by Malibu Foudning Partner Peter Kubasek after returning from the 2010 Olympics in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
Having spent nine days at the Olympics in my hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, I am still reveling in the spirit of hope, optimism and comradery I experienced there.
The Olympics have the power to unite us and to provide inspiration in an economic season that's been a little less than inspiring. And there is much the Olympics can teach us. Although we are divided by our national loyalties and the strong desire to see our countries advance, we are also united by a common appreciation for the strength, beauty and perseverance we see in these Olympic athletes. Looking for common ground is a skill we could all learn.
The Olympic experience teaches us that it is character that matters most. Sharing the Olympics in my hometown with my sons made it all the sweeter. And it was a great opportunity to teach them that good character manifests itself in a variety of ways. How we behave when we lose or win is a litmus test for character.
Finally, the Olympics have taught me that if you do what you love, chances are you will succeed. The recurring theme among many of the successful athletes was that they simply love what they do. We perform better when we're having fun. That's a maxim we can all apply to the workplace and I am thankful that I do.
Monday morning it will be back to work. But I'm hopeful that the spirit of hope and optimism that I felt so strongly during the Olympics will remain with me. My dreams of turning in a stellar athletic performance on the world stage have long since faded. Clearly, that ship has sailed. However, there are still obstacles to overcome, goals to reach, and dreams to fulfill.