Harvey Mackay: Olympians have strengths that we all can put to use

I just returned from attending my ninth Summer Olympics. To say it was memorable is an understatement. What struck me throughout is what goes into making an Olympic champion -- or a gold-medal-winning entrepreneur or manager. Here's my short list:

• Heart. Heart trumps just about all the other senses in accomplishing the new and unknown. There's no denying the heart of a champion. I witnessed the miracle of Rebecca Soni, who came back from heart surgery a year ago to qualify as an alternate for the U.S. women's swim team. When she got the opportunity to compete, she won a gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke in world-record time.

• Determination. Athletes can have the perfect bodies for a competition or the best coaches, but if they don't have a deep-down burning desire to achieve something, they won't accomplish it. Sometimes desire is more important than talent.

• Dedication. For the little attention an athlete receives over 17 days of competition, there are hundreds more days of grinding solitary workouts. There are no shortcuts.

• Goals. Athletes must stay focused on their goals above all else. Truly dedicated individuals won't let anything interfere. That's why so few people become champions.

•Preparation. It takes a lot of sweat, sacrifice and discipline to become an Olympic champion. If it were easy to become the best, everyone would.

•Confidence. Athletes have to believe that they can win -- that they have done everything in their power to compete at the highest level. There can be no fear of failure.

•Concentration/focus. I love to watch athletes as they prepare to compete. Nothing can distract them.

•Competition. Athletes should not only welcome stiff competition, they should seek it. People don't realize their full potential in business or sports unless they're challenged.

•Mental toughness. Many things can go wrong, so athletes must be prepared for whatever happens. Sometimes they have to perform at their best when they're feeling their worst. Champions block out the pain.

•Vision. I learned long ago that projecting oneself into a successful situation is the most powerful way to it.

•Don't let age be a deterrent. Look at 41-year-old Dara Torres, who proved to be the second-fastest woman swimmer in the world and lost by 1/100th of a second. Or Romania's Constantina Tomescu-Dita, 38, who won the women's marathon.

•Fun. Above all, athletes have to love what they are doing to achieve gold-medal performances. I'll remember the smile of gymnast Shawn Johnson. She showed unbridled joy, in both winning and losing.

Mackay's Moral: Go for the gold in whatever you do!