About 5 years ago, in 2008, I renewed my interest in tennis and found a gangly Scot making his way in to the quarter finals at Wimbledon.  A bit of a nobody at that time, bit of a rough diamond. I thought he had a spark of life that made him worth watching and watch him I did every Wimbledon match possible from them on, believing that one day, he would win Wimbledon. Friends said who? and why? and I just said because he’s a fellow Scot, he’s from the next town, because he’s good!

Last year, Andy got to the finals, but lost to Roger Federer. In a famous understatement, he said with tears in his eyes, “I’m getting closer”.

Watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon this year was a dream come true. His playing was superb, instinctive and brilliant. No one doubted that this year, he earned his titlle and deserved to win.

We know he grew up in Dunblane, a small Scottish town in Scotland, and went to the school where a mad gunman massacred a bunch of 16 unsuspecting kids and their teacher one sunny day. We know how he practised in local tennis clubs until his parents eventually sent him a tennis academy in Spain where he worked hard to learn his craft and build his physical stamina. A knee defect where the bones in one of his knees didn’t join as they should has some times caused him problems as well as pain. Despite this physical problem, he has gone on to win Wimbledon as well as Olympic Gold and Silver medals and other tennis titles.

What is maybe not so well known is he comes from Braveheart country, the part of Scotland where despite overwhelming odds, legendary Scots fought to victory agains the English to win Independence for Scotland. First there was William Wallace, immortalised by Mel Gibson in his film “Braveheart” followed by King Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, who won the final defeat against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

Andy comes from a line of fighting men who don’t give up till they have won and win he most certainly has done!!!

On Wednesday, we had another live training webinar with John Thorhill as members of his Partnership to Success Program.

John is just back from a sailing vacation on the Norfolk Broads – and that was the first point of his lesson by actual demonstration. While he’d been away, his business continued to operate to promote and sell products and make income. He showed us the value of automating as many aspects of your business as possible and the power it generates. He also discovered the value of the connections he’s made and the importance of co0operation and teamwork.

While John was away, I was still able to use his support desk, to handle an issue I had. His support desk is abley manned by one of his former students, so she knows how his program work. She is a product of his training who has also developed her own internet businesses.  Providing good support to your customers is vital if you want to continue a successful business that delivers good value.  That, in turn, develops  good word of mouth. Having someone trustworthy to turn this over to is essential. So for us on John’s program was an insight in to the mindset that goes with success and a live demonstration of how to do things the right way.

Just out of curiosity, I looked up another internet marketer whose list I used to be on. He also launched a training program. I’m not going to name names, but I had my reservations so I never took him up on it at the time. Well, looking into now, there were plenty of comments on a forum about lack of support: emails not answered, poor contact details, lack of follow up leading to requests for refunds. All on the first page of Google! Not even hard to find. Just goes to show how important your support is and how quickly it can impact on your business.  Poor word of mouth spread like like a wild fire

It speaks well for John’s approach, his programs and services that he has loyal students who continue to work with him and want to remain in contact with him. Obviously they learned information of value and weren’t disappointed with his training. I like that he doesn’t disconnect from the students of his coaching programs when their time is up. He empowers them. He doesn’t criticise his students and or refer to them negatively.

Just like tennis great, Andy Murray benefited from his coaching with Ivan Lendl, and won two Olympic medals and a Grand Slam this summer, Partnership to Success is an opportunity for mentoring from someone who is a winner in the internet marketing game. Next time John offers the Partnership to Success, take the opportunity. You won’t regret it.