Do It With A Smile

There are people who are good at what they do.
And then, there are people who are good at what they do and do it with a smile.

Watching Team USA Ice Hockey player T.J. Oshie kill it in the USA vs. Russia shootout was nerve-wracking and exhilarating all at once. His slow shootout style was different but that wasn't the only thing that was unique about the 27 year-old Oshie; before each of his six shootout shots, knowing that each shot was potentially a game winner or loss, he would flash a smile. Watching the game on my home TV, Oshie's smile made all the difference. In comparison to the serious-faced Russian legends Kovalchuk and Datsyuk (I don't blame them with Putin in the audience), Oshie just seemed damn excited to be on the ice and given the chance to shoot. If he was nervous, he channeled that nervous energy through his stick and released it with every shot that made it to the net.

Oshie's epic game-winning shot, poise and humility makes me think that society needs to recognize people who perform at the highest level with a smile on their face. In all fields of work, it is not just about talent anymore, it is also about attitude.