Will we turn the Olympics into our future success or waste it?
Is it all over?
Were you sad when the 2012 Olympic fire was extinguished? I certainly was.
Some people warn us of a “dip” experienced after the Olympics. Others just look at the negative side.
All that money, passion, heroism and heartache. All that effort. All the celebration and success … Is it really over?
Do we choose to be a great nation?
It does not need to be over. In our little country we just proved we can be a great nation. 29 Gold medals. 65 medals in total. Third only to massive America and China. We even beat Russia for heavens sake!
What is more, everyone was impressed with our smooth organization and our “happy and glorious games”. Do you remember how nervous we were that we would not come up to scratch?
Best of all, we brought incredible people together from all over the world. For two weeks we embodied the “league of nations” – the world pulling as one, cheering each other on, to create something incredible, to make history. As Lord Sebastian Coe said “We did it right … We wrote a new chapter.”
Olympics: £12 billion all gone or our best ever investment?
£12 billion! It is far too much money to waste.
Each of the medalists gave us a wonderful example. For 4 years each of them focused on their goal. They worked out what they needed to do to get there. They learnt better ways. They visualized and knew what it would feel like when they got there. They practiced. When they failed they got up and tried again.
If we choose to use their example we can turn the Olympics into our most powerful investment in centuries – if ever.
Olympian level individuals
As an individual, what would you choose as a momentous goal for August 2016? What is so exciting and spectacular that you will choose to go for gold every single day over the next 4 years? If even ten percent of us realise goals like that the world will look on us in awe.
Impressive Business Growth
Can you challenge your business leaders to go for growth? To show the competition what you can achieve in four years? Before the Olympics we felt powerless in the grip of an economic mess. Yet if we drive for growth over the next 4 years our economy will reach Olympic levels. Yes it will. If just 10% of our companies achieve fast growth, especially if we export more, we would achieve hundred times more than cost cutting can ever do.
Before the Olympics, British businesses seemed to have given up hope. Yet hundreds of companies have been growing at 15% pa year after year through the recession. They do not work harder than you do. Nor do they cut margins. Actually on their margins are higher! Find out how they make it work. If they can do it so can we.
So what will you choose?
Jonathan Freeland of the Guardian said that one day we may ask of the Olympic games “Did you exist? Or did I dream a dream?”
I challenge each and every one of you to take the gift, to:
■ Choose an inspiring goal to achieve by August 2016
■ Paint a picture of what it will be like to achieve that goal. Make it so real you can step into the picture and feel the emotions
■ Work out what you need to do and what help you need to get there. (If your goal involves business growth – learn how)
■ Prove the Olympics 2012 was just the beginning.
If you do that then, together, we will inspire a generation. We will go for Gold!
