Prioritizing the Process Over the Prize with Apolo Ohno

Seeking motivation to grow your business and become your best self? Take advice from Apolo Ohno, the world’s best short track speedskater and the most decorated U.S. Olympian in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. He believes the process is far more important than the desired outcome on the long road to success.

Ohno is back this week on the Start With a Win podcast for the second segment of his episode, joining RE/MAX CEO Adam Contos to continue the conversation about the process and mentality it takes to become a champion in any field.

“I too have felt pain. I too have made mistakes. I too have gone down the wrong path. I too have self-sabotaged. And you know what? I too have been able to turn that around to my advantage to be able to enrich the life that we all deserve to live,” the renowned athlete shares.

Ohno believes that people must be able to appreciate their mistakes and use them as fuel to grow and improve. Along his journey to success, Ohno shares that he faced moments of crisis during what he describes as the “reinvention process” – a process many people endure.

“When you’re going through this loss of identity and when you’re going through reinvention and a hard pivot, it’s time to start using that vulnerability and wearing it on your sleeve, owning it and knowing that there [are] millions of people out there who are also in the same realm as you,” says Ohno, who reminds listeners that although the experience is painful and hard, it’s temporary.

Ohno relates this wisdom to his own challenges while grasping the mentality and ethics of a champion.

“We had to train for years of our [lives] for a moment that lasted 40 seconds long. There [were] many times where I was reconsidering and thought, ‘Is this the right path? Is this what I’m good at? [And] am I good enough?… Maybe there’s nothing that I can do that can be the best version of myself,” he says. “And then you have to have the other conversation with the other voice [in your head] and say, ‘You know what? … There’s a lot of what-ifs, but I don’t have to live my life in that way.'”

Ohno learned to stop doubting himself and to ignore the uncertainty based on personal pressure. When he stopped being afraid to fail, he took the necessary risks that helped him evolve into a world champion athlete.

Tune in to this week’s episode of Start With a Win to hear how Ohno structures each day, and why he values sticky notes to stay on track with his goals.