What I've Learned From Attending Over 35 Indy 500's: Lessons in Sales, Motivation, Leadership, Management, and Life in General

by Jeff Cowan

I am a motivational speaker, sales trainer, and author. Over time, I have found myself telling stories about my experiences at the Indy 500. I would tell a story about something that I witnessed or experienced and then, I would explain how a lesson of some sort or another, was learned by that experience. For years people have encouraged me to share these stories and their many lessons in a book. So, after attending over 35 Indy 500's and well over 200 Indy car races, I am ready to share these stories.As I do, I hope you enjoy the stories, but more importantly, I hope you can learn from them, as I have. My experiences have taught me about sales, motivation, leadership, management, and life in general. These great races, the drivers, the team owners, the track itself, and the many support players have helped me shape the successful personal and business life that I so enjoy today.I think if Carl Fisher and the original founders were alive today, they would be proud to see how so many millions are entertained by this great event. I also like to think that they may be more than a little amused to discover that a goofball like me has not only been entertained, but has been taught life and business lessons that have, in great ways, shaped who I am.Whether you are a big fan, small fan, or not a fan at all of the Indianapolis 500, it makes little difference. This book will be of value to you. The lessons shared and taught here are lessons that are timeless and highly valuable for anyone at any age. I love talking about this event to anyone who will listen. I love sharing stories. As a matter of fact, you can rest assured, that should we ever meet, I will be more than willing to hear anything you have to say about Indy. Just don't do it on race day. Don't try to talk to me from two hours prior to the start of the race until two hours after it is run. It's my day. As a matter of fact, I had only one condition when I got married - don't die, have a baby, graduate, plan a wedding, or do anything else on race day, if you want me to attend because I am going to be at the Indy 500. I am very selfish on that one day, each year. I work hard and I am a giving person. But on race day, it's family time. It's friend time. It's party time. It's time to be entertained. It's time to watch the world's best defy death and it's time for me to learn something about life, business and ultimately, myself.Ladies and Gentlemen! Start your engines! Start living life and let's start learning!

166 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2018

Reviews

[Please Pass the Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I've Learned From Attending Over 35 Indy 500's by Jeff Cowan is a sports inspired guide to help readers kick into gear and motivate us with the tools required for roles in work, leadership, management, and everyday living. Throughout the book Cowan uses a story based on experience and in the context of a particular race or driver and applies it toward business and personal growth. Each experience details a scene from an Indy 500 event and follows with a "Lessons Learned", "Personal Story", and "Points to Ponder" section with real-life utilization exercises that are sure to rev readers into action.

I really love Cowan's approach here and can see why he's been successful as a motivational speaker and trainer. The personal stories, in my opinion, were the best as they highlight his own struggles and successes in a way that make our trials feel as normal as any other fan in the cheap seats. Of course, where What I've Learned... excels is in the Indy tales themselves. Humanizing drivers in their races and delivering an underlying theme that all that might feel impossible never is, Jeff Cowan speaks to the masses in a language we can understand.

Inspiration abounds in chapters like, "Al Sr. Is A Badass", where the eldest Unser faces seemingly insurmountable odds with an untested but trustworthy car, from a 20th starting position to qualify and, ultimately, win the final race. Cowan ties this in with, "The real lesson here is that it’s important to have the right tools to get the job done, but it is equally, if not more important, to have someone who knows what to do with the tools be in the driver’s seat." This is clearly a track that we all have the ability to succeed on, and I'd recommend this book to any who feel they've veered off course.

Review written for Readers' Favorite.