Earlier this month I was at an event and had the pleasure to hear from two British sporting icons, Roger Black and Steve Backley. They run a business called Backley Black (https://www.backleyblack.com/) that provide motivational presentations, training and development and transferring the behavioural aspects of Olympic performance into business performance. I even managed to meet Roger Black afterwards to grab a picture.
Success is one of those words that is easy to use but much harder to define.
For some, success is growth. For others, it is freedom, security, legacy, recognition, impact, or simply building a business they are proud of. The important point is that success has to be personal. If you do not define what success means for you, there is a real danger that you end up chasing someone else’s version of it.
This is where the difference between achieving and striving becomes important.
Achieving a goal can be hugely rewarding, but it can also be dangerous if there is no plan beyond it. Steve Backley, the world-class javelin thrower, has spoken about the challenge of setting targets. In elite sport, the target has to be close enough to feel possible, but just far enough away to keep stretching performance. If the target is too easy, momentum stalls. If it is unrealistic, belief disappears. He told the story that when he was young his dad, his first trainer, used to move the target line just a bit further every time, so the target continued to move.
Steve had a great phrase that ‘you should train as if you were the second best in the world’
Clarity creates power. When you know the end in mind, decisions become easier. You can identify your non-negotiables. You can decide what you will and will not compromise on.
Performance also comes from belief. Not blind optimism, but empowering beliefs built on preparation, discipline and evidence. Roger Black’s athletics career is a powerful example of this. He was not able to control who else stood on the start line. He could not control Michael Johnson. He could not control the conditions, expectations or external noise. But he could control his own preparation, mindset and execution.
At the Atlanta Olympic Games, Black won silver behind Michael Johnson in the 400m. For many people, silver might feel like falling short. But the deeper lesson is that you can run the best race you are capable of and still not win gold. That does not make the performance a failure. In business, the same applies. You cannot control the market, competitors, interest rates, tax changes or buyer sentiment. But you can control how well prepared you are, how clearly you think, how robust your plan is and how well you execute.
There is also a major lesson in teamwork. In the 1991 World Championships 4x400m relay, Great Britain were not expected to beat the Americans. The night before the team decided to change the running order, took a different approach and delivered one of the great relay performances. Roger Black ran the first leg, with Derek Redmond, John Regis and Kriss Akabusi completing a race that changed what the team believed was possible.
That is a reminder that performance is rarely just about individual talent. It is about surrounding yourself with the right people, people who challenge you, complement you and raise the standard. In business, the same applies.
Ultimately, high performance is not about perfection. It is about knowing your why, finding your passion, setting clear targets, building empowering beliefs, surrounding yourself with talent and delivering your maximum.
The best performers do not simply achieve and stop. They keep moving the target. They keep learning. They keep preparing as though there is always another level.
That growth mindset is often what separates the good from the great ones.
I only saw a 30-minute presentation, but was very impressed and if you are looking for Olympic icons to bring the benefit of their experience and knowledge to a business context, I would highly recommend them. I left wanting to hear a longer version of the presentation so if anyone brings them into their business to present, please invite me too!!