The more I (over)think about it, the more I realize the cyclical nature of life. Racing is the greatest metaphor for this natural evolution, exemplifying the strenuous battle to go up, up, up, the swift nature of the fall, and then another cycle of pouring everything into the rise before the next inevitable descent. It wouldn’t make sense for one human to be on top all the time, and in fact, it is evident to me that most people don’t actually like that. People love to hate a winner. Why, though?

It feels personal to me. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with winners throughout my career in racing, to have written a bunch of joyful first-win stories and many champion stories, both with people I’m close to and ones I watched from afar as they have achieved their dreams. I study them, not-so-secretly, asking them questions and digging into their family history to try to figure out what makes them tick. I’m curious and hungry to know how and why they became who they are. What makes a champion?

One of the key elements to their success has become glaringly obvious… they genuinely do not care what anyone else thinks, let alone what they post on the internet. The swiftest way to failure is getting tangled in worrying about what others think. The devil is in the details, yeah – but the devil is also in the distractions. True champions stay true to themselves, to the mission, to what THEY believe is possible. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, they don’t let their eye off the vision. They don’t listen to the no.

They don’t read the comments, because why would they? They’re savoring the climb as much as they will the victory. It feels damn good to sweat and pour into something. They know where they’re going, and they don’t have to call their shot to anyone but themselves. They stay focused on the mission, fully aware, even as they’re rising, that they will most certainly fall. It’s the nature of it, and more than one champion has told me that the threat of the fall is what keeps them striving. Even amidst great momentum, champions don’t let their foot off the pedal. The haters aren’t the fuel. The mission is.

Stay focused. xo

**photo from my first official win with Summit Racing at the 2017 Winternationals**