Testing your limits, with former ski champion and Olympic team member, Wendy Fisher

Measure Success Podcast

In This Episode:

When we think of pushing ourselves — in business, sports, or just life — many of us aim to be the very best at what we do. But sometimes pushing yourself can actually mean *leaving* that top spot — and setting off on a completely new journey. And that’s exactly what our guest this week did in her accomplished athletic career.

Wendy Fisher was a member of the U.S. National Ski Team and earned a spot on the 1992 Winter Olympic team in Albertville, France. She transitioned into big mountain skiing, becoming a two-time World Extreme Skiing Champion and one of the top skiers in the world.

Listen to the full episode for more about Wendy’s journey (from the U.S. National Ski Team, to quitting skiing, to a completely new branch of the sport), how she got through tragedy in her life, the habits she’s kept in her life, what she’s working on now, and a lot more.

Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:

• More about Wendy’s journey from childhood skiing to the U.S. National Team

• Why Wendy had a different goal every day when she woke up other than “make the Olympic team” — and how that helped her perform better

• Some of the challenges Wendy experienced in the U.S. National Team atmosphere, including isolation and an eating disorder

• What led Wendy to eventually quitting the national team

• Some of the tragedies and challenges that precipitated Wendy’s “never to ski again” road trip

• How Wendy got her start in her next sport, including a situation where onlookers told her, “We’ve never seen a girl do that.”

• How Wendy finally started to recover from the grief over the death of her brother, as well as an eating disorder

• Some of the lessons Wendy learned from her own experiences that she now shares with younger people, including other skiers

• Why Wendy needed to “pull her head out of her ass” and let go of what could have been, especially after she had her two sons

• Some of the habits Wendy has kept in her life, even after her competitive athletic career — and what it took for her to let go of some of the guilt of not being successful at something

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Wendy’s website

• Wendy Fisher on Instagram

• Wendy Fisher on Twitter

• “Open: An Autobiography” by Andre Agassi

• “The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself” by Michael A. Singer

• “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment” by Eckhart Tolle

• “Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow” by Heather Hansman

• Buy a copy of “Lost at CEO: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Strategy” by Carl J. Cox

• 40 Strategy

• Contact 40 Strategy

• Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn