Fly Like An Eagle

Michael Edwards, better known as Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, was the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping and was the British ski jumping record holder. A good downhill skier, he narrowly missed out on the GB team for that event for the 1984 Games. To improve his chances to qualify for 1988, he moved to Lake Placid in the US to train and enter races of a higher standard. However, he soon found himself short on funds. To realize his Olympic dream he decided to switch to ski jumping. Qualifying would be easier as there were no other competing British ski jumpers.

Eddie began jumping in Lake Placid, using his own equipment though he had to wear six layers of socks to make the boots fit.

He was handicapped by his weight which was more than 9 kg (20 lb) heavier than the next heaviest competitor and by a lack of financial support for training - he was totally self-funded.

Another problem was that he was very far sighted, requiring him to wear his glasses at all times even though these fogged to such an extent that he could not see. Eddie was informed of his qualification for the Games whilst working as a plasterer and residing temporarily in a Finnish mental hospital (he was not a patient) due to a lack of funds for alternative accommodation. Edwards first represented Great Britain at the 1987 World Championships and was ranked 55th in the world. This performance qualified him as the sole British applicant for the 1988 Winter Olympics ski jumping competition. Amazingly, his lack of success endeared him to people all across the globe.

The worse he did, the more popular he became.

He subsequently became a media celebrity and appeared on talk shows around the world, even appearing on The Tonight Show during the Games. At the closing ceremony, the president of the Organizing Committee, Frank King, seemed to single out Edwards for his contribution: "At these Games, some competitors have won gold, some have broken records, and some of you have even soared like an eagle." At that moment, 100,000 people in the stadium roared "Eddie! Eddie!". It was the first time in the history of the games that an individual athlete had been mentioned in the closing speech. Despite the obstacles and challenges, Eddie The Eagle had the courage and desire to choose an alternative sport so that he could compete in the Olympics. He achieved his Personal Best! "Courtesy of Wikipedia"

It Is Never Too Late!

He was 52 years old when an opportunity arose which would allow him to become his personal best

At the time he was a Multimixer salesman, the five spindle milkshake mixer

He did not say "I am too old to start something new"
He did not say "let someone else do this"

Instead he got on a plane and flew to California and spent a full day observing the "opportunity"

The "Opportunity" was McDonald's Restaurant, owned and operated by the McDonald brothers.
He watched their operation and in a display of salesmanship, convinced the brothers to make him their exclusive agent.

His name was Ray Kroc and the rest as they say, "Is History"

In 1954 Ray Kroc opened his own McDonald's drive-in in Des Plaines, Illinois. He officially established the McDonald's Corporation which was to become the largest fastfood chain in the world.

Who hasn't eaten under the "Golden Arches"?
Who hasn't "Kept their eyes on their fries"/
Who can forget "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun"?

McDonald's has become part of the North American culture!

Ray Kroc died on January 14, 1984 of old age. At the time he was worth an estimated $500 million.

With Courage, Desire and Choice, he had achieved 'His Personal Best'

The First Steps

It is a known fact that most people never achieve, realize or reach their desired 'Future'. Bright eyed and bushy tailed we leave school, university and college and see a wonderful, successful and fun filled road ahead of us.

Then 'Real Life' happens and it all comes crashing down!

Genes, natural talent and attitude often contribute to this situation.

The question then is "are most of us doomed to failure, or is their hope?"

Great News, There Is Hope!

One can achieve "Personal Bestness" (a word that I made up as it suits what I have to say and the English language is not perfect) by applying three basic life principles to your quest:

1. Courage
2. Desire
3. Choice

You will need to have the COURAGE to make the changes in your life that will put you on the road to "Personal Bestness"

You need to have the DESIRE to achieve "Personal Bestness"

You must make the correct CHOICES that allow you to be at your "Personal Bestness"

So, no excuses, apply yourself and "Be Your Personal Best"