Summer has now well and truly drawn to its close (all be it seems to have given us one last wonderful memento thanks to Hurricane Hermine), and with it, the end of the Rio Olympics part 1 and anticipate the excitement of the Paralympics. Yet we can welcome back our GB athletes with a well-deserved pat on the back; Adam Peaty’s record breaking gold, to Jason Kenny earning the title of most successful GB Olympian, to Nicole Adams gold in boxing, the Olympians accumulated twenty-seven gold medals, while in the Paralympics our current gold medal count is an impressive twenty-eight and counting.

But its not just our own men and women whose astonishing efforts we admire, but also great athletes, such as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, both of whom demonstrate superhuman speed either in the water or out. As we watched in awe we were forced to wonder what goes into making an Olympian. Some of it may just be down to luck of the genetic draw, but reality is that talent is accompanied by determination, perseverance and years and years of gruelling training sessions day in day out. As the saying goes hard work will beat lazy talent so we look to Laura Trott whose early years and ill health would never have led us to believe that her astonishing achievements would ever have been possible.

However, one of the main keys to success is the group of people guiding, coaching, shouting from the side of the pool/ring/river/track; the coaches. These men and women share their expertise on how the athletes can improve, as well as constantly driving them onto be the best, while instilling confidence and discipline. Glen Mills, the Jamaican sprint coach of the likes of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and co, was described by Bolt as doing exactly that – ‘…coach is always there to say “Don’t worry, I know what I can do to make you run faster, and what you need to do to go faster”.’ * Meanwhile in GB, the cycling coach David Brailsford, who coached Olympians such as Victoria Pendelton to success in London 2012, is described as ‘a “details guy” with a clear strategic vision’. This quality in a coach is the ability to see the end goal and enable the athletes reach their full potential.

Similarly in your career goals it is the unseen advice and guidance accompanying the “hard yards” in the work place and in personal development through ongoing studying and CPD that ABPM seek to provide. Not simply setting you up for next job (lap time) but enabling you to fulfil your career ambitions. Here at ABPM, we are dedicated to advising, coaching and helping you to become the most successful you can be. With over twenty five years of experience, we are committed to identifying and allowing you to nurture the financial management talents which motivate you and identify the opportunities to utilise them to advance along your career path. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us and begin the journey to achieving your career goals.

Rej Abraham Managing Director