Five Things You Can Learn About Winning From Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick’s first racing season was in 2005 at
Homestead-Miami. That year, she became the first woman tonlead the Indy 500 for 19 laps and finished the race innfourth place. It was the best finish by a woman at Indy,nand she took Rookie of the Year honors.

On April 20th, 2008, the twenty-six year old Patrick madenhistory again by becoming the first woman to WIN an Indynrace with a victory in the Indy 300 at Twin Ring Motegi,
Japan.

In a sport where races are won and lost by fractions of ansecond, here are a few keys to being a winner at Indy and anwinner in in life.

1. You can be the greatest driver in the world but younneed a great team around you to win. Patrcick’s teamnmembers each have a specific job to do and they practice,npractice, practice to master it. The mechanics whonassemble the car, the pit crew, the technicians who monito
the stats and gauges and so on. Every single individual onnthe team makes a critical contribution to the results ofnevery race.

2. You must believe in yourself. When asked if she doubtednshe could win a race, she said, “No doubt, just a matter ofnwhen.” If you believe winning is inevitable, then it willnbe for you.

3. Learn how to deal with your critics. Patrick says, “Inexpect people to think that I can’t drive still because I’mndifferent,” she said. “I’m in a boys sport, so you get thengood old boys and people that aren’t open to change. Younget people that don’t want to embrace it. As far as being anwoman, my car doesn’t know the difference.”

4. Never say never. Patrick is clear about keeping hernoptions open, saying, “I’ve learned too well over the lastnsix to eight years, you can’t say anything is a never.
Saying never is a very strong word, and if you say thatnword, it really lives. You have to go where you feel younhave the best chance to win and the most opportunities andnwhere you feel your heart is.” This same spirit thatnallowed her to leave the comfort of her home in the USA andnmove to England as a teenager in order to give herself everynopportunity to become a leader in the sport.

5. You must maintain your focus. In a race where you’rendriving 220 miles per hour, a single mental error cannresult in a catastrophic crash or injury, wiping outnthousands of hours of work and millions of dollarsninvested. Determine your critical areas that demand thengreatest focus and master those areas. In the race Patricknwon, one of the main factors was fuel. Seven of herncompetitors ran out of gas, thus allowing her to pass thenleader when he struggled with fuel issues, thus ensuringnher victory.

Every Goal has specific elements that are more crucial thannothers. Identify the areas that are most critical.

Focus on those.

Invest your time and energy in the areas that will make thengreatest difference.

Think of one Goal you are working on.

In what components of this Goal must you pay precisenattention to in order to succeed in it’s advancement ornachievement?

Live Your Dreamsn