Unlocking Your Inner Gold: 7 Steps to Success

After winning gold at the Rio Paralympics, I was invited to Monash University for filming. But first, I had training. I parked outside the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), tucked my bag—with my medals inside—into the footwell, and covered it with my jacket. A local thief saw me.

By the time I returned from my ride, the car window was smashed, and my bag was gone. While I was shocked, I knew anger wouldn’t change the situation. My medals were stolen, but my achievement was mine forever. Three weeks later, the police found them.

That experience taught me that finding our ‘Inner Gold’ is a process—much like refining real gold. Here are seven steps to help you find yours:

1. Know what your gold looks like – Miners dig deep knowing what they seek. You must dig within yourself to find what truly drives you.

2. Set specific goals – Just as miners follow precise drilling patterns, success requires a clear plan and commitment.

3. Find the right mentor – Engineers rely on geologists to locate gold; you need a mentor who knows the way to success.

4. Recognise and refine weaknesses – Gold isn’t pure when mined. Growth requires acknowledging flaws and working on them.

5. Embrace setbacks as part of the process – Gold undergoes crushing, grinding, and extreme heat before it shines. Your journey will include challenges, but persistence is key.

6. Focus on the 1% improvements – Refining gold to 99% purity takes extra effort. Small adjustments in your approach can make all the difference.

7. Never focus on the odds – A metric tonne of ore yields just 6.5 grams of gold. The odds may seem impossible, but success is always within reach if you put in the work.

‘It all comes down to effort versus outcome!’~ Carol Cooke AM PLY