Now that we’ve all had the opportunity to sip that perfect cup of espresso and linger in the conversation, I’d like you to imagine another story. You are getting behind the wheel of an experience.
I’m talking about a car that is powerful yet graceful, sexy and strong at the same time; this flame red beauty is one of the most recognized brands in the world. It will make you feel irrationally elated and giddy at the same time. It surely does stimulate the competitive spirit in us, doesn’t it?
Here’s one of the cars on via Emilia, a street built by the Romans, in center city Modena –- they make the car in Maranello, near my hometown.
The dream of a man, Enzo Ferrari, that one day he would own his own car ignited the project to deliver the first one. First time out and the two-seater 125 Sport won the Grand Prix in Rome in 1947. A grand debut.
This here is the 2006 Ferrari P4, one of those produced in limited quantity.
In 2005, only 5,400 were built globally. The factory launched the new 612 Scaglietti sculpted, as a BusinessWeek article so aptly describes, by Pininfarina.
You may be surprised to learn that Fiat currently owns 56% of Ferrari. It shouldn't be as much of a shock, as the transition started in 1969 at 50% and was as high as 90% in 1988. So we have the new 500 on one end of the spectrum, and the new F1 on the other.
Yes, I drove one -- all I can say is that nobody in their right mind will let me near a stick shift here and that red is a good color for me. You can test drive one too, if you're a client, at the Detroit Show until January 21.
High performance is by design, not by accident. It requires that you:
- Vote for yourself –- know what you want and what you need and then go get it. Be confident in your skill even when you are tempted not to like what you see. We’re all kind of funny seen from the inside out.
- Unleash your passion –- don’t let things you don’t know or don’t understand get in the way: learn them, join them. "But each time I seemed to be climbing into a roller coaster and finding myself coming through the downhill run with that sort of dazed feeling that we all know." (Enzo Ferrari)
- Listen with one ear and forget with the other –- you are in the driver seat, you decide what makes sense keeping.
- Stay soft on the people, including yourself –- on your way anywhere, you will meet mates and you’ll meet the other kind. To some people you’ll be but a blip on their radar, to some you’ll be a source of great inspiration. Know the difference, you are accountable for it. Remain human, don’t keep score, it bogs you down.
- Develop stamina –- think of yourself as a marathon runner. Don’t look at the time, build on the distance. "Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines." (Enzo Ferrari)
- Take risks –- invest in your vision, explore the opportunities. When you go for safety, you shop at that price. "As bend followed bend, I discovered his secret. Nuvolari entered the bend somewhat earlier than my driver's instinct would have told me to." (Enzo Ferrari)
- Design your context –- chisel away all the marble and what you have is the masterpiece. Edit down as appropriate, sculpt your experience, you decide.
- Have a “to be” list –- be interested, adaptable, and open to new ideas, including yours. Many call this attitude, I call it spirit (Lat. spiritus = breath).
- Stage and experience –- and you will learn something new every time. This is not rehearsal, it’s the real deal. Go at it with gusto and panache. The verb perform is built into performance.
- Be very clear that you will succeed –- and you will.
Performance is a highly emotional business. Emotion (Lat. ex = out + motio = movement) leads to action.