Dick Fosbury saw his sport differently and changed history. Take a new perspective. This is The Edge 2 THIS IS THE EDGE DICK FOSBURY

How a new perspective changed the world.

The is a straightforward event. You jump a bar and whoever jumps the highest, wins. The smallest increase can mark the difference between failure and success. But if everyone uses the same technique, it becomes increasingly difficult to out-compete.

At JLL, we believe different perspectives present new opportunities. What if, instead of following convention, you decide to challenge it?

In an exclusive interview with JLL, Dick Fosbury reveals how he gained a fresh perspective on the world, and developed an entirely new technique that propelled him to the top.

WATCH THE VIDEO 3 THIS IS THE EDGE FOSBURY FLOP JLL/Fosbury personal archive JLL/Fosbury

Pictured above, How did you develop sitting up. That was a new perspective… Dick Fosbury after the revolutionary “flop” technique? winning in the high jump and it worked. I made the bar! at Medford Highschool’s senior track event; 1965 The revolution was seeing things from Was it a question of incremental a different angle. That was day one changes, or larger discoveries? really. The evolution took a couple of years. I’d tried all the old high-jumping On the one hand a major revolution. styles, like the scissors. The straddle. There was that first day in competition The western roll. But as the bar kept when I really changed my body position getting higher, I knew I had to change and found a new way to jump higher, to stay competitive. and do it more efficiently. It was a disruptive approach. After that, it What triggered the idea took the next two years. I refined the to go backwards? technique, learning to lead with my shoulder, to arch my back; adapting the I knew that I had to do something style into something more modern. In different. I needed to stay on the track sport, in competitions, the innovation team and be successful. I was really was constantly being tested. My coach motivated by instinct and will power, and my team-mates were supportive; it because I hated losing. As the bar got was working, and I was jumping higher. higher, I tried leaning back to raise my hips. I changed my body position from 4 THIS IS THE EDGE DICK FOSBURY JLL/Fosbury personal archive JLL/Fosbury

How refined was your technique when perspective, was the highest level. I you started winning national titles? came away really well prepared to go the in . I was still in college. I had developed my technique really well and I was What gave you The Edge at the prepared. What held me back was 1968 Olympic Games? my training. I learned: to make it to the national stage, you’ve got to train When I got to Mexico City, I was yourself to be a stronger athlete and excited to be working with experts a better athlete. I was very fortunate I knew could sharpen my timing, and that my coach put me on a really good give me the insights I needed to win. programme. And the better I got the I had my eyes open and was watching, more focused and dedicated I was. taking in all of the sights, learning about That’s what got me to win the national the other athletes. What I learned is championship, twice indoors and really that when you come down to once outdoors. the human level, we have far more in common than we do differences. Do you remember your first international competition? As athletes we all have the desire to succeed. To be an Olympian, it’s not I had competed against a junior team enough to rely on what you already two years earlier, but in 1968 the Russian have. That’s merely an advantage. athletes came to the . To excel, you have to have The Edge. That was the first time I was exposed to And in that ultimate, elite competition, foreign competition. It was an eye I wanted to fulfil my potential and opener. The United States competing show the world what I could achieve. against the Soviet Union, from my JLL/Fosbury personal archive JLL/Fosbury 5 THIS IS THE EDGE FOSBURY FLOP JLL/Fosbury personal archive JLL/Fosbury

What did it feel like to win that demonstrated to my clients that Olympic gold? I could succeed, we could have a win-win situation on their projects. I remember clearly going for the gold medal. The competition was between You didn’t do all this alone? me and my US team-mate, both jumping a height we had never cleared Lots of people have helped and before. On my last attempt, I remember inspired me, in sport and in business. that feeling of space between my body Of course, success at such a high and the bar. And that’s when I knew I sporting level opened doors for me, had established myself – brought all but really it’s the partnership – the my insight and judgement and timing network of experience that gives you together. That feeling is something I’ll the vision and builds your credibility. never forget. I could compete and win It’s interesting being part of a team. at the highest level. That was a peak You’ve got your leader motivating you experience that affected my life forever. to succeed, and team-mates working collaboratively for the team. It’s the Success demands character, same in business, because that’s how how would you describe yours? you access new ideas and ways of approaching the challenges. Dedication builds your character. And of course, being stubborn and not a Innovation drives success, and that quitter in the face of constant testing helps you to influence people. Just and analysing, that’s when you build a like the high jump; when others adopt record through years of success; that your methods, that’s what really establishes your credibility as a person changes things. or team. I had the same experience in my profession as an engineer. As long as I could develop a record over time 6 THIS IS THE EDGE DICK FOSBURY

The world now uses your technique, What was the lasting impact how does that make you feel? on your life?

For years I was “jumping over the bar It was interesting the criticism that backwards”. On the one hand, I had I had. The other jumpers were not to rely on myself. On the other, I was really verbal to me, but I was criticised successful with my method. I liked by some of the foreign coaches. In being different. It took a couple of conversations they just told me flat years for other athletes to even try out that my technique would never be my technique. After I demonstrated successful, that the classic style and consistent results, other people saw their athletes would be successful that they could try this. That was really and that they were going to win all amazing. And one day, someone the medals and that I just didn’t will develop a new technique. Every have a chance. competitor loves the attention that comes with success, but being Winning an Olympic gold medal different and having your own way gave me the self-confidence that I gives you individual credibility. could be competitive at this level. This confidence helped me to complete my university degree, start my own company, be part of a team, and become a business leader. It takes small steps to deliver success. You have to always stay open to that great discovery, that disruptive technology, the fresh perspectives that constantly improve our world. To see that, and to inspire others to innovate, that’s the greatest reward of all.

JLL/Fosbury personal archive JLL/Fosbury 7 THIS IS THE EDGE FOSBURY FLOP

Dick Fosbury found success because he was willing to challenge and to try something new. But three key attributes also emerge from talking with Dick that we can all learn from and apply to our own working lives.

Character, credibility and connections thread their way through his story, and combine at certain moments to give him the confidence to look past convention and shape a bold new perspective.

At JLL we call this The Edge. Character, credibility and connections underpin everything we do and gives us the confidence to see the world differently, present new investment opportunities, and shape bold perspectives that help you to navigate today’s investment opportunities with conviction. The Edge is access to the experts who shape outcomes: connections that add real value to each investment, and the feeling of inspiration that comes with our proven understanding of property dynamics.

Whether you’re searching for sustainable income, need help building the right property investment strategy, or simply need new ideas to give you an edge in your working life, we have the right mix of research, expertise and insights to help you make big decisions, with impeccable timing.

See the world differently. This is The Edge

Watch the full video online theedge.jll.com