A Lesson From Sporting Achievement

Last month, a horse called Mon Mome won the Aintree Grand National at odds of 100-1. He was the longest odds winner of the race since 1967 and was ridden by a young jockey having his first ever ride in the race. The race made me reflect on what can be achieved as long as we allow the possibility for it to happen.

In my capacity as a career coach for professional jockeys, a jockey once explained to me why he had decided to retire from racing. He had become what is known in racing as a ‘33-1 jockey’. He rode horses with outside chances of winning on a regular basis and made enough money to pay his mortgage and keep his family. He had ‘little to complain about’ and when the odd horse did win, it was an added bonus.

One particular day, this jockey went to the races with his usual book of 33-1 rides. He arrived at the course early, as he liked to do, even though he wasn’t booked to ride in the first race. As the first race jockeys began to get ready it became clear that the rider of the favourite, a top class jockey, was stuck in traffic and it looked unlikely that he would meet the deadline to ride in the first race. The trainer of the favourite was left with no option but to ask the 33-1 jockey to ride the horse. he was now the only available licensed jockey on the track. As the 33-1 jockey put the colours on he found himself praying that the top jockey would turn up – quickly! He was a 33-1 jockey and not the rider of a favourite trained by one of the top trainers in the country. An opportunity which he had often dreamt about as a young jockey was suddenly an unwanted imposition.

As self doubt consumed him, he wondered what had become of that young man who had set out to become the best jockey he could possibly be. He was trapped inside the comfort zone of being a 33-1 jockey with low expectations, where loosing was a given and winning a surprise. He didn’t want to ride this horse, he didn’t want the pressure, he didn’t want the glory.

As the final minutes approached he was the first to hear the athletic footsteps of the top jockey bounding into to the weighing room. He was stripping off the colours and handing them over before anyone else had barely noticed the new arrival. Within the next minute the top jockey was sitting on the scales wearing the colours of the favourite, and ten minutes later he rode the horse to victory. Completely drained by the experience, the 33-1 jockey reflected on what could have been and what would now never be.

Over the next few years he worked hard to re-train and built up a profitable business with loyal customers who now value him for his expertise. He makes more than enough money to pay the mortgage, keep his family and enjoys regular holidays. He finishes work each day knowing he has performed to the best of his ability, he welcomes new challenges and takes different experiences in his stride.

In business as in sport, we are all in danger of becoming a 33-1 jockey with daily routines and limited expectations, so how do we keep our 100-1 possibilities alive, where glory finds us before we even seek it? Restoring our self belief by recognising wake-up calls, acknowledging our situation and being honest with ourselves, is a great first step - whatever the odds.

‘Records are set all the time by big hearted people who don’t have the right background, ability or experience or who simply don’t know any better”. Kobi Yamada































©2009 Bumpy Business