| Whether you enjoy watching Formula 1 racing or | | | | before he climbed out of the cockpit but his legs |
| not, there is so much you can learn about life, | | | | then buckled under him. Later, as he was carried |
| goal achieving and what it takes to be a winner | | | | away on a stretcher with an oxygen mask |
| just from watching the sport. Someone once | | | | covering his face and a drip hanging from his arm, |
| described life as a series of failures punctuated by | | | | he still managed to wave reassuringly to his |
| successes. Many individuals become discouraged | | | | supporters. He was quick to make it clear that he |
| by setbacks rather than seeing them as learning | | | | felt fine and that he wanted to take part in the |
| experiences. Some are so discouraged, they vow | | | | main race. |
| they will never try that experience again whereas | | | | "Let me drive," he said. |
| the attitude of a Formula 1 racer is "let me get | | | | He was eventually given the all-clear to take part |
| back in the cockpit". | | | | in what proved to be a chaotic race, made even |
| "Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked | | | | more exciting by torrential rain. Kubica, too got |
| down by life, don't look back at it too long. | | | | caught up in the drama. His spinning BMW-Sauber |
| Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your | | | | punctured Hamilton's left rear tyre. The long and |
| capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable | | | | short of it, Hamilton came away empty-handed. |
| from your capacity to reach your goals. No one | | | | Despite this he was smiling and philosophical |
| wins them all, and your failures, when they | | | | especially as even though he failed to score any |
| happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off | | | | points, he still leads the drivers' table, albeit by a |
| your blunders. How will you know your limits | | | | slim margin. Still, as Bob Proctor will tell you the |
| without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn | | | | difference between being a winner or a loser is |
| will come." | | | | often as fine as a razor's edge. |
| Og Mandino, From A Better Way to Live | | | | Like Kubica, Hamilton loves racing. He loves |
| During the 2007 Grand Prix du Canada, Robert | | | | winning, he's competitive and he loves learning. He |
| Kubica (Poland, BMW Sauber) suffered a horrific | | | | admitted that he learnt a great deal from this |
| crash. Several networks reported that he had | | | | experience which he will, no doubt, put into |
| broken his leg but he was lucky enough to escape | | | | practice in subsequent races. |
| with a mild concussion and a sprained ankle - a | | | | "I told you from day one that this was going to |
| testament to the improved safety of racing cars. | | | | happen eventually, that it would be inevitable that |
| Kubica was eager to drive in the United States | | | | I would not finish on the podium. So I was ready |
| Grand Prix in Indianapolis but his doctors advised | | | | for it. You need to have these experiences, and |
| against it and so he was forced to wait until the | | | | this was all a big experience for me, and it's still |
| Grand Prix de France at Magny-Cours. | | | | not over. But I have learned 10 times as much |
| From the qualifying rounds, he allayed any fears | | | | today than in the last race." |
| that his accident had unsettled his nerves or dulled | | | | So here are a few lessons about goal achieving |
| his desire for success. He drove well and he | | | | one can learn from Formula 1: |
| drove aggressively gaining himself a fourth | | | | 1. Life is not a dress rehearsal - live it to the max |
| position on the starting grid - his best for the | | | | 2. Play the game of life to win rather than play to |
| season. Kubica held on to his fourth position | | | | lose |
| finishing behind Lewis Hamilton (England, McClaren). | | | | 3. Consider life as a series of races and learn |
| In the qualifying rounds of the Grand Prix of | | | | from each race |
| Europe at Nürburgring, Hamilton experienced | | | | 4. Be prepared for setbacks and learn from them |
| his first crash in this his rookie season. A faulty | | | | 5. If you suffer a setback get back into the |
| wheel gun caused his right wheel to detach itself | | | | cockpit as soon as possible |
| from his car. He was traveling at about 175mph | | | | 6. Acknowledge that you will make mistakes and |
| at the time. For an agonizing 30-45s team boss | | | | that this does not make you a failure |
| Ron Dennis was out of contact with his young | | | | 7. Celebrate your victories |
| driver as car's radio had been rendered in | | | | And, above all, remember life is indeed a game - |
| operable during the impact. | | | | keep smiling! |
| Then Hamilton could be seen wriggling his legs | | | | |