#52: How Simone Biles Turned a Career Breakdown Into a Breakthrough
What we can all learn from Simone Biles. Plus, check out my interview on the Seeking Center podcast!
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How Simone Biles Turned a Career Breakdown Into a Breakthrough
As I was watching the Olympics all-around gymnastics finals last week, I found myself tearing up when Simone Biles took the all-around gymnastics gold. Knowing that she had stepped down in Tokyo after recognizing that she was not in the right headspace to compete, made her comeback in Paris as a stronger, more joyful competitor incredibly inspiring to watch.
After the medal ceremony, I binged the first two installments of Simone Biles: Rising (Nexflix) because I needed to know more about her journey.
How did she turn her career breakdown into a breakthrough, and what can we learn from her?
Let’s rewind to 2020. Biles arrived in Tokyo alone, in the midst of a global pandemic with a gnawing, bad feeling. Still, she pushed forward with her plans to compete. Her SNAFU during her vault routine was affected by what she now understands was a trauma response, where her brain and body weren't in sync. Gymnasts call this the “twisties,” baseball players call this the “yips,” actors call this “going up,” and the workforce calls this “burnout.”
What happened to Biles in Tokyo is a cautionary tale about the perils of overworking. In the documentary, Biles shared that before her “breakdown,” she was entirely focused on gymnastics, planning to deal with her life only after retiring from competition. Her life included not just the trauma of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar but also normal things like dating and having a social life.
After her courageous decision to prioritize her mental health — especially during a high-stakes event like the Olympics when the entire country was rooting for her — Biles faced an unprecedented crisis of confidence. She lost belief in herself and feared that her career might be over. (Sound familiar? See Stage #5 in the 8 Stages of Being Unemployed.)
So, how did she rise from that low point to stand on the gold podium once again? Slowly and methodically.
Biles eased the pressure. She went back to basics, spending weeks simply jumping on the trampoline, gradually progressing to backflips and complex routines. She went to the gym only when she felt up to it. She went to therapy to address her trauma and prioritized her personal life, getting married to NFL player Jonathan Owens. She pulled back on her social media use, drowning out the trolls and the haters as much as possible and tuning back in to her inner voice. In short, she did the work. Eventually, she found herself wanting to compete again, if for no other reason than to control her own narrative and write her own ending to her gymnastics career.
Biles’ comeback performance in Paris is a shining example for all of us. Her journey demonstrates the power of prioritizing mental health and well-being over external expectations and pressures. She did the hard work to reset and rebuild a stronger foundation, both personally and professionally.
That process can be scary and grueling, but ultimately worth it. Especially in our careers, we often shy away from taking a step back to address our mental and physical health, fearing it might derail our progress or be seen as a sign of weakness. However, Biles shows us that taking this necessary pause can lead to even greater achievements in the future. Her journey underscores that it's possible to walk away and come back stronger, with renewed clarity and purpose.
🎧 ICYMI: Check Out My Interview on the Seeking Center Podcast
I was honored to share my Laid Off Life journey on the latest episode of the Seeking Center podcast. An extra big thanks to
and for an unforgettable conversation! Tune in to hear my take on overcoming misalignment burnout, breaking free from professional pigeonholes, blazing your own trail, and discovering the unexpected gifts that come from being laid off.Watch:
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