889 Nico Rosberg on Becoming a Formula One World Champion

Dec 16, 2019

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula One World Champion and now a startup investor, shares his journey from racing to personal growth. He discusses the balance between confidence and self-doubt, revealing how vulnerability plays a crucial role in achieving greatness. Rosberg highlights the importance of tiny details in securing big wins, as well as the complex dynamics of fame and humility in high-stakes sports. He also reflects on the rise of Formula One in the U.S. and his new ventures focused on sustainability and personal impact.

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ANECDOTE

F1's US Heyday

Formula One used to be popular in the US during the 60s and 70s, with races even held in Las Vegas.
Nico Rosberg's father won a Formula One World Championship in a Caesars Palace parking lot race.

ANECDOTE

Early Racing Days

Nico Rosberg started go-karting at four, following a common path for racers and other athletes requiring early skill development.
He experienced the intense pressure of competition, including parent fights and cheating allegations, even at a young age.

INSIGHT

Parental Expectations

Parents often project their desires onto their children, seeking recognition through their achievements.
Nico Rosberg emphasizes being mindful of this tendency and prioritizing children's intrinsic motivation.

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CHAMPIONS AREN’T SUPER-HUMAN, THEY’RE SUPER-INTENTIONAL. I’ve noticed that there are two types of champions. One of them wins and says, “I am the greatest that ever lived.” The other says, “All of the glory goes to God.” Both of these mindsets have good results, but is one better than the other? You need a certain amount of arrogance to be the best. After all, self-doubt is the biggest crusher of dreams. But if you aren’t able to look at what you could be doing better, you’ll eventually decline. People won’t want to be around you. And you might destroy yourself in the process. So how can we lead with confidence and avoid getting a massive ego? On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I talk about self-doubt and self-love with a sensitive, inspiring Formula One Champion: Nico Rosberg. Nico Rosberg followed in his father’s footsteps to win the Formula One World Championship in 2016. He grew up racing against Lewis Hamilton and constantly coming in second only to one day win the championship for himself. Nico shares how even though he was at the top of his field, he struggled with a fear of failure. In a field as macho as car racing, it’s inspiring to hear a man be so vulnerable. So get ready to learn how the tiny details matter when going for big wins on Episode 889.
Some Questions I Ask:
Why isn’t Formula One as popular in the US? (06:44)
Do you feel like your dad pushed you? (11:00)
How much does the car have to do with winning? (16:00)
What was the biggest lesson your father taught you? (19:00)
Where does your lack of self-love come from? (28:00)
What do you think about during the races? (42:00)
What’s the key to eliminating self-doubt? (46:00)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
How Nico avoids pushing his children too much (09:00)
About Nico’s rivalry with Lewis Hamilton (15:00)
The magic ingredient to success (25:00)
The one thing Nico did that made him a world champion (38:00)
The story of how Nico one the 2016 Formula One Championship (47:00)
How coming in second to Lewis Hamilton affected Nico (52:00)
Why failure is important (56:00)
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the video, show notes and more at http://www.lewishowes.com/889 and follow at instagram.com/lewishowes

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