Lessons from Watching the Olympics

Victory means something.

Watching Michael Phelps achieve eight victories was amazing. Fans – even those who normally wouldn’t be so invested – were elated and cheered him on. People flock to success. They want to be a part of it.

Show your organization’s victories. Wherever it might be – look at how much we’ve done with so little! – donors and volunteers want to be a part of a successful venture.

Timing is important.

With a 12-hour difference between the Eastern time zone and the action in China, major events would have been lost on viewers in America. NBC did an excellent job of bringing the stories to prime time, delaying broadcast for the most popular events until they would have the best ratings.

Don’t miss out by thinking that your stories are irrelevant just because they happened months or even a couple of years ago. Great stories are important. At the same time, it’s critical that you take advantage of them as soon as possible – opportunities are all around you, and it’s up to you to be prepared.

Stories sell.

The swimmer who is twice the age of her competitors. The track star who battles back from an injury to compete. The gymnast who overcomes hardship to achieve her dream.

Fans root hard for the athletes with great stories. The stories make us care about something we otherwise wouldn’t. Heart strings control a lot more than our hearts.

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