Are you a fan of Indy racing? You might be surprised at how much it has in common with selling. Blogger and sales consultant Steve Martin has a blog post in which he compares racing in the Indianapolis 500 to selling. It’s a pretty interesting take on the industry, and he writes that “selling requires the same mental stamina as professional racecar driving and Heavy Hitters in both professions do what comes naturally.” Read on for his first three reasons why he believes the two industries are so much alike, and feel free to share any similarities that he may have missed! Click here for the entire post.
- You must understand the fundamental laws of your field. Indy racecar driving is very different from other types of racing. Whereas a NASCAR driver wants to stay close behind another racer in order to draft, the Indy racer needs separation and “clean air” to keep the car from careening out of control. The aerodynamic shape of the car’s bottom actually creates suction that keeps the car on the track.
- Peer pressure is huge. The most stressful time for an Indy driver is not actually the race itself. It’s the time trials to determine who will take the pole position. During these trials, racers watch their competitors. Specifically, they are looking at what the driver does heading into the first turn and if he will keep the gas pedal floored. This is the measuring stick that drivers use to determine who’s a real contender.
- Racing is a mental sport in which you do what comes naturally. Scott [Goodyear] competed in ninety-seven professional races. He quit racing when it didn’t feel “natural” anymore.
Friday, Aug 14, 2009
Jessica Helinski