Simone Biles Refused To Be A Work Martyr. You Should, Too.

On Tuesday, Simone Biles, the record-breaking American gymnast, withdrew from the Olympic team finals after an uncharacteristic falter on the vault, saying that she was not in a good mental place to compete.

“I can’t risk a medal for the team, so I need to call it,” Biles explained after the event. “And you usually don’t hear me say things like that, because I usually persevere and push through things.”

As a result of her decision, teammates stepped in for her on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, and Team USA ultimately won silver.

Biles’ decision to exit the competition for her well-being, despite global pressure to perform, has career lessons for us all. You are probably not one of the greatest elite athletes ever to perform a sport, but you may be asked to “save” a project or a team, even if that means sacrificing your time, well-being and energy.

Let Biles offer you a career lesson in how to respond.