Message from Kieren Perkins

Just yesterday morning I was with Kieren Perkins (see photo). We were both presenters at the same conference at Hyatt Regency Coolum. For any overseas readers who dont know him, Kieren is an Australian icon. One of the best known Australian athletes, having broken 12 world records and multiple Olympic Gold Medals in swimming. The 1500 metre is his specialty, and he is still the youngest person to break 15-min in this event.

Kieren presented a great message at the conference. He said that of all the world class athletes he met in his 10+ years of international competition, hardly any were "born champions". In fact Kieren himself didn't really like swimming when he was young. He also said the media stories we see about athletes starting out with exceptional skills at 4 years of age, or that if you haven't "got it" at an early age then you have no chance, is just a media perspective. It is not reality.

So take that message to heart. You have the opportunity to be succesful, even if you didn't have an early start at it - in life, sport or business.