Described as statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen, Michael Schumacher ranks first among Formula 1 drivers for the most World Championship titles won, the greatest number of fastest laps and the most races won in a single season.
He was born on the 3rd of January, 1969 in Hurth-HerMulheim, Germany to his parents Rolf and Elisabeth. Racing champion Michael Schumacher began racing go-karts at the tender age of four. By age 6, he had won his first club championship. He became an driver for the Jordan-Ford team at the Belgium Grand Prix in 1991 where he made his Formula 1 debut. In 1996, he joined the Ferrari team and stayed there until the year 2005. Michael Schumacher is a record 7-time Formula 1 champion and an undoubtedly inspirational human being.
Schumacher suffered a seemingly minor injury in 2013, at the French winter sports resort of Chamonix which unfortunately turned out to be much more, as he sustained brain injuries as a result of the accident and was put into a medically induced coma for 6 months.
Michael Schumacher has proven to be a figure to be reckoned with in the world of car racing and in life, and there are plenty of lessons we can all learn from him.
Mediocrity and Success Do Not Tally
You can’t aim for success and be on a medium level. Constantly aim to be the best at what you do, be it in your personal life or career. The successful people you look up to today wouldn’t be where they are if they had decided to stay on a comfortable level and undistinguished. Whilst many people are happy with average (after all, it is not failure), really successful people are always aiming higher. Why get a ‘pass mark’ when you can get ‘distinction’?
Michael Schumacher said “just being a mediocre driver has never been my ambition. That’s not my style”.
But great success only comes with resolve, hard work and consistency. You have to be shooting for the stars.
Many saw Michael Schumacher as too aggressive for car racing as he caused several accidents during his career, but it’s possible to see him as someone who just wouldn’t settle for anything less than improvement, fighting all odds to get to the top, and stay there.
Mediocrity and success do not go hand in hand. If you have come to the realisation that you’re not making waves as you ought to be, then take a look at yourself and ask if maybe you’re just too relaxed and not giving it your all.
Make extraordinariness a habit today and watch yourself soar.
Passion Breeds Motivation
Loving what you do is the first step to being great at what you do.
Motivation is powered by the passion you have for a particular thing and it’s that passion that will keep you going through trying times. No matter how rosy things might be or seem to be, trials will definitely come your way and how do you overcome such challenges when there is little or no zeal? Love what you do and you will definitely go the extra mile towards seeing your dream become a reality.
Michael Schumacher was quoted as saying: “once something is a passion, the motivation is there”. As a driver, Schumacher was passionate about his races and this could be seen with his actions on the race tracks. It is therefore not surprising that he has such accolades accorded to him.
Asides from the fact that loving what you do can bring you greater achievement, you’re gifting yourself a happier life too. Being passionate about your job or business gives you a great quality of life, even if you’re not earning as much as you ideally want to. Money is good but peace of mind is a necessity.
The belief in passion as a necessity for success has had many proponents. Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple and Pixar Company constantly preached the importance of passion and its numerous benefits. He followed a path he loved dearly and even posthumously is still recognised and revered in the business world.
Having seen the need to be passionate, why not take that bold step of leaving whatever does not bring you job satisfaction and go for what brings you joy.
Teamwork Helps You Grow
Nobody is an island, and we all need help from others at some time or other. Surrounding yourself with the right people will bring out the best in you. Successful people recognise when they need help from others in order to make an impact on the world, and they seek it out.
‘Two heads are better than one’ the saying goes, so think of what several heads can achieve! If you’re trying to build a business or carve a niche for yourself, find like-minded individuals and bounce ideas off them.
Additionally, having a team of amazing individuals who do the job right does not mean you end up having little or nothing to offer. Michael Schumacher said, “when you start out in a team, you have to get the teamwork going and then you get something back”. You give to get. Being associated with the right team is good but you have to contribute your own quota to get the ship sailing.
The official Formula One website writes, “Schumacher is statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said during a tribute to the champion on his 50th birthday,
“Michael is one of the founding fathers of the success we have had in the last five years, there is no other driver like him and his vast experience contributed tremendously in the development of our team.”
Michael Schumacher has accomplished in Formula One what others can only dare to dream of. The good news is that you can also make a success story of your passion. Success is not rationed. It comes with the right mindset and attitude towards work.
We can all learn a lot from Michael Schumacher, and apply the same principles he has applied to Formula One racing to drive success in our own careers too.