NASCAR's Sonic Boom

It is possible that a stock car can produce the sonic boom of traveling faster than the sound barrier? It happened yesterday in Mexico City in a NASCAR race. Don't believe me? Check the facts:

• NASCAR's newest big addition to its driver stable is Juan Pablo Montoya.

• ESPN broadcast the race entirely in Spanish with their ESPN Deportes crew. The English version was available on ESPN2!

• Montoya wins the race in an exciting green-white-checkered finish making him the first Hispanic driver to win a NASCAR race.

• 43 million Latinos living in this country have a new reason to watch NASCAR races and of course buy millions of dollars of NASCAR products.

• The international stamp of approval happened the moment number 42 crossed that finish line and millions of fans beyond the borders of this country found a new reason to follow NASCAR

You sure you didn't hear the sound of that sonic shift? Not only has NASCAR broken free from its roots of backwoods southern bootleggers, they are setting the trend for sports to follow as the fastest growing spectator sport in America. In fact, they are demonstrating to American business, how to run a business.

Cheat no more

NASCAR has always winked at those trying to take advantage of the rules as their forefathers did in outrunning the law. The outlaw persona was emphatically put to rest at this year's Daytona 500 with suspensions, harsh fines and taking away the previous sacred cow points from team owners. That was the first big shock wave NASCAR sent through its system this year that says we are not the good ole boys anymore. NASCAR wants to be taken seriously as a big boy sport, and challenging their heritage makes that statement.

In your business, what are the things you routinely let slide, because well, that's just how things are? If you want to be taken seriously as an elite player in your industry, you need to review work habits and practices you shake your head at be do nothing about.

Let go -- especially when its hard to do

Years ago NASCAR made a choice to move out of the southern short track business and use venues across the country that were speedways. Rockingham and North Wilkesboro were mothballed as far as NASCAR races, and the Lady in Black, Darlington Motor Speedway home of the Southern 500 on Labor Day for decades lost the Labor Day race.

The old guard fans of NASCAR screamed at these changes and NASCAR jeopardized losing their long-term fan base in an effort to grow and attract new fans. This was a huge gamble many thought was a bad move. Needless to say, they made the right moves and NASCAR would not be the force they are today had they not made those changes years ago.

What are the "traditions" you are sitting with that are holding you back from a surging new marketplace? What are the fears keeping you from making those changes? Letting go can be difficult, especially when you are wed to those traditions and fight creating change and taking risk. Playing it safe is the riskiest move a leader can make, and taking risks, is the safest bet for continues success.

From the mountains of North Carolina a legend grew into regional sport. The regional sport grew into a national sport. The national sport grew into a leading sport of growth, financial soundness and excitement. That sport just sonic boomed its way into the international scene and is becoming the model of how to evolve into a juggernaut of power and drive. Ready to take your business racing?

Russell J. White an international speaker, author and consultant is president of Russell J. White International and founder of The Edgewalk Institute. His cutting edge ideas assist businesses in strategic planning, branding, leadership development and growth strategies. He can be reached at http://www.thinkbigguy.com or at 877-275-9468

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