Sports

From Olympic Coach & Glory to Greater Things

When the session ended I introduced myself saying I had a few ideas which may be of interest to him. He said.“ OK John, though I am a bit short of time.” We walked up to the house to meet his wife, Jocelyn. Jocelyn said she recognised me from my small business public activities. Enjoying a cup of tea I asked Lawrie about his future plans since he had announced his decision to quit elite swimming coaching after 20 years.

He said he had received a number of offers since his announcement in Seoul, but had not made any final decisions. He told me they were due to meet the famous promoter Harry M. Miller at the Parkroyal Hotel that day for lunch. Harry M. had flown up from Sydney to discuss a business proposition involving Lawrie having Harry M. manage and market him through Harry M’s celebrity speaker’s bureau.

Apparently Jocelyn and Lawrie were not entirely sold on the Harry M. proposal and so on my return visit to the Lawrence’s home the next day I tried to clarify what it was Lawrie wanted to do. He told me he was keen on the idea of corporate motivational speaking. He said he had done a few, in his words, “ paid talks ” prior to the Olympics. In addition he still wanted to retain his learn to swim school and somehow find the means to promote child safety in and around water across Australia.

As I saw it, Lawrie was faced with two completely different options. Either to accept the high profile position of Head Coach of Australian Swimming, an offer he received only a week prior to my arrival and one he was seriously considering, or alternatively follow his dream of publicly promoting water safety supported by a new career as a motivational speaker and swim school coach.

A busy life indeed. But I did see some synergy.
                                                                              
A week later I returned and outlined a career development and marketing strategy which catered for Lawrie’s preferred choice. We then discussed and weighed the financial risks involved as compared to the security and prestige on offer as Head Coach of Australian Swimming. He had a major decision to make!
It was career crunch time.

“I think we should go ahead with John’s plan”. Jocelyn said. Lawrie agreed, and as simply as that, his new career was launched with a celebratory cup of tea in their kitchen. A few weeks later Australian Swimming announced that the top Canadian Olympic coach Don Talbot had been appointed Head Coach of Australian Swimming.

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