Prepare Like a Rookie, Compete Like a Champion

A note to young leaders.

If you’re searching for a bit of inspiration to kick start 2026 – look no further than at the breathtaking artistry, mastery and sportsmanship on display at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

On Saturday, I read an interview of Chinese-American skiing sensation, Eileen Gu – a defending gold medalist in the women’s Big Air and Halfpipe events.

She’s arrived at the Games after a stretch she’s described as “feeling stuck” – with injuries, limited training windows and the demands of full‑time study at Stanford University.

How does she avoid the defensive mindset that so often plagues title defences?

Here’s her playbook:

1. Rookie mentality. Gu refuses to play defence: “There’s no chip on my shoulder. There’s no burden. There is nothing to defend. I’m here to compete just like everyone else, do my very best, and we’ll see what happens.”
2. Fun vs pressure. Gu repeatedly reminds herself that she’s at the Games because she loves skiing. “No matter what results follow, I am here to have the most fun and be fully present in this experience. Having fun is literally the entire point.”
3. Pressure as something good. Gu reframes pressure as raw energy that can be harnessed for performance and success. “I don’t mind the pressure. It’s just energy, right? So if you have more energy, it’s a good thing.”

This is a masterclass in reframing.

These attitudes can help you to excel at your job too. We are all under pressure to perform – don’t ever let pressure stop you from giving it all you’ve got and having lots and lots of fun along the way.

Prepare like you’ve never won. Compete like you’ve never lost.