Formula One Racing

Posts Tagged ‘Mindset’

Whether you delight in watching Formula 1 racing or not, there is so much you can learn about life, goal achieving and what it takes to be a winner just from watching the sport. Someone once described life as a series of failures punctuated by successes. Many individuals become discouraged by setbacks rather than seeing them as learning experiences. Some are so discouraged, they vow they will never try that experience again whereas the attitude of a Formula 1 racer is “let me get back in the cockpit”.
“Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don’t look back at it too long. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come. ”
Og Mandino, From A Better Way to Live
During the 2007 Grand Prix du Canada, Robert Kubica (Poland, BMW Sauber) suffered a horrific crash. Several networks reported that he had broken his leg but he was lucky enough to escape with a mild concussion and a sprained ankle – a testament to the improved safety of racing cars. Kubica was keen to drive in the United States Grand Prix in Indianapolis but his doctors advised against it and so he was forced to wait until the Grand Prix de France at Magny-Cours.
From the qualifying rounds, he allayed any fears that his accident had unsettled his nerves or dulled his desire for success. He drove well and he drove aggressively gaining himself a fourth position on the starting grid – his best for the season. Kubica held on to his fourth position finishing behind Lewis Hamilton (England, McClaren).
In the qualifying rounds of the Grand Prix of Europe at Nurburgring, Hamilton experienced his first crash in this his rookie season. A faulty wheel gun caused his right wheel to detach itself from his car. He was traveling at about 175mph at the time. For an agonizing 30-45s team boss Ron Dennis was out of contact with his young driver as car’s radio had been rendered in operable during the impact.
Then Hamilton could be seen wriggling his legs before he climbed out of the cockpit but his legs then buckled under him. Later, as he was carried away on a stretcher with an oxygen mask covering his face and a drip hanging from his arm, he still managed to wave reassuringly to his supporters. He was quick to make it clear that he felt fine and that he wanted to take part in the main race.
“Let me drive,” he said.
He was eventually given the all-clear to take part in what proved to be a chaotic race, made even more exciting by torrential rain. Kubica, too got caught up in the drama. His spinning BMW-Sauber punctured Hamilton’s left rear tyre. The long and small of it, Hamilton came away empty-handed. Despite this he was smiling and philosophical especially as even though he failed to score any points, he still leads the drivers’ table, albeit by a slim margin. Still, as Bob Proctor will tell you, the difference between being a winner or a loser is often as fine as a razor’s edge.
Like Kubica, Hamilton likes racing. He likes winning, he’s competitive and he likes learning. He admitted that he learnt a fantastic deal from this experience which he will, no doubt, place into practice in subsequent races.
“I told you from day one that this was going to happen eventually, that it would be inevitable that I would not end on the podium. So I was ready for it. You need to have these experiences, and this was all a huge experience for me, and it’s still not over. But I have learned 10 times as much today than in the last race. ”
So here are a few lessons about goal achieving one can learn from Formula 1:
1. Life is not a dress rehearsal – live it to the max
2. Play the game of life to win rather than play to lose
3. Consider life as a series of races and learn from each race
4. Be prepared for setbacks and learn from them
5. If you suffer a setback get back into the cockpit as soon as possible
6. Acknowledge that you will make mistakes and that this does not make you a failure
7. Celebrate your victories
And, above all, remember life is indeed a game – keep smiling!

“When you can clearly see yourself being there, you can see much more clearly how to get there. You can imagine the path to your dreams, and then start to really walk it. Play an active role in your own future. Imagine with passion and detail how you’d most like it to be. ” —Ralph Marston

Are you networking and marketing? If not, what is holding you back? If you are, does your passion and expertise come through with confidence?

I have seen many sole business owners network, but they don’t do it with poise and confidence. There is an underlying mindset of desperation or they hesitate talking about their services. This is not very client attractive. When you get out there and let others know about you, show confidence and poise to be attractive.

If you are not sure how to do this, then make a point of working with someone who might be able to help you. Consider joining a group like Toastmasters to become more comfortable with public speaking. Talking from personal experience I know this choice will help. Before I started networking I knew I had to get past my own public speaking fears. Committing to weekly Toastmaster meetings helped me to overcome that significant obstacle to my mindset, networking and marketing.

As you practice, continue to fine-tune your message. Experiment and try different things. Change one small part of your message each time. See if you can determine which specific words get the best response.

Remember people like to buy. Nobody likes being sold. Buying is an emotional response to a perceived need. The choice to become a client is an emotional choice, not a logical one.

When talking with others about your services you want to be seen as the person who has the solution to their problems. Pay attention to determine the “needs” of your ideal client. If you are not sure, question them. They will be more than pleased to tell you. The reason you reckon someone chose to work with you might not be right. In fact, you might find their need was different than what you thought.

Now that you are aware of the mindset for marketing and turning a prospect into a client, get out there and take action. When you go to events or develop your marketing message determine a realistic goal for the event. What is the reason you are going? Make a focus and an intention. Show up at the event with a purpose.

To become a fantastic marketer learn to connect with people on an emotional level. This is right for men and women. Build relationships being genuinely interested with the people you meet.

People like to be heard. Be patient and develop a connection. Rapport makes a sense of trust. Know, trust and like. Those are the keys to turning a prospect into a client.

Don’t worry about your elevator speech or marketing message. Find one way to connect with the people you meet. Take the time to listen to them. People want to be heard. Look for the connection and then share something about yourself with them which relates to the discussion, developing rapport.

When you do get a chance to make a pitch is it client attractive? Do you focus on how you can serve them or is it technical describing the details of what you do?

People delight in tales. We are tale tellers by nature. Find a way to weave in a tale about how you solved a problem for one of your clients. Talk with passion about what you do and how you were of service to this person. Allow your enthusiasm to shine through.

When I go to my weekly networking meetings, one member always has a chance to present for ten minutes. If the person is talking about how they have helped their customers with tales of getting a project done, the time flies by quickly. On the other hand, when the speaker discusses the technical aspect and theory of their business, many times I feel like time has slowed down. I look around the room and can see the attention of the other members has shifted because the presenter has lost them. Make rich tales others can relate to easily.

Combine all the aspects of networking into a formula which feels genuine. Develop a plot. Determine which events you want to attend on a regular basis and which special events you want to attend to expand your reach. Develop the strategy to connect with people and educate them about your services. Remember, focus on the emotional connection instead of the technical work. For example when I take my car to the mechanic I am not interested in what tools will be needed to get the job done. I want to know the job will be taken care of by someone who I can trust, will charge me a reasonable price and have my car ready as quickly as possible.

Practice active listening and finding a way to connect with others. Not only will this help during networking events, it will help in all of your relationships. Be genuine, confident and present. Listen for the problem and then discuss how you have the solution. Make an impression by sharing a client tale and how you helped solve a problem. Reckon about ways you helped someone save money, save time and made it simple for them. These solutions are very client attractive. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become. Focus on building relationships and you will become a client attraction magnet.

Activity: Ready to try networking? You only have about 8 seconds to make a first impression. You want to use that time well. Therefore the very first thing to do is smile!

The first thing to do is to introduce yourself and develop rapport. Find the connection between you and the person you are speaking with. Reckon of four or five conversational questions you can use easily and naturally. Practice using them.

Next take the time to listen. Don’t be so focused on the next thing you want to say. Instead listen. Is there something they said which interested you or you related to? Did they talk about something which applies to your services and you might have the ideal solution for? If so, fantastic and keep the conversation going a small longer. Remember to use the persons name in your conversation. This will help you to remember who they are and it helps to make rapport.

Feel free to question for their business card and then offer yours as well. I write a note on the business cards I receive to help me remember something individual about the person.

When you are ready to go on and meet the next person, it is time to disengage. Ending a conversation can sometimes be hard. Just like you thought about some opening questions, reckon about some fantastic exit lines you can use. Thank them for their time, repeat something they said which you found fascinating and then excuse yourself.