Disruptors Sir Jackie Stewart; Interview With O.B.E.& Legendary Formula One Driver [Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]
Jackie ‘The Flying Scot’ Stewart: Interview with 3 times Formula One World Champion.
Jackie Stewart represented Great Britain at the Olympics in shooting, and won three world championships in Formula One motor racing In this episode Rob talks to the great Scotsman about how he developed his love for racing, how he has developed a wide array of business interests since retiring from the sport. Learn how mind management has been so important to his success. Listen on to hear its so important in the latest episode of the Disruptive Entrepreneur.
Key Takeaways
Do you remember the first time you first fell in love with driving cars? It was my brother. He was part of a team going around the world and my brother would take me to the different venues when I was 12. I’ve got the autographs of all the stars at the time. All these big names. I was a big fan.
Did your undiagnosed dyslexia affect your success? In those days the teachers didn’t know anything about dyslexia, and you were just labelled thick. 10% of my class would have had some kind of learning difficulty, so that would have been five people. When you do have dyslexia you find new ways of doing things, you think outside the box. Lots of intelligent people are dyslexic. It made me really go for something when I found I love something.
How did you transition from being the best in the world to doing something different? It was not easy but it was exciting. I had relationships and connections with various companies. Unlike track and field, there are lots of opportunities in F1. Many of these relationships I was able to cultivate those relationships to develop this ambassadorial role. All of these things like TV, and commercials ad up.
Did you plan your retirement? I think it was April, and I wanted to retire at the end of that season. I didn’t tell anyone. I developed a blood disorder from overwork, and I travelled 86 times over the Atlantic. I was burnt out. I went on to win the championship and finish the season that year.
All of my personal friends in racing got killed. It was severely dangerous at the time. It was ridiculous, really dangerous, and badly done. I had a big war to get safety changed in Formula One. When you are a world champion you are able to get more media coverage on this issue. In those days the tracks were more dangerous as well as the cars. Even then we got a huge amount of abuse from some quarters but there was no point in killing people unnecessarily.
Was there a reason you decided to partner with Rolex? I’ve had a fifty-year relationship with them. I signed in 1968 and been with Rolex ever since. They have an amazing product, they are beautiful. I was very much focused on long term relationships with brands. This means that you can have continuity for business. We’ve started speaking to your drivers, to make sure you have a career after your driving career.
How do you balance all these fast business interests? They are all wonderful people. I enjoy going back to all these locations. I’m flying to Australia for the first race of the season. I’ve been around the sport for some time. It’s blue-chip companies that you need to aim for.
How have you managed to be strong in those relationships and not? You underpromise, and over-deliver. You will seldom get the sack. You have to make people enjoy those people who will be there. You have to do all these things with a smile on your face. You have to become part of their team.
[Text Wrapping Break]What are the commonalities of all the best drivers ever? Fangio, an Argentinian driver, won the championship five times and won with five different cars. They all have a special something. Lewis Hamilton has chosen to be the Mercedes Benz and are a well-run company and will win world championships. I think the most important thing is mind management. You don’t get over excited and you don’t get too depressed. If you have mind management, you deliver rather than under-driving or over-driving. All great racing drivers have this.
How did you develop that mind management? I think I learned that from shooting. I was doing clay pigeon Olympic shooting. When you are shooting at a world championship. If you miss the first target you will never get it back. That was probably the biggest asset I got from that sport. I learned how to handle failure and success in that sport before I got into motorsport.
Best piece of advice that you ever received? Don’t think you are better than you are.
Worst advice you have ever received? You need to drive faster.
One thing to do differently in your career? Have all the guys killed brought back?
What does the word disruptive mean to you? Not surrounding yourself with the best people. The people that surround you in whatever walk of life is essential.
What would like to change in the world? I’d like to see a cure for dementia.
Best Moments
‘I fell in love with motor racing because of my brother.’
‘If you were always told at school that you were stupid, then you can get an inferiority complex.’
‘Motor racing was the best platform more than any other support.’
‘Motorsport and formula one has allowed me to do lots of different things.’
‘I was burned out.’
‘When you do have dyslexia you find new ways of doing things.’
‘All of my personal friends in racing got killed.’
‘We were the new generation and things had to change.’
‘I was very much focused on long term relationships with brands.’
‘We signed in 1968 and been with Rolex every since.’
‘It’s blue-chip companies that you need to aim for.’
‘Long term relationships are things that everyone should be building.’
‘Sports people are unique people.’
‘If you have mind management, you deliver rather than under-driving or over-driving.‘
‘When you are shooting at a world championship. If you miss the first target you will never get it back.’
‘Concentrated to a point where emotions aren’t involved.’
‘Emotions are dangerous.’
‘Mind management is the most important thing.’
[Business, mindset, entrepreneur, disruptors]
VALUABLE RESOURCES
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Moore is an author of 9 business books, 5 UK bestsellers, holds 3 world records for public speaking, entrepreneur, property investor, and property educator. Author of the global bestseller “Life Leverage” Host of UK’s No.1 business podcast “Disruptors”
“If you don't risk anything, you risk everything”
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LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robmoore1979
About The Guest
Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE[2][3][4] is a British former Formula One racing driver from Scotland. Nicknamed the "Flying Scot", he competed in Formula One between 1965 and 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships, and twice finishing as runner-up over those nine seasons.
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