Action!

Photo By: napalm nikki

Action!
By Jessica Watts

Around the holidays, especially Christmas, people always say, "Its not the gift, but the thought that counts." This is how it sometimes is with gifts, but this thinking process will get you nowhere in the racing industry! People don't care what your intentions are, but what you do with them. The above saying isn't always true either; if you say to someone, "I was going to get you a new car for your birthday, but couldn't" when all you bought them was a keychain, the person thinks 'Yea right!' They look at what you really DID, not what you were going to do.

When looking for a job in NASCAR or any other area of racing people are going to look at what you've done, what ACTION you've taken, not your ideas or intentions. Here are some tips on how to take initiative; how to take ACTION:

1. Resume - Write things you've accomplished that can be verified versus degrees, certifications, and classes taken. Such as how fast you've changed a tire, the biggest engine you've built, how many races your engine has won, etc. Things that are almost tangible and verifiable that the employer can use and be impressed with.

2. Education - You can have a Master's Degree in anything, but unless you've used your education to accomplish something it just looks like the intent to do, not that you've done anything with it. You should make sure you get adequate experience in your area so that you can show that you don't just know what you should do, but you actually know how to do it!

3. Job Hunting - Most people just look for job openings and then take in a resume and drop it off or mail it in. You should actually call and talk to the person in charge and talk to them about the job opening, introduce yourself, and then state that you would like to come drop off your resume and ask where their office is located. This will make you standout before your resume is before them. Once they see your resume they will instantly remember your name.

4. Experience - If you are getting a job in racing to help build bigger, better engines, then do it! You may have the certification, education, and tools, but unless you have that actual physical proof you can do it, you have nothing. Most companies in any industry don't want to spend a lot of time training anyone, general to specialist. By going ahead and taking the initiative to do your job before you have it shows alot about your skill and character. Never offer yourself for free, but look for a team that could use some of your skills and offer up your services to show the big dogs that you can fit right in!

5. Show - In a book called "The Go-Getter" by Peter B. Kyne there is a short story of a man who is in all senses a "Go-Getter". In this book there is the story of the Blue Vase, a task given to this man that is made to be nearly impossible that most would just give up on it. The fact that this man acquired this blue vase showed his character and was his trophy that earned him a top spot in his company. Just like the Go-Getter you need to take on difficult tasks from whoever you may encounter, even if you are only working at your local retail store and dream of being in NASCAR, you must always be open to take on these 'impossible' tasks and collect those trophys to show that you have initiative, take action, and are a GO-GETTER!

No boss or manager wants to feel like a babysitter to all their employees. When it comes down to the time when they must choose they do not want the person who asks a million questions to make sure they get it right the first time, but the person who is not afraid to make a mistake and takes ACTION to figure it out on their own. No one learns by being shown, but by doing. Taking ACTION is the key!