7th August 2017

There are better starters than me but I'm a strong finisher

At the weekend I watched a legend bow out as the mercurial Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt finally brought the curtain down on his golden career on the track.

The retirement of the world record holder of the blue riband of athletics had been predicated since his quote in a recent documentary ‘that the 10 seconds of glory was no longer worth the 365 days of merciless work that allowed them’.  

The final part of the quote struck a chord with me, because Bolt put his success down to the fact that while there are better starters in a race, his hard work and training allowed him to develop the burst of power and speed that ensured he finished strongly and won the race.

How many businesses worry that others are moving ahead of them and gaze enviously at the success of others? Far too many, when all this could be placed on its head if they would only follow Bolts lead and put down a training regime to ensure they finish ahead of the competition.

I have written a booklet in partnership with Panacea Adviser to help any business do just that? Called ‘Simple tools and templates to help you drive your business forward’.

This has been designed for any business large or small and contains a wide variety of training tools that can get your business fit for the future.

It starts with what I call the ten questions to answer for business success. This is very simple and if you can’t answer any of these 10 then you have work to do.

Also in writing down the answers you do have to any question allows you to challenge your current thinking and decide is your existing strategy is correct or does it need adjusted.

I’d challenge everyone to begin and answer these questions which cover:

• Business vision
• Goals
• Segmentation
• Proposition
• Charging
• Profitability
• Alliances
• Communications
• Processes
• Structure.

If you can provide a positive answer for each, then you should be well on track for success, but perhaps, it might be the first time you have written them down in one place, which can only benefit you.

However, if through this exercise you find you can’t answer some of the questions, then you have a challenge ahead that we can help with.

The rest of the booklet looks at each of these areas and gives you a tool and template to collect and collate your thoughts. The answers you provide can help enhance your business and move you forward.

Going back to Usain Bolt he may have announced his retirement, but he still holds the 100 meters record at 9.58 ran in Berlin in 2009 but this was a gradual build up over time. He first took the record in 2008 when he ran 9.72.

It was those merciless 365 days training he talked about that allowed him to make what looks a small gain but which is a gigantic leap in his sport which still stands 8 years later.

This is because even small improvements in your life and business can result in massive gains.

However, these gains can only happen if you want them to and are prepared to work hard to achieve them.

If you are ready to evolve, then let us help you and I’d suggest you download a copy of our tools guide now

Then success can happen and I will leave you with another quote from the great man which shows why he has been such a legend of the track

 ‘I stopped worrying about the start. The end is what's important’.

Make sure your business becomes a strong finisher.

John Joe McGinley

Glassagh Consulting August 2017 

Business Development, John Joe McGinley, Glassagh Consulting