Until recently, this title would only have invoked images of an oft screened film about a group of military convicts and misfits who are given a one in a million shot at freedom by completing a near impossible and extremely dangerous mission. The film, including Clint Eastwood and Telly Savalas, involves these dysfunctional individuals being transformed through good military training in a crack unit, moving from zeros to heroes.

However, to many of us Brits who have watched the Olympics over these last two weeks ‘Kelly’s Heroes’ has taken on a whole new meaning. Last week, Kelly Holmes, ex-military English athlete, became the double 800m and 1500m Olympic champion. Few athletes more powerfully display the Olympic ideal of guts, grace and talent than Kelly, who over the years has known the bitterness of defeat, injury and disappointment and now, at last, the ecstasy of sublime victory. As she crossed the line winning the 800 metres, the look of disbelief on her face that turned from shock to unadulterated joy will be one of the enduring images of the Athens 2004 Olympics.

In the midst of the media circus that ensued, Kelly mentioned something important that those of us who lead would do well to reflect upon as a new business season emerges. Commenting on her preparation for the 1500m after already achieving Gold in the 800m she said, “I have stopped looking at the medal and have wrapped it up in a T-Shirt and put it away, it is of no use to me for this next race”. She realised there was to be no resting on yesterday’s laurels for this new challenge. It was a brand new race.

The American 400m legend, Michael Johnson, picked up on this in his commentary, telling us that at the end of each season he too would pack away all the numerous spoils that had come his way, recognizing that they were completely irrelevant for the new challenges that lay ahead. Admittedly, the aura of previous success can build a bedrock of confidence from which to challenge afresh, and this appeared self evident in the changed demeanour of Kelly Holmes. However, yesterday’s victory NEVER guarantees tomorrow’s success. Indeed it can be the very distraction that undermines tomorrow’s performance.

It is also worth considering the foundation upon which Kelly, at age 34, has been able to create this remarkable, double success. In listening to her interview after the second victory, she constantly alluded to three tools which helped her turn past failure into resounding success: the discipline of training and self mastery over the years; her focussed preparation in the preceding weeks in Cyprus and the support of her team. These three ingredients are not new.

Laurie Beth Jones noted in her Leadership book Jesus CEO, which was on Business Week’s best sellers list for 18 months, that Jesus introduced three key leadership principles into the world – self-mastery, action and relationship. These, she states, are what he used to create the high-performing team that was to transform their world and consequently shape much of human history.

What was true in creating success for Kelly, the new corporate guru, Jesus of Nazareth and also for Clint, Telly et al, must surely also be true for us, as we enter this new season. Mastering our individual and corporate appetites/selves, focussed and committed action founded on sound, working relationships, have always been the ingredients for becoming a world class act.

Phil Wall
CEO