Thirty years ago he peered down two roads.
One lead to a professional career in motorsports.
One lead back home to help his family start their manufacturing business.
Many of his friends chose the path of horsepower and high octane. One of them even climbed the ranks to become a NASCAR champion.
But though his talents would have granted him great odds at making it big, he chose the path of entrepreneurism and honor by showing up for his mom and dad.
That road led to a different kind of success; Today he leads the highest-performing arm of a 500 million dollar company. His family is beautiful and life is good.
But despite his victories down the road less traveled, he couldn’t help but long for the raceway every time he heard the squeal of a tire and the crackling of exhaust pass him on the street.
Until last weekend.
He finally scratched a thirty-year itch by making an appearance at the world’s largest super kart racing event at Daytona International Speedway.
He rented a kart, paid the entry fee, and took the track as a no-name amateur, against 38 professionals.
After a few laps, it was clear his instincts never left him. Becoming one with his machine, he shredded the label of a “nobody,” and secured a 5th place finish against some of the best in the nation.
That’s what 30 years of bottled-up infatuation will do. But he wasn’t regretful for a second. He knew that every move he’d made, and every sacrifice he’d given brought him precisely back to this moment. And I know he’d tell you it was sweeter than any victory he could have imagined.
You know what else?
He would tell you that a similar victory is available to you, too.
My buddy Rich never stopped to second-guess his career decision.
He never wasted time wondering, “What if.”
And you shouldn’t either.
But he did have the courage to pull an old dream out of the closet and live it again.
And you definitely should too.
Has the glimmer of a past passion been flashing signals your way?
Is there a forgotten pursuit whispering for you to return?
Follow that call, my friend.
Pull out the old guitar.
Dust off the scrapbooks.
Lace up your basketball sneakers.
Dial your old flight instructor.
Flip on the sewing machine.
Pull a brush across the canvas.
Wet a line.
Climb a rock.
Grip the throttle.
Spend the money, no matter how unreasonable someone else may tell you it is.
Come back to that part of you.
There is life there.
There is joy there.
There is the realization that everything has led you back to this perfect moment.
And we could all use a few more life, joy, and perfect moments.
So what are you waiting for?
Cheers,
BW
