#078: Jesse Iwuji - NASCAR Driver, US Naval Officer & Entrepreneur

What matters more? Where we start? Where we finish? Or how fast we drive the course we set for ourselves? NASCAR Driver, US Navy Officer and entrepreneur Jesse Iwuji joins Fran Racioppi to show how hard work and focus will close any gap on the open track of life. 

Fran and Jesse cover growing up un-athletic in Texas the son of Nigerian immigrants, earning a spot on the US Naval Academy Football Team, deploying multiple times on ships, pursuing his dream to race cars, and his recent partnership with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to launch his own NASCAR team; Jesse Iwuji Motorsports.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Watch the full video version of Fran’s conversation with Jesse on YouTube. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. 

Learn more about Jesse at jesseiuwji.com and follow Jesse on social media @jesse_iwuji.

Highlights:

-0:00 Welcome to The Jedburgh Podcast

-3:28 Why your starting point in life shapes 

-7:48 Leadership lessons from the US Navy and getting to know your people

-10:48 Jesse seizes his dream of becoming a race car driver

-15:25 Partnership with Emmitt Smith and Jesse Iwuji Motorsports

-19:27 Confronting and overcoming fear 

-21:32 Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series

-23:03 Jesse’s Three Daily Foundations 

Quotes: 

-”That’s the difference between desire and ambition…desire is just dreaming it up the whole day…ambition is actually coupling action with that desire and trying to execute.” (4:14) 

-”Let’s say you are dealt a bad hand; take a drink of water, sit back down and play again.” (4:58)

-”When you are leading this very versatile group of people, you got to understand your people.” (9:05)

-”Effective leaders have to know when to lead and when to get involved.” (10:19) 

-”There’s just no limit. You do whatever is necessary to get there.“ (14:31)

-”You have to insanely and obsessively believe that the goal will come true.” (15:08)

-”You can tell the people who are doers…those are the people you want to bet on.” (18:16)

-”Setbacks are setups for phenomenal comebacks as long as you are willing to continue to put action and be creative.” (21:18)

Jesse Iwuji’s 3 Daily Foundations to Success

-Pray and have faith

-Put action and energy into moving forward

-Stay focused on physical health

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness, and Analytix Solutions