Champion hurdler, TV presenter and now a careers guru, Kriss Akabusi is set to share the secrets of success. He talks to SALLY KING

Think of athlete Kriss Akabusi and the chances are that you will think of records, both those that he made and broke as a hurdler, and the children's programme Record Breakers which he presented.

What you probably won't think of is a successful Army career and his newest venture, showing others how to seek a new direction in their lives.

Olympic medalist Kriss isn't pushing a new religious conversion when he comes to Lakeside on Friday - although he has all the enthusiasm of an evangelist faced with a room full of sinners.

He is showing people how to move on to new careers as part of the New Year, New You roadshow which has already seen Dr Hilary Jones and top hairdresser Nicky Clarke give advice sessions.

"I don't really do Record Breakers any more," Kriss explained. "I still do TV, but more as guest slots on shows. My work now, the thing I spend my time doing, is my business, Peak Performance, which is all about motivating people - showing them how to adapt to change.

"You probably don't know that I had a military career for 15 years. It was there that I learnt how to communicate with a mass audience. I like to talk!"

It is his experience of change that makes Kriss feel he has important advice to impart . "When I was young, you left school to work for 50 years and a gold watch. Now jobs are more like a portfolio which you manage for five years.

"Some people, when they lose a job, will see themselves as discarded and sink to the depths of depression. Another will look at it more positively and see it as a chance to do something else.

"I want to help people focus on what they can do, not on what they can't. We all experience change."

Kriss has certainly experienced change in his life. Married to Monika with two daughters, Ashanti 15 and 12-year-old Shakira, he joined the Army in 1975 as a trainee data telegraphist in the Royal Signals.

He was transferred to the Army Physical Training Corps in 1981 where he completed three tours of duty with infantry battalions. He was discharged into the reserves in 1990 as a Warrant Officer Class 2.

His character and personality, which showed itself while he was a competing athlete, were soon seized upon by the media and entertainment industry.

From 1993 he presented the Big Breakfast, before co-presenting Record Breakers and other children's TVshows. He has gone on to appear on game and chat shows both on TV and radio - and has been in panto every Christmas since 1996.

"I believe I have been given a gift to communicate to a mass audience for a reason," he said. "I want to be a facilitator, a catalyst for individuals, showing them the way athletes approach a big event which can work for anyone.

"A top class athlete has a selective memory. They can look at the good things. They say to themselves 'I did well that day, I had a good training session then' and concentrate on that. If you look at the bad things you can go into a downward spiral.

"I want to teach these methods to people to apply to their lives."

Kriss will be presenting seminars at Lakeside drawing on his own very different careers and talk ing about goal setting, adapting to change and team work.

Kriss Akabusi will be on the centre stage at 7pm and 8pm at Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock Way, Grays on Friday.

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