Regardless of what business you compete in, work in, or play in, we are all trying to reach the pinnacle of our industry. We're all trying to get on the field at our Super Bowl, and play in that Hallmark event. For me, that's the Indy 500. Perhaps for you it's the corner office, or the first seat in the band?
Last month, I started my last semester here at K12 and to think I'm on the homestretch to graduating high school is incredible. It's one of those things you felt like you'd never be done with and a finish line that would take forever to reach.
Not only am I in the final stretch of school, I'm also in the final stretch of my amateur racing career before I turn pro! This year I'm competing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series for Andretti Autosport, which is the final stepping-stone to a career in the IZOD IndyCar Series and a shot at attempting to qualify for the Indy 500.
The Super Bowl reminded me that we're all working towards what we see as our top goal, our end result. As we continue to reach for those goals and realize those dreams, the stakes get higher and the obstacles far greater.
Since the end of last season when I finished the Star Mazda racing season, my plate has never been so full. It seems as though my racing career is taking up 99% of my time and that last 1% of time I've been devoting to finishing up my education. If I didn't have K12 I wouldn't be able to be doing both and succeeding at both.
Opportunities don't always present themselves more than once and sometimes they are at inconvenient times. Perhaps your team made it to the actual Super Bowl this year and what if you had been injured and didn't get to play. Let's say your team had one of the best engine/engineering packages this year and your team's racecar's were crazy fast but you didn't have the sponsorship to compete, you'd be missing out.
My point is you always have to be ready to play, to compete, to continue and jockey towards your next opportunity. I've been working extremely hard over this off-season and feel as though I'm in the best physical shape of my life and I'm constantly seeing the fruits of my labor.
Late last year, I set the unofficial new track record in Indy Lights at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have been consistently 1-2 during testing sessions as we prepare for the 2013 racing season. This sort of result on the racetrack gives me additional motivation to keep working towards my dreams. However, what can be the hardest thing though, is when we aren't performing and we don't feel as though our hard work is paying off. We can become discouraged and sometimes quit. But as author Norman Peale once said, "It's always too early to quit."
Keep charging forward and know that, if you continue to work hard and push forward with dedication, commitment and resolve, your Super Bowl will be in reach.
I'd love to hear what you are working towards. What goals have you set for this year and what dreams are you trying to realize?
Thanks for reading,
-Zach