Tara Lipinski turned a family title in 1998 when she turned the youngest Olympic gold medalist within the historical past of determine skating. But that early success by no means zapped her of motivation.
Instead, Lipinski discovered success after the Olympics skating professionally on tour and is at present a figure skating analyst for NBC Sports. Even after getting off the ice for the final time, the identical elements that drove her to reach determine skating have helped her in her skilled profession, Lipinski tells CNBC Make It.
“I’m aggressive. There’s actually no means round that,” Lipinski says. “I prefer to succeed and I prefer to determine issues out. I discover that once you do — even when it is not at all times successful — the method of getting there may be thrilling and also you by no means know what is going on to occur.”
Tara Lipinski of the United States (center) raises her arm with a bouquet of flowers to rejoice profitable the gold medal alongside silver medallist Michelle Kwan (proper) and bronze medallist Chen Lu of China within the Ladies Figure Skating Singles competitors of the XVIII Olympic Winter Games.
Jamie Squire | Hulton Archive | Getty Images
The 39-year-old says she likes to “decide not possible issues to do” and see if she will accomplish them. She additionally likes to have an inside “competitors” between herself and her aim.
“I do not assume that I may get up and simply be joyful with out having one thing to work towards,” she says. “It’s enjoyable, even when it would not at all times go your means.”
I do not assume that I may get up and simply be joyful with out having one thing to work in the direction of.
Tara Lipinski
Olympic Gold Medalist
Lipinski says she determined she needed to be a commentator within the late 2000s whereas watching the world championships on TV, figuring out full effectively that there have been different commentators like Peggy Fleming and Scott Hamilton who had been already established “of their positions for 20-plus years.”
But she went for it anyway. “Why I ever thought that this was one thing that was going to be my subsequent aim is past me,” she says. “I knew very effectively that this may increasingly not occur. But I’ve been commentating since 2009, 2010.
“You work laborious at [something] and also you see the place it goes.”
Sign up now: Get smarter about your money and career with our weekly newsletter
Don’t miss: Kevin O’Leary says every young worker needs to master this skill