A FASCINATING week for me. It was especially busy, thanks to a larger than usual amount of columns to include in this edition of the paper. The added pressure was, in the main, due to writing features about two people for whom I have boundless admiration, Jacqueline Norris and Peter Molony.

They come from different family backgrounds, one horse connected and the other not, but both have established themselves as professionals in the business, enjoying a great deal of success in a variety of strands within our sector.

I have admired the professionalism of Jacqueline Norris since my days at Goffs when she was selling for many different clients. What always struck me was the attention to detail she had about every aspect of the business – and I mean detail.

Nothing was overlooked and she and her team worked at beyond capacity at times. We have laughed about this in the years since, but I was always aware of Jacqueline at the sales and the meticulous way in which everything was done.

Peter Molony’s father was an icon, though he was in reality a modest man who avoided the limelight and was not one for fuss. While Jacqueline Norris, from a non-equine family, desired to be involved with horses, Peter for some time appeared to be eschewing that world. In The Big Interview you will read about how that changed.

In spite of their different routes to the world of bloodstock and racing, there are some common denominators. Striking among these are an openness to learn, something that continues to this day with both, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the best people, whether they be owners, clients, staff and associates. The world in which we operate, while a global business, is all about connections.

This is a message that I constantly preach to students in our business whenever I have an opportunity to talk with them. People you are with on various courses, and with whom you work, could one day open the door to a deal or an opportunity, and the deciding factor could be the friendship you had decades ago.

It is also vital, in my view, to get involved with every aspect of the business you can, increasing your own visibility. However, heed the warning contained in the interview with Peter Molony. Listed and learn. Those of us, even with a lifetime involvement with this business, can tell you that every day is a day learn something new.

Now, enjoy the features and this week’s paper.