I’ll admit it…I like loud, fast cars. Though I may geez from time to time, the Man Card is still in my wallet. NASCAR is an occasional guilty pleasure for me. I know some people think I’m nuts for watching a bunch of cars making left turns again and again, but there’s so much more involved. While I am certainly no expert in the sport, I appreciate what goes into racing – the preparation, the mechanical stuff, the strategy, the teamwork, the focus, the reflexes, the man-machine connection…

So I’m watching a race the other day and a thought flashes through my mind…if you go 150MPH all the time, sooner or later, you crash. Fast doesn’t always mean efficient or effective. Maybe it’s because my brain is preparing for an upcoming presentation for the Community Associations Institute in Virginia Beach next month, but the metaphors starting flying…at 150MPH… Here you go:

KNOW THE TRACK: Being mentally prepared to know when to slow down, when to accelerate, and when to floor it is huge. You’d never jump on to a new track and attempt to set speed records on the first lap. Why would you start a project, a meeting, or a day without getting a lay of the land first? In the end, you’ll make better time and finish the course.

BE ALERT AND BE PREPARED: Crashes happen. A driver who is so focused on the goal that he or she ignores what’s going on around them winds up in the wreck. Their reaction is the result of practice plus mental & physical preparation. Same in business. The race is largely won before you step on the track. Invest the time necessary to practice and prepare. Once you start the race, keep your eyes open. Stuff happens. It might slow you down, but it doesn’t have to stop you.

USE RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS: Speaking of wrecks, a driver’s best friend is the crew chief on the radio. The chief can see things the driver can’t and can guide the driver around or through trouble. The team has developed trust and a system of communication. Invest the time to build your team, your network, and your communications. It will pay off later, big time. You lose a lot of time on pit row to make repairs.

STRATEGIZE, MONITOR & ADAPT: Part of planning a race is deciding how to use resources – fuels and tires. Pit stops are a huge part of the race. Planning them properly saves time in the long run. Racing on worn tires and running out of gas are never efficient options. During the race, drivers and crews carefully monitor fuel consumption and car performance. If the caution flag comes out, quick decisions are made on whether or not to pit, make adjustments, change the plan for fuel and tires. Never start a day without a plan. Pay attention to how it’s going and modify the plan as needed. Take breaks and refuel.

CELEBRATE: Do a victory lap! Go ahead and do a doughnut in front of the grandstand! Spray some champagne around with the team! Then invest the time to think about what made the race successful so you can replicate success.

Race hard, race wisely.