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Beachley inspiration

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by Peter Switzer

Last night I had the pleasure of interviewing Layne Beachley on my program — SWITZER — on Sky News Business Channel. And you might ask what the greatest female surfer of all time is doing on a business and money show, but the answer is simple — it’s all about going from good to great!

Turn up people

I will bet that most of the people who go to our website and open this article are easily classified as good performers. I see these people all of the time in my business speeches.

These people are turn up people. They know there’s stuff to learn that can help them — whether it’s to build up a great wealth nest egg, create a great business or put together a great reputation in the workplace. They know they are competitive and they want to win but they also know they haven’t got all of the answers.

This is why sports people are often recruited for business seminars and conferences. Be clear on this, great sportsmen and women aren’t born to be world class. Some do get blessed with speed, height, physique and other skills but plenty get these gifts from God and screw up big time.

Get focused

The starting point is hard work — lots of hard work — but that can only take you so far. Layne Beachley was powered by a sad early life where her 17-year old, natural mum put her up for adoption and at age six saw her new mum pass away.

She was lucky that her new dad, Neil, and ‘Nana’ Joan Tate showed her the love to pursue a dream, to show her worth by being the best in the world at something!

In talking to her she made the point that while she won seven world championship titles — which no one has matched — she did not win her first title until she was 26 years of age. On the other hand, she won her first surfing event at age 21 — her greatness was five years in the making.

Explaining her eventual success she put it simply:

“I was not ready. I was not focused.”

She attributes her ex-boyfriend, Ken, for making her focused — he even wrote down her goal to be a five-time world champion!

Learn from the best

Of course, along the way she changed and explained how important it was to have the right people around her. Learning from the best was another reason she was world class.

Securing Wendy Botha’s personal trainer was important to her transition from good surfer to great surfer and she still has this person on her team today.

Winners are not afraid to invest in success. Lots of good performers are too careful with their money — it’s the George Costanza syndrome — and their refusal to spend money for improvement means they do not progress.

From good to great

Layne’s new challenge is with her clothing range, which she says she has had five shots at so far without the success she wants.

“It could be seen as a failure, but they are learning opportunities,” she told me.

I suggested that if the product was good then all she needed was a great marketing plan but she admitted she didn’t have one at the moment. She asked me for ideas!

I advised that she needs to take a leaf out of her surfing success story and find the best marketing person in the clothing retail space or at least a great marketing mind.

Whether you want to build up your wealth or create a great business or career, if you start with a written down goal, put in the F-word for focus, make sure you pay for help where you are weak and then operate in your strength zone, you will ride the wave from good to great.

Work on your business, not in it. To learn how, book a complimentary business assessment today with a Switzer Business Coach.

Important information:This content has been prepared without taking account of the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular individual. It does not constitute formal advice. For this reason, any individual should, before acting, consider the appropriateness of the information, having regard to the individual’s objectives, financial situation and needs and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

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Published on: Friday, November 20, 2009