Lessons from Max
Max Verstappen was four years old when he started karting with his father.
He had only one goal.
To become the best racecar driver in the world.
That has been his focus for twenty years, and last week Sunday, he accomplished his dream.
I will spare you all the details of the drama that unfolded. You probably heard about it. Nobody could have ever written the script of this racing season.
Leading to a final race with the rivals equal in points. Leading to a final lap with the rivals right behind each other.
A final lap where Max overtakes his rival Lewis and was crowned World Champion.
I had tears in my eyes when it unfolded.
Because it was such beautiful sport.
And because I saw his documentary “Max Verstappen, Whatever it Takes.”
I know the story.
Twenty years of hard work and dedication. Day in, day out. If you’ve ever seen an interview with Max, you hear it in his voice, and you see it in his eyes.
There was only one goal and one goal only.
To become F1 World Champion.
That has been his focus.
That goal was divided into smaller steps that served as milestones and signals to determine whether progress was going in the right direction.
Become the best in every racing category leading to Formula One.
Get a seat in a Formula One car.
Get your first podium finish.
Win your first race.
Win your first pole position.
Win your first championship.
Step by step. Day by day. With a relentless focus.
Only Max and his father, and perhaps a few close to them, know the sacrifices to get to this goal.
Sacrifices that only a few of us are willing to make.
Saying NO a million times more than saying Yes. Knowing what helps to get closer to the goal and what doesn’t. Every single day.
Being crystal clear about the steps to take to grow and become better.
Focus is what separates the winners from the losers.
Success is a daily business.
That’s what winners understand. In sports, in business, in life.
To outsiders, it may sometimes look like success suddenly happens, but nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s the ambition, the determination, and the courage to say yes to whatever your dream may be.
And therefore, to say NO to whatever is not in support of that dream.
That’s where businesses often fail.
They’re trying to be everything for everybody. They’re trying to hold on to what they had in the past. They try to manage multiple projects simultaneously, often not accomplishing what’s best in any of those projects.
Just because they believe they can bite more than they can chew.
Matthew Kelly, in his book ‘The Long View,’ quoted it this way:
“Most people overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can do in a month. We overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade.”
Matthew Kelly
Perhaps this is a good way to look forward to 2022.
Your turn:
- Know your dream.
- Be realistic about your goals in 2022.
- Be laser-focused on your plans for each month.
- Know what you want to get out of each day, to work your way up to your dream.
Success is a daily business.
Do more of what makes you happy!
Erikjan