As Team GB climb the medal table at Paris 2024, you can’t help but feel in awe of their impressive performance as they compete on the world stage.  The Olympic Games mark the culmination of years of hard work, discipline and commitment – demonstrating once and for all that practice really does make perfect.

As commercial skills trainers and coaches we understand better than most that this principle is as important for commercial athletes who want to reach the top of their game as it is for Olympians. 

Putting the work in 

Josh Kerr, Tom Daley and Helen Glover all share a deep-rooted desire to achieve the extraordinary. They understand that this takes blood, sweat and tears. As the saying goes, “There is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory” and this holds equally true in the business world as it does in the gym or on the track.  

People often wrongly assume that you are have to be a natural-born negotiator or salesperson, when in fact commercial life skills can be learned and developed. According to the 10,000 Hour Rule, it takes 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” to become world-class in any field.  Whether it’s dedicating time to mastering the art of negotiation, sales or presenting, it’s never too late to invest in yourself and your learning.   

Raising The Bar 

One of the key attributes that all Olympic athletes share is a winning mindset and the belief that good is not good enough.  They aspire to greatness – constantly upping their game so they can beat their personal best. Think of Alex Yee’s incredible comeback to achieve Triathlon Gold or Keeley Hodgkinson storming to Gold in the 800m, saying afterwards, “I’ve worked so hard over the last year and you could see how much it meant to me as I crossed the line.” This clearly shows the incredible power of a growth mindset and how this enables you to reach the pinnacle of success. By believing in yourself and setting new and challenging goals, you too can unlock your confidence and drive your commercial performance. 

As we watch more Olympic triumphs unfold, be inspired by these powerful stories of ambition, drive and commitment and kickstart your own commercial training so you too can achieve your personal best.