The 2008 Summer Olympics gets under way today in Beijing, China. Approximately 10,500 athletes will compete in 28 sports. 

I love the Olympics. The competition. The struggle. The triumph. The battle that participants have fought along the road to Beijing. 

While I enjoy the athletic competition of the Olympics, the greater effect on me is the inspiration I get from watching the Olympics. These athletes have focused for years on getting to these games—single-minded focus on the achievement of a very specific goal. 

Here’s my question for you: What could you accomplish if you focused like that? 

Although you might not want to focus quite that intently, it’s certainly interesting to think about the possibilities. Why not let these 2008 Summer Olympics inspire you in one or more areas of your life? 

So pick an area. What do you want to be, do, or have? Write down one significant goal you want to achieve before a certain date (the end of the year, before your next birthday, one year from today, etc.).  What’s one thing you can do this week to make it happen? What will you need to do next week? Next month? 

Create an action plan—your “Roadmap to the Olympics.” For additional inspiration, think about your goal as your watching the Olympics over the next couple weeks.

To learn more, visit the official site at http://en.beijing2008.cn.