Fear.
Fear is a destructive and dysfunctional emotion. This fear has plagued me many times throughout my professional career. Fear of change, fear and anxiety about the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of trying something different on your behalf. Fear of failing to do something correctly. Fear of being rejected
You race against other drivers who are determined and have powerful machines. At any time, your machine can flip over, catch fire, or crash. People who don’t get it sometimes believe you are insane. You can forget about fear and just get on with the job. Because you love racing. You love it. It’s your passion. You are confident and ready to win.
Many race car drivers don’t like marketing or promotion because they get rejected from potential sponsors. They have also hired others to help them, but with very little results. They don’t even know what to do. It can lead to financial struggles each week to continue racing. This can make your passion difficult and frustrating.
You are right! You are right. I understand what it feels like to feel passionate about something. This is fear. We are prevented from succeeding in any endeavor we undertake because of fear.
Marketing and promotion of yourself as a driver for sponsors and fans in order to get funding. Ask these questions.
You don’t know who or what holds you back.
Are you unsure where to start?
Fear of Failure?
Do you not understand marketing?
Why can’t I just run and let sponsors find me?
Is this you?
Driving is my passion, and marketing is not something I’m interested in.
Even though I’m trying to promote, I can’t seem to get any results.
Marketing and promoting is too difficult for me. Maybe I could find someone who can do this job.
Too shy, and I’m not an outgoing person. Marketing will be left to others.
It doesn’t feel right to ask for help.
Promoting myself is not something I enjoy. It can make me seem conceited.
Because I may seem inept, I’m afraid of asking for help.
Marketing is expensive – I must put all I have into my race car.
My faith is not sufficient and I doubt that anyone will sponsor me.
You are being scared. This is a way to stop you from moving forward. You are preventing yourself from progressing. Your mindset must be changed. Marketing is just like racing and conquering fear. You approach marketing the same way as you would your racing.
Be open to learning, changing and asking for help. Integrate yourself in the community. Connect more with your fans. You’ll be amazed how much you get back!
It is impossible to overcome your fears and it’s even more difficult to achieve what you do not know. Money is essential to racing. To attract a huge fanbase, you need sponsors that are trustworthy and souvenir sales. How do you achieve it? What can you do to get it started?
1.) 1.) Change your attitude – Approach marketing as you would when racing. Keep your eyes on the prize and never give up. You can learn from your mistakes and try again. After landing your first sponsor, you will experience the same thrill as when you win a race. This will drive you to go for more.
2.) 2.) Get educated. You can learn as much about promotion and marketing as you would building a shock system or racing car setup. Get ahead of your competition.
3.) You should seek out mentors. Find other successful drivers and get their advice.
4.) Take a break from your racing toolsbox for a few days and make use of your marketing tools such as email, phone and face-to-face networking.
5.) Negativity and outdated ideas regarding marketing, promotion, and getting sponsorship should be dispelled. Instead of being negative about it, adopt a positive outlook. Let go of all the bad ideas and negative thinking that you have about marketing, promotion, or gaining sponsorship.
6.) It’s easy. The cold water will become more comfortable if you just jump in. It becomes a habit if it is done regularly.
7.) Use your creativity. Include things you love in your marketing. You can organize a golf tournament with local businesses or even a hunting trip. Young racers can organize a trip for their parents and children to go karting, or have big parties at your race tracks. You could organize something for female drivers, such as a fashion show or charity event with women-owned businesses.
8.) You can get more help with your racecar so that you have more time for marketing and promotion of yourself and your race teams. Ask local high school or vocational students for automotive or mechanical to volunteer as race volunteers. Give them a team shirt, pit pass and race tickets. It’s amazing how many people will volunteer to do this just for the thrill of it!
9.) You will have fun marketing! Make it a part of your social circle and get your best friends involved. It will surprise you how many friends and fans you’ll make. Sponsors will begin to look for you if it makes their customers feel comfortable being around you. Marketing and promotion will become a passion before you realize it. It will be rewarding and enjoyable.
10.) Fear? That is fear. Fearless race drivers. You can do it! You can do it!
These are my top ten fear quotes:
“The only thing to fear is fear itself” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out”.
– Karl Augustus Menninger
“Fear is only as deep as the mind allows”.
– Japanese Proverb
“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do”.
– Eleanor Roosevelt
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy”.
– Dale Carnegie
“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, professionals built the Titanic”.
Unknown
“It’s impossible to have Faith and Fear at the same time.”Jackie Pegram (My Bible study mentor)
My PR and Marketing experience was not without its challenges. It was difficult to learn when I first entered the NASCAR world in the 90’s. I sought out mentors to learn and benefited from their experience. It gave me the courage I needed to be a great driver, sponsor and friend.
Let me tell you, I’ve overcome so many fear. You are not alone. To overcome my fears and move forward, I’ve always succeeded.
Nothing can stop me from achieving my goals and dreams. There have been many people who tried to keep me from my goals and dreams. Over the course of my career, I’ve experienced many heartbreaks, loss, sadness, rejection, and other emotions. These experiences are over and past. I am able to move beyond them. It has been a challenge to shift my outlook. It is my goal to only see forward, not backwards. I want to share with you my life, career and marketing lessons as well as my success stories, knowledge and enthusiasm. My goal is to help racers achieve their goals and dreams. I can also help you conquer your fears and find success in marketing. Your success is mine. Let’s get rid of the fears, the myths and the inner negatives. You are my support throughout the journey!