The Olympics and Goal Accomplishment

Caroline talks about the Olympics on ABC

August 2, 2012

Caroline has always been interested in goal accomplishment, partly because her great uncles, Platt and Ben Adams, became the second siblings to go one-two in an Olympic event in 1912.  In this interview with ABC’s WJLA -TV in Washington, she talks about their impact on her and how mindset is so important to success.

She also speaks about her neighbor, Katie Ledecky, whom she has watched since she was small as her prowess in swimming manifested and blossomed.  Katie, at 15 the youngest American Olympian, as well as the youngest Olympian in London from any country, set a new American record in the women’s 800 meter freestyle on August 3rd, smashing one of the oldest records in American swimming and doing it in front of fans like LeBron James and Prince William and his wife, Catherine.

1912 Olympics standing high jump
Platt Adams leaps to a world record and gold medal at the 1912 Stockhom Olympics in the standing high jump.

Like Caroline’s great uncles, Platt and Ben, who used a positive mindset to enhance their performance in the 1912 Olympics, Katie has always relied on goal-setting to keep her focused and on track, which she referenced in her post-race interviews.

Caroline Adams Miller

Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP is a pioneer with her ground-breaking work in the areas of goal-setting/accomplishment, grit, happiness and success. Caroline is the author of seven books, including Positively CarolineMy Name is Caroline,  Creating Your Best Life and Getting Grit Live Happy Magazine named Creating Your Best Life one of the top ten goal-setting books ever published and Getting Grit one of the ten books that will change your life in 2017.  She has been featured in BBC World NewsThe New York TimesThe Washington Post, USA Today, U.S. News &World Report, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR and CNN.  Caroline  is a graduate of Harvard University and holds a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. And, she has more than three decades of unbroken recovery from bulimia.

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6 Responses
  1. Bre

    I have been reading about your work and tips with ED, which are wonderful and thank you! This is a very interesting article in relation to that. How do you blance the goal setting from not being effective to becoming obsessive? What are your recommendations?

    1. Caroline Adams Miller
      Caroline Adams Miller

      This was really what I focused on in my last book, “Creating Your Best Life,” because the dark side of goal-setting results in unhappiness and obsession, while appropriate goal-setting that focuses on being at your best, while still pursuing challenging goals that take you out of your comfort zone, is far better. This is a complex subject but it’s clear that we have to have a balance of proactive behavior and mindfulness in the present, and that’s what I try to do.

  2. Ashley Barber-Breitzman

    Hello!
    I was actually suprised to see this when researching my Great-Grandfather’s actual world record. My name is Ashley Barber Breitzman and I am the Great Grand-daughter of Platt Adams 🙂 My grandmother Charlotte is his only living daughter at the age of 96 and doing VERY well. We have carried on the name Platt Adams as well…my father’s name is Platt Adams Barber and I also named my son Platt Adams. We certianly are a proud family!!

    1. Mary Jo Duncan Raff

      Hi Ashley, My name is Mary Jo Duncan Raff and I am the granddaughter of Jim Duncan who was in the 1912 Olympics with your great grandfather and your great uncle. My grandfather held the world record in the discus for quite some time. There is a picture of your grandfather and uncle with my grandfather aboard the USS Stockholm. My family is doing research on my grandfather and was wondering if you have any information regarding Jim Duncan. (He died in 1955 at St Elizabeth’s hospital). My Uncle (his son) is still alive but was a very little boy when he came back to the states and was hospitalized. My grandfather was mentally ill and my uncle has no memory of him and the family rarely spoke of him. Sad isn’t it?….
      Oh well, it is a long shot. Just thought I would ask. Many thanks and hope to talk to you soon.
      Best regards,
      Mary Jo Duncan Raff

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