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Peter Vidmar
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For the next 12 years (minus four days off for his honeymoon), Peter and Makoto practiced and practiced, and then practiced some more. While his friends rode dirt bikes and surfed, Peter was busy learning and developing new skills in the gym. And as his friends' interests changed with time, Peter remained focused on gymnastics. He had a goal in mind and was determined to achieve it. In 1984, what began as an ad became a forecast of the future. Peter Vidmar captained the US Men's Gymnastics Team to its first-ever Olympic Gold Medal. He also captured the gold in the pommel horse - scoring a perfect 10. And he won a Silver Medal while becoming the first American to medal in the individual all-around men's competition. His winning performances averaged 9.89, making him the highest scoring US male gymnast in Olympic history. Today, Peter translates his skills as a leader and motivator into inspirational presentations for Fortune 500 companies looking to benefit from his Gold Medal performances. In addition to his Olympic success, he has numerous NCAA and international titles, an economics degree from UCLA, and experience as a television announcer for CBS. He also serves on the Executive Committee of USA Gymnastics and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for the State of California. In short, Peter is in a category all his own. Peter now lives in Coto de Caza, California with his wife Donna, a former UCLA gymnast, and their five children. It probably comes as no surprise that two are competing gymnasts, and a third is a Jr. Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. "So far they all seem to be natural gymnasts," comments Peter. "But hey, if one ends up wanting to play basketball instead, we'll be supportive. There's always room for a good point guard." When Peter Vidmar captained the US Men's Gymnastics Team to its Olympic Gold Medal in 1984, exceptional performances were judged using three criteria - Risk, Originality and Virtuosity (ROVTM). A technically correct performance could only receive a 9.4 at best. In order to achieve a perfect 10, the gymnast had to show Risk, Originality and Virtuosity. An additional 0.2 points could be earned in each of these categories. Although ROV is not currently part of the judging criteria, it still has important applications in the business world and in life. People often give a "technically correct" performance, but they are unable to achieve the degree of success they desire. Frequently, the additional effort or needed improvements are embodied in ROV. The ROV principles are simple, yet the underlying messages are profound. Risk means you're willing to do something daring. Originality allows you to quit copying the other guy and accomplish something that causes others to try and copy you. And Virtuosity involves taking a certain skill and doing it better than anyone else. When applied together, these principles can help change lives. Do something daring (Risk) top of page (Risk) top of page Sometimes we're afraid to risk. Risk has an element of fear, because it means taking a chance that might not pay off. It involves the unknown, and we tend to fear the unknown. By avoiding risk, we don't set ourselves apart. And if we don't take risks, someone else will. Then they'll move ahead to seize opportunities that could have been ours. Peter has said that "You can always play it safe, but there is always someone else out there who is willing to take chances, and in the long run he’s going to end up on top." In order to risk, we have to overcome fear and realize that the worst that can happen is not failure, but a temporary setback. We can all learn from setbacks. So in reality, by risking, we either succeed or learn, or both. Risk allows us to move ahead and grow, rather than remaining stuck in the same place, satisfied with the status quo. And of course, the principle of Risk must be applied together with Originality and Virtuosity Be different (Originality) top of page (Originality) top of page We tend to copy what other people are doing. It seems safe. Someone succeeds while doing something a certain way and we imitate them in hopes of the same success. It's true, we can learn from others. But if we do no more than follow, we're always playing catch up. Someone else will always lead the way. If we strive for originality, and not worry about the next guy, we get to the point where "you are the standard, and everyone is watching you." True success comes with an original idea or an original way of doing something common. Often new skills or methods are learned by accident, usually when we're taking risks. This is how risk and originality can work together. And virtuosity is the final part of the equation.
Perform an ordinary skill in an extraordinary way (Virtuosity) top of page (Virtuosity) top of page Virtuosity means becoming very skilled or proficient at a certain task. The only way to become skilled is to work hard and smart. While we cannot control the amount of natural ability we have, we can control the amount of effort we put forth. As Peter states, "When we place a high enough value on something, we'll get the job done." In order to apply the principle of virtuosity, we must always remember the final goal. And that final goal must be of great worth. By constantly keeping the Olympic Gold Medal in mind, Peter placed a great value on every workout. There were rewards for his extra efforts. Virtuosity involves taking a common skill and working hard to perform the task better. Add your own flair. Let your own personality and unique qualities shine through. Risk using your own originality to develop Virtuosity. |
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