Happy Sunday Everyone:
I’m a sucker for a great sporting event. Yesterday’s Kentucky Derby is up there among the best. First female trainer to win, a horse that was dead last 2/3rds of the race, a jockey beating his older brother for 1st place. Any one of those is their own headline, to throw them together in the same race is mindboggling.
From my perspective, the better part is what came after the race, the interviews. I love witnessing the mindset these people have, their stories, their teams, their journeys. It’s cool to see uncontrollable joy and gratitude, raw emotions.
Things that rang true to me:
Cherie DeVaux-Trainer: This race has been going on for 152 years. To be the first female trainer to win is incredible. When asked when she first believed she could do this, she brought it back to 2017. Her husband being the person that told her she owed it to herself to try to go out on her own vs. staying on as an assistant trainer. They decided on 3-year time frame before reevaluating. She laughed while describing herself as thickheaded but always with the mindset that everything will work out. Serves as a reminder on the camps we keep and the beliefs we choose to have daily. In the end, it’s up to each one of us where we land, but the folks we surround ourselves with are adding or subtracting to that journey.
Jose Ortiz-Jockey-He’s getting interviewed while still on Golden Tempo, w/ tears of joy. When asked about the advice he would give to young jockeys in Puerto Rico, he loved the question. You could tell he took pride to make sure he was relatable to those kids watching. That he was in their shoes 15 years ago. 4 Great pieces of advice for us all to follow:
- Have a good attitude
- Try to learn every single day
- Respect people
- Dream, but dream big
None of this is complicated. You might even say it’s elementary, but when it’s coming from people who are minutes removed from the biggest moment of their lives, and these are their reflection points, it makes me take it that much more seriously.
I know I surround myself with great people. I also know I try to learn every single day and respect the people around me.
Where I can learn massively from them both is the mindset that everything is going to work out, having a consistently good attitude, and dreaming bigger.
It’s a good reminder that the fundamentals don’t change. Who you surround yourself with, how you show up daily, and how big you’re willing to think all compound over time.
Might be worth taking a minute today to think about your own camp… and whether your mindset and daily habits are aligned with where you say you want to go.
Have a great rest of your Sunday!