In a recent article for SmartBrief on Leadership, Michael Stallard of Connection Culture Group wrote about one of the most remarkable moments from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

After American skater Alysa Liu realized she had just won the gold, one of her first actions was to celebrate the bronze medal won by a 17-year-old first-time Olympian from Japan. Asked about that moment during an interview, she said:

"Human connection is what I’m all about and I love sisterhood. I’m an older sister myself and I carry it on with – I would call her a teammate of sorts. We’re all in this sport together so we share the love.”

Lack of connection and loneliness were contributing factors to the burnout that led Liu to step away from the sport at age 16. Her unprecedented comeback has been fueled in part by investing in relationships that keep her grounded and discovering a higher purpose for skating than simply winning.

Michael writes that Alysa's story reminds him of some lessons that he learned about burnout earlier in his career. In the article, he shares his own story and Alysa's story in more detail, reminding us that reconnecting relationally and finding meaning in what we do can help us find the path forward.

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