Comments on: Video Update: Whole-Wheat Bread and 8 Olympic Gold Medals

By: Michal Mitrega

Michal Mitrega — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:48:13 +0000

The same is true for everyone.
You shouldn’t let other people telling you what you should do, primarily if they didn’t do the same thing you want to do.

BTW there a way lot of medals for swimmers at Olympics.

By: Al Brown

Al Brown — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:55:49 +0000

Don’t know the exact context of the remarks you’re referring to, but could the criticism of Michael Phelps’ diet have more to do with the long-term health effects of the diet than how good the diet is for performance?

By: Trackback from Scott H Young

Trackback from Scott H Young — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:00:44 +0000

[...] Apparently 8 gold medals isn’t enough for some people… – Chris, from his fantastic blog The Art of Nonconformity, writes about a recent feature on Michael Phelps. Despite breaking the record for number of gold medals won, many people were still critical of his methods. The lesson: you will always have critics, even if your ideas are sound and your approach is flawless. It’s better to learn how to ignore the critics than to try to persuade everyone. [...]

By: Nomadic Matt

Nomadic Matt — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:15:50 +0000

great video. TV is addicting and it’s bad like crack…don’t know if it is worse though. I do advocate people watch Lost…NOW THAT IS AS ADDICTING AS HEROIN!!

By: Saravanan

Saravanan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:58:13 +0000

What you spoke is the truth. There are millions of guys sitting somewhere and thinking they know everything. They might know something, but still it is not of any use to other fellow human beings who are competing in their own contests.

The video is great.

I look forward to more video posts.

By: Metroknow

Metroknow — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:41:14 +0000

Thanks for the video Chris – I really do enjoy the format. And great subject matter as well. As my wife and I watched his races, I must have said several times how it is difficult for me to swim a couple of laps _period_ much less with such speed and precision. I had not considered that there may be a residual benefit from watching – that of inspiring me to work toward speed and precision in my world-changing efforts.

Thanks again for connecting the dots. We’re listening!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:05:22 +0000

Thanks, guys! I’m really glad you enjoyed the video.

By: Shayna Walker

Shayna Walker — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:11:43 +0000

What great insights and a terrific medium. I needed both reminders today.

One true measure of success is how much criticism and negativity people target you with, and it’s important to reframe your thoughts and take it as the compliment that (in a twisted way) it really is.

It’s also important not to act the same way towards successful competitors (something I remind myself about frequently). The natural inclination is to see their success as diminishing from your own, when in fact they are doing something right. Their gold medals should be incentive for you to train harder or keep doing what you’ve been doing so well.

Thanks for the inspiration to make it through a tough day, Chris.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:55:14 +0000

I think you’ve got a really great platform here, and utilizing different formats to convey information (pictures, videos, essays, etc) is effective in getting the finer details of your manifesto across. I really admire the positive way you respond to the world as well as your own place in it. The “water off a duck’s back” approach to feedback is a great addition to your repertoire.

By: Elliot Webb

Elliot Webb — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:01:44 +0000

People will always have something to say regardless of if they’re an expert or not, sometimes you just have to take it with a pinch of salt, or as in the Phelps case, they should ask the people with the negative comments just how many Olympic golds they have won?

My problem is when you’re at a younger and more influential age, this is the time when negative comments can really change your thoughts about certain issues. There must have been a time when Michael himself was asked, “Why bother with swimming, it wont get you anywhere”, but probably a strong will, passion, and that mother of his kept him going, and just as well it did.