Have you ever given everything, I mean everything, you have to a relationship, project, church, career, or your family only to see it come crashing down around you? Do you remember the pain and disappointment? The deep sense of loss and waste? Were you left wondering what you would do next or if you had any self-worth at all? If you have been in leadership long enough, you have experienced these feelings.  Â
Lolo Jones has become my favorite U.S. Olympic athlete.  This is not because of her appearance or skill as an athlete. It is because of character.  That character is in full display in her commitment to sexual purity and, most recently, how she handled her fourth place finish in Tuesday’s race.
Just this week, Jones was the victim of vicious attacks by the NY Times and other members of the media.  In response to the media’s coverage, Jones appeared on the Today Show to discuss what she is currently going through both as an athlete and grown woman. Â
Her comments are something all leaders can learn from during times of failure and disappointment.    Â
- Leaders Know Little Things Make A Big Difference – “That’s a big difference in track.” – On coming in fourth and losing by only 1/100 of a second.Â
- Leaders Pay A Big Price For A Chance At Success - “It’s disappointing in one extreme as in I didn’t get the medal but a year ago, exactly a year, I was having spinal cord surgery…Look at all the things you been through. The spinal cord. Two hamstring injuries and you fought through all of that”
- Leaders Know The Pain Of Disappointment –  “I was crushed afterwards…I had the best race of my year…It doesn’t take away the pain.”
- Leaders Feel Individual Responsibility - “Something special was going to happen (so many ladies running so fast). We knew it but it doesn’t make me feel any better.”
- Leaders Are Often Attacked From Unexpected Places – “It (personal attacks) was from a U.S. media.  They should be supporting the U.S. Olympic athletes and they just ripped me to shreds.”
- Leaders Are Often Wrongly Accused – “I worked six days a week, every week, for four years for a 12-second race. They fact they (NY Times) tore me apart was just heartbreaking. They did not even do their research…I have the American record. I am the American record holder indoors. I have two world indoor titles.”
- Leaders Often Give Everything They Have – “I laid out there. I fell apart for my country. It’s just a shame I have to deal with so much backlash when I’m already so broken-hearted as it is.”
- Leaders Willingly Pay The Necessary Price To Influence Others – “Putting your heart out there opens you up to a lot of negativity but at the same time if I can just reach somebody out there.”
- Successful Leaders Will Not Be Denied - “I wasn’t even supposed to make the U.S. Olympic team…They counted me out.”
- Leaders Fight Through Disappointment And Leverage Failure - “Yeah, I didn’t get the medal or run away with the medal. I think there’s lessons to be learned when you win and there’s lessons to be learned when you lose .”
Lolo, as a father of a teenage daughter and an American, let me communicate how extremely proud we are of you. Through sheer hard work, you have overcome so much with dignity, integrity, and grace. The huge price you have paid to represent our country is deeply appreciated and not taken for granted.  And as a father, I also want to sincerely thank you for your commitment to sexual purity and what this communicates to teenage girls. You are a great role model for women everywhere.
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