Workplace Cycles: Preparation, Disappointment, Courage & Joy

Lessons From the American Ice-Skating Olympians

Setting the Stage

I admit it; I was one of those who was so heartbroken when Ilia Malinin fell during his long program (in the men’s singles ice-skating event), that I had to turn the Olympics off. He was, after all, the “Quad God,” and considered a shoo-in for the gold medal.

I had a pit in my stomach, and thought about his mother, who, as one of Ilia’s coaches, didn’t attend the Olympics, didn’t watch his skates on TV, and was incommunicado with her husband – Ilia’s other coach – and son after Ilia’s performance. As a mother and now grandmother, I could relate: the pain that befalls our progeny is far more acutely felt than our own disappointments.

After that, Amber Glenn, largely considered “America’s best chance” for the gold medal, failed to complete a jump during her short program, despite having completed all other requirements, and a triple axel, not yet required in Olympic competition. As the announcers said, “You can’t win in the short program, but you can lose in the short program.”

Then there was Alysa Liu, a skater who retired at age 16 after capturing world titles, because she felt her life had not been her own, and she wanted to experience what it was like to be a teenager. After all, she had been training for up to 12 hours a day.

Two years after retirement, she fell back in love with ice skating and wanted to train for competition to share her artistry with audiences, unconcerned with winning. She did not have a triple axel in her programs and was thought to be a long shot for a gold medal and a possibility for a spot on the podium. She won the gold.

Preparation, Disappointment, Courage and Joy: Ilia Malinin

Twenty-One-year-old Ilia Malinin practiced six hours a day, advanced the sport with his quad jumps and artistry. He is a two-time World champion, three-time Grand Prix Final champion, seven-time Grand Prix gold medalist, four-time Challenger Series gold medalist, and four-time U.S. national champion. In the final months before the Olympics, he was filmed, interviewed, and featured on numerous national television shows and other media, including making ads. With all that preparation, winning record, hard work, media attention, and huge expectations, he was unable to successfully complete his program and win the gold. Medal. He finished in 8th place.

And yet, Ilia and many other Olympians showed us the way. He left his extreme disappointment behind and on the very same day he lost, he showed generosity of spirit and grace by giving the young athlete who won the gold medal a hearty congratulations and a warm hug!

The following days, he showed up to other skating competitions to cheer on his teammates.

Preparation, Disappointment, Courage and Joy: Amber Glenn

Similarly, Twenty-six-year-old Amber Glenn was an award-winning skater, having been the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final champion, a three-time U.S. national champion, a six-time ISU Grand Prix medalist, and a five-time ISU Challenger Series medalist. Although her ice practice time was typically two hours a day, she worked hard off the ice and focused on mental health conditioning to reduce anxiety.

Despite her 13th-place finish in the short program, she put it behind her, fighting back and putting in an amazing skate in the women’s finals. She moved into first place, sitting in the leader’s chair and cheering on other skaters. In the end, Amber moved up to a 5th-place finish. She did this by fighting through her disappointment with grit and determination. She was an inspiration to all. When, a few skaters later, Alysa Liu moved into first place, Amber was there to support her teammate and to cheer her on.

Preparation, Disappointment, Courage and Joy: Alysa Liu

After coming out of retirement two years ago, Alysa had to convince her coaches to work with her again. And, eleven months later, she won the 2025 world championships. Alysa showed the world the power of self-determination, and the joy one can (must?) have for what it is that we do each day. After winning the gold medal, she hugged her two finalist competitors, then found Amber to hug her, as well.

Workplace Lessons from the Olympians: What Can We Adopt?

While watching the results of great preparation, disappointment, determination, courage, and grace of these Olympians – and others – I thought a lot about how these and other traits could be translated into the workaday world that so many of us inhabit.

The lessons were particularly striking given how young most of the Olympians are. In our small skating group of three, the ages range from twenty to twenty-six. Yet, the characteristics that each of them displayed are well beyond their years.

In addition to those enumerated above, the following characteristics stand out for me:

1. Accepting responsibility for their performance and conduct: No blaming others
2. Teamwork and Emotional Support
3. Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

The Question: How Can We Adopt These Workplace Characteristics? Some Thoughts:

1. We are responsible for our own careers. Each of us has a set of two scales. One measures the reasons we stay in our current employment. The other the reasons we would leave. Reasons can include family considerations, opportunities for advancement, wages and benefits, working hours, travel time, fulfillment and happiness in what we do, and other reasons unique to each of us. When the scales measuring the reasons to leave tip, it’s time to move on.
2. While in our current positions, we owe ourselves and others our best work.
3. Teamwork: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Most of us are a part of one or more work teams. Whether it’s one team (as with the Olympians) or several. Our teams are only as good as their weakest links. We should produce our best work and support our fellow team members to enable the team to produce the best possible outcomes. Also, we should be aware of the well-being of our fellow team members, offering emotional support if needed.
4. Personal Fulfillment, Happiness or Joy. Alysa Liu modeled a great lesson. Despite loving her “job,” she left skating to experience a typical life of a teenager. Two years later, when she recognized that she indeed loved skating, she jumped back in with a different perspective. Rather than focus on winning, she decided her passion was to share her artistry and joy with others. All of us who saw her program couldn’t help but be caught up in the joy, enthusiasm and charisma of her skating. Should we all not strive to be in a job that we love, bringing happiness to ourselves and others?

Next Steps: I am eager to hear from you.

• What lessons did you learn from the Olympics?
• What stories affected you the most?
• And what will you do differently based on those lessons?