That Fine Line

Posted by McCann on June 29, 2011

“I’ve always thought that working in a creative based business was very special – because like most supplier businesses – there are different levels of creativity and servicing so people can find their place. Some get better at it so they constantly increase their worth to a company – and some settle at one level and stay there – which in the competitive environment we work can be either fine or very dangerous depending on the circumstances.

However the other day – was a good day to be in the business and a great reminder as to why we can be very fortunate to work in it. Giaan Rooney – Australia’s former Olympic and World Champion Swimmer came into the agency and spoke about all sorts of things. But for me – the most interesting thing were the parallels between what she did for 9 years as a champion and what we get asked to do today.

Her world was based on a competitive spirit, desire and need to get better and better. Getting up at 4.30 am every morning to go to training and swim 10 kilometers then do it again after school in her earlier years, to develop a strategy for each race to get her the result she wanted, to keep the fires burning within her to defeat the opposition hidden but ever present and to maintain such a discipline in everything she did that kept her mentally and physically fit – was truly outstanding.

While we sat there and listened to her own superstitions to get her in the right frame of mind and the incredible commitment and sacrifices to achieve world champion status – it really was such a refreshing reminder that by just going through the motions achieves little – and to be a standout performer it requires a very special level of commitment.

It was inspiring and reinvigorating to hear – and a great reminder of just how lucky we are to be given an opportunity to work in a business that pays us to use our imagination and creative abilities – yet it will be for nothing without the essential discipline required to help us to stand out from the rest.

Yes we are indeed fortunate – but who remembers the names of all the people Giaan Rooney beat to achieve greatness. It is a fine line between winning and almost winning – but there is a line that needs to crossed”.