Decide It's Not A Mistake Before Someone Else Decides It Is

​All eyes were on Lindsey Vonn yesterday as she stood at the top of a mountain ready to race down its slope in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

It was Vonn's fifth and reportedly last Olympics.

Oh, also, just a week earlier Vonn had fully ruptured her ACL, while also sustaining meniscus damage and bone bruising. Some watched while questioning whether it was a wise idea for her to be standing at the top of that mountain at all.

But - noise aside -Vonn started down the hill, no questions in her mind.

Then we all saw what happened next, live or later on our various news feeds, Vonn clipped a gate and went down. Hard. For the second time in a little over a week she was airlifted off the mountain. It was later reported that she had surgery at a local hospital to stabilize a broken leg.

Those who weren't questioning her decision to race BEFORE she started down that hill, were certainly coming out of the woodwork to question it now.

I wrote here a week or so ago that I recently resigned from my job to pursue my own dreams. For many reasonable reasons, some have suggested that's a mistake. Not the least of those reasons are I don't have some giant nest egg to lean on in this risky move, and - there are a lot of good benefits working for the state.

Yet, I moved on, with nothing but a few good friends who've supported this move and total belief in myself.

Here's the point. This move may send me tumbling down a mountainside. It may end up being one giant crash. But it won't be a mistake. Why? Because I've already decided no matter what happens, the outcome won't change my mind.

Bravery and courage and strength require us to decide up front that just entering the game is a bold enough move to assure us no outcome will render it a bad idea. Too many people are standing at the tops of hills in their lives afraid to ski. Afraid because of what might happen next.

Lindsey Vonn is a 20 time World Cup champion. She's an Olympic gold medalist. She's won over 80 world-wide races in her career. This in large part because she's a talented athlete. But this also in large part because she doesn't let others call a mistake what she's already decided won't be.

What are you afraid to tackle this week for fear it might be a mistake? Have you ever considered the biggest mistake might be not tackling it at all?

Decide up front it won't be a mistake. Then don't look back. Even if you're lying on the side of a mountain.