September 2008
 
One World One Dream
 
This August I had the opportunity to accompany my husband on a business incentive trip to China.  This month I share some observations from this incredible journey.
 
Before this trip I had always thought of the Olympic Games as being a competitive event, and of course it is.  But it is so much more than that.  Never have I experienced such a sense of community with the world until this trip.
 
We had been given pins by our hosts because the Olympic tradition is to exchange pins with people from around the world.  It was fun exchanging pins with others who could often speak no English; gesturing and pointing was our common language.
 
Another phenomenon that happened at each Olympic event while touring some of Beijing's most famous landmarks-the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square was that the people from different countries would approach us about being in a photograph with them.  Again, often no verbal communication took place, but the fun would be in returning home to witness once more these new-found foreign friends in our photographs.  My husband, who was told by one of our tour guides in Fuzhou that he looked like Ernest Hemmingway, was often invited to pose next to new Asian friends.
 
In the Olympic events we experienced not only the world-class athletes competing against one another, we also experienced cheering for competitors from other countries.  Everyone cheered for the runner in the men's steeplechase who lost his shoe during the race, then continued to run the race in dead-last place.  Each time he circled the track at the Bird's Nest, the crowd roared its approval of his tenacity and spirit.
 
Another special moment came when Yelena Isinbayeva, the Russian pole vaulter, had a chance to beat both the Olympic and the World Records. (She had set the previous World Record.)  The crowd rose to its feet as she made each attempt and groaned when she failed at her first and second attempts.  At the third and final attempt, the crowd clapped together as she made her approach and gave her a thundering standing ovation as she set a new world record.  It was exciting to experience all the spectators from around the world cheer together for this Russian athlete.
 
The most moving experience came at the award ceremony when Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin from the U.S. were honored with gold and silver medals for their performances on the balance beam.  As the crowd stood for the playing of our national anthem, I felt a sense of pride in our country and for these athletes who sacrificed so much for this award.  As I sang our anthem-much too loud, I'm sure, since the spectators in the rows in front of me turned around to watch-one Chinese woman who had been videoing the flags being raised turned her camera to me.  After I sang the words, "and the home of the brave," she set down her camera, looked me square in the eyes, flashed me a huge smile, and gave me two thumbs up as if to say, "Isn't this exciting that we can experience this together."  Again the spirit was one of unity, and not of separation or competitiveness.
 
As we rode the bus from our hotel to the airport to depart for home, our Chinese volunteer guides, both young Chinese college students, addressed our group, thanking us for visiting their country and wishing us a return sometime soon.
 
How unusual to attend a competitive event so far from home to find such a feeling of oneness with the world.  The Beijing Summer Olympic Games' theme of 2008, "One World, One Dream" was perhaps-at least briefly-a reality.
 
 
Selected Items fromCathy's Calendar for 2008

• Sept 10, "So you want to be a consultant?"  Resources Global Professionals, Louisville, KY
• Sept 11, "Hiring Done Right," (co-presented with Jamie Linkous on behalf of KY SHRM Council), KY Non-Profit Initiative, Lexington, KY
• Sept 12, "Leadership Skills," (co-presented with Angela Clemmons), LifeSkills, Bowling Green, KY
• Oct 2, "PeoplePowerPlanning," (co-presented with Parminder Jassal), High Impact Group/GLI, Louisville, KY
• October 10, "So you want to be a consultant? Internal consulting skills for the HR Professional," KY SHRM Conference, Louisville, KY
• Oct 15, "So you want to be a consultant?" Resources Global Professionals, Louisville, KY 
• November 14, "Platform Skills," National Speakers Association - KY, Louisville, KY
   
  

About Cathy Fyock
 
Are you looking for a high-content speaker for your next conference or meeting?  Call or email Cathy to find out how she can work with you to meet your specific goals and objectives.
 
Cathy Fyock, CSP, SPHR, is an employment strategist-helping organizations develop strategies to recruit and retain top talent in an aging and changing marketplace.  For nearly 20 years she has combined her knowledge of work-force issues and her talents as a speaker to provide innovative and inspirational learning events. She has helped organizations attract top talent, reduce turnover, and improve productivity in a volatile labor market.
 
Cathy has recently joined Resources Global Professionals as their Director of Recruiting for the Louisville office.  In this role she practices "hiring the best" while focusing on attracting senior-level professionals.  She also is responsible for business development.
 
  
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