America's new Olympian ice-skating sweetheart, Sarah Hughes, shocked the world during the 2002 Winter Olympics with her flawless, 4 minute program. A performance that claimed her the gold medal.

This magical Cinderella story just begins there. Despite ranking fourth after the short program, Sarah outperformaned the world's greatest ice skaters, including the legendary and gold medal favorite, Michele Quan. An outcome that even Sarah would never have predicted.

What made the winning difference for Sarah? What "edge" did she have over the likes of Michele Quan?

It wasn't luck. It wasn't training. It wasn't even experience. Sarah's *real* edge over her competitors was her sole focus on the journey, not the destination. It showed in every turn, every leap, every jump .. and especially in her face.

Michele, while the superior skater, gave a "less than stellar performance" - as reflected from her stiff legs, a forced smile, a costly fall - for only one reason.

Her sole focus was on winning the destination ... winning the elusive gold medal, missing from her history of skating accomplishments. For four short minutes, Michele's passion for the sport ... her "fire" for the journey ... was buried within. Ultimately, a devasting outcome of walking away without gold.

Sarah's magical story ... and Michele's painful story ... are not alone. Similar stories have repeated throughout the Winter Olympics. The magical stories brought excitement to our hearts. The painful ones brought tears to our souls.

Who are some of these Olympian "magicians?" Let's take a look.

Jim Shea, first US gold medal in men's skeleton ... Apolo Anton Ohno, US gold and silver medal winning speed skater, even after a devasting accident on the ice in his first competition ... Chris Witty, gold medal woman speed skater and new world record holder, despite her battle with mononucleosis just 3 weeks before the games ... Brian Shimmer, bronze medal bobsled winner, who has been to the Olympics *5 times* and, never winning till this one, at age 39.

Every one of these athletes certainly aspired to win a gold medal, but that motive was secondary. It was the journey that mattered ... giving their personal best, competing despite serious health challenges, participating in a global event that unites the world in peace.

Yes, that worn-out adage keeps reminding us ... "It's the journey, not the destination, that matters in life."

The more attached and focused we are on the destination, the more we will actually repel its flow. The more passion for the "journey," the more we ignite our true greatness ... create effortless magic ... and ultimately, magnetize our destination and goals.