Continuing the theme of my last post, I’d like to talk about the fact that there’s an art and a science to racing in the rain; just like business, just like entrepreneurship, and just like HR in today’s climate. It’s about the hard stuff and the soft stuff. And more than that, it’s about “hardwiring” the “soft stuff.” And from now on, when I use the expression “Racing in the Rain” I mean operating in today’s shifting markets and competitive landscape as an entrepreneur, business or HR leader.
The art of racing in the rain is getting the driver and the car to perform as if it isn’t raining! When you can drive like the track isn’t wet, when everyone else is driving like it is … you’ll win. It’s as simple as that… or as complex.
You see, most drivers are afraid of the rain. Rain amplifies mistakes and water on the track makes things unpredictable. Here are a few more final lessons from the book “The Art of Racing in the Rain” I’d like to share:
• “Prepare. Do. Reflect. Prepare. Repeat.”
• “Never move over to let anyone pass. Make them pass you.”
• “Don’t get angry. Watch. Understand. Act accordingly.”
• “Racing success is about discipline and intelligence, not who has the ‘heavier foot’.”
• “The one who drives smart always wins in the end.”
• “Never take unnecessary risks. Always take necessary, calculated ones.”
• “There is no dishonor is losing. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.”
I’ll close this post by saying we must all have faith, confidence and trust in ourselves and in our teams. Trust in our individual and collective talent, judgment and drive. Because …
“The race is long. To finish first, first you have to finish.”
We’ve just begun 2010. Here’s to finishing … and finishing first!
Image credit: garthstein.com
