5 Life Lessons From Ferrari
The prancing horse’s guide to victory.
If there is someone whom we want to see the process of success, I believe Ferraris can be the best example to teach us this. I am not a car expert, but I chose Ferrari since it is one of the oldest and classic brands of cars, founded by the late Enzo Ferrari in the late 1940s and still standing today.
You may think that it’s just about the speed and quality of the machine that runs the car. However, in the movie Ford Vs Ferrari, Caroll Shelby would say otherwise:
It isn’t about speed, Lee. It’s not just like those other tracks where all you do is turn to the left for four hours. To win that race, you need a car that’s light enough to do two hundred on the straightaways, but strong enough to keep that up for three thousand miles without a break. — Ford Vs Ferrari.
Now, this may seem controversial to what I am about to say because, in the movie, Ford beats Ferrari. However, keep in mind that Ferrari was the one that ‘drove’ Ford to create a sports car. Today, Ferrari is still known to be one of the most luxurious sports cars in the world.
There is something we can learn from these cars. All sports cars, in general, can interpret this similarly, but I chose Ferrari as the best example.
Just like us, it’s not about doing the same thing over and over again to win. It’s about how we develop along the pathway to success, and building ourselves to get there isn’t easy. It’s as complex as building a sports car too. I am not an expert in cars, but I only know the general of it.
Based on my findings of these luxurious cars, if they can speak like Lightning Mcqueen in the movie, Cars, this is probably what they’d say:
1) Don’t be afraid to go alone
I sometimes wondered why Ferraris and other sports cars in general only has one or two-seaters. It turns out so that they can go fast. In order to speed up, they must reduce their weight by limiting seaters. That way, they can go very fast.
This taught us that, in order to reach the top, we need to learn to distance ourselves from others to focus on our goals. Ferraris and other sports cars taught us that the path to success is a lonely journey, and they will only allow one person in our life to help us get to our dream. If lucky, maybe three, but it’s rare.
But I’ve seen leaders and other successful people at the top going on through their own journey. Before becoming who they are, they were rejected many times. We hear this a lot from Stan Lee, JK Rowling, Jack Ma, Billie Eilish, and many others.
The point is, don’t be afraid to be alone when you are chasing after your dream. It helps to let you get used to focusing on yourself, leading to my next point…
2) Invest in yourself first
Another reason why Ferraris aren’t cheap is that they don’t mass produce. If we take a look at the spare parts of Ferraris, we can immediately tell that it’s not cheap and not created by machines. Their engines are really handmade with care. The engineering team really took a lot of time to build their machines to perfection, there is a high investment in building these cars.
Although it’s a huge demand, they can only produce two-three of them a year. You can imagine their waiting lists that could take years, not to mention adding new clients.
So whenever you feel like you are not going to make it, just remember: it took the Ferrari company a year to build 2–3 cars. They did this so that they can meet the highest standards of victory, their true meaning. Invest in yourself first, learn something new, and grow everyday. That way, you’ll look like a brand new Ferrari car to the public’s eyes, leading to my next point…
3) Think for the long term
Ferraris have been around since the 1940s, and today, they are still in high demand. In the movie Ford vs Ferrari, the marketing team told the CEO of Ford to “think like Ferrari” even though they produce more cars than them.
It’s not about the quantity, it’s about the quality. The marketing head team told them that Enzo Ferrari will be remembered by history as the greatest car manufacturer, not because of how many cars they made, but because of the value he created and what his cars mean to the public: victory.
And he is right, Enzo did think for the long term of the company. After his death, his legacy still lives on today. The head marketing is right, Enzo did go down history as the greatest car manufacturer.
So, think of your long-term. How do you see yourself? What is your purpose and how are you going to keep up with the game for the next 5 years. That way, you will have a clear vision of your path to success, leading to my next point…
4) Know your worth
The average price of a Ferrari is about $200,000- $300,000. It costs that much because its value is far better than any average car, it has specs that can beat them. Considering that they took a lot of time and investment to one car, it explains a lot about why they cost a lot. That is why they are worthy of that price since the first place.
There is a quote from Narnia that I really like:
You doubt your value. Don’t run from who you are. — Aslan, Narnia.
The thing that most leaders I followed so far has told me the same thing. Know your worth and fight for it, because no one else can fight for you. Show it to everyone that you are more than just average.
Don’t ever doubt yourself, know your worth lies.
5) Keep up the speed
When you are able to drive a Ferrari, the first thing you’d do is speed up, right? It’s because we know that these cars can go extra miles to be able to go fast without breaking it down. They have the highest level to fast, leaving the rest of the cars behind. Their only goal is the destination to get there fast.
When I read and listen to the past lives of entrepreneurs, most of them would say that they consistently build their dream in order to get there. There were many sacrifices to make in order to be the first.
Just like us, keep up the speed. Set a target to reach your dream destination and bring out your maximum effort to get there. Setting targets is the best way to get your gas going, because if not, then other cars would probably pass you by as you are left behind. Forget the rest of the people who aren’t on board with your dream, you have to focus and kick that gas in.
The takeaway
To summarize everything:
- Don’t be afraid to go alone
- Invest in yourself first
- Think for the long term
- Know your worth
- Keep up the speed
Today, Ferrari is known to be one of the top best supercars that symbolize speed and wealth, this all equals victory, the way Enzo visioned it to be. They are also the number 1 most successful team of the Formula One races despite being the oldest brand.
Following what the Ferrari can show an example to us, it proved to us that the path to success isn’t easy and it’s a long way. But always keep in mind: Think like Ferrari.
