Character: It's What You Leave Behind
By Sarah Fisher
Owner, Sarah Fisher Racing
At the age of five, I started in what would soon become a lifestyle and career in racing. Not yet feeling the pressure of leadership (that would come soon enough), I did feel the responsibility of setting a good example for others who are looking at my progress and who might be motivated by my experiences. That being said, my motivation has been to leave behind character that everyone could look up to, from my first grade teacher to the sponsor providing the opportunity behind the wheel.
There are many things that contribute to your character. It’s not just shaking hands and kissing babies, its being authentic about everything you are and do. Truly meaning every action is often difficult, when the echo of others opinions are upon you, but that meaning becomes the trust that others develop in your decisions and goals.
Once you truly believe in your goals, it doesn’t matter what naysayers contribute, and let me tell you, there are plenty of those in a male-dominated environment! Strength in that belief, going to bed at night knowing you have the right confidence in your actions and pursuits are what will ultimately make them the best for your organization.
But then, there are going to be times when no matter how hard you fight for those decisions or moves within the puzzle that makes up your chess board, you are inevitably going to make one that could have been better or was just entirely wrong. That’s when your true character will show. The authenticity that you have when owning up to a mistake and how you fix it with confidence will be what was remembered.
Unfortunately, I grew up in the eye of the camera, the public. At nineteen years old, I thought my ideas were the only ones that counted and that regardless I knew the right way. Oh but like all other teenagers, I was wrong. You won’t believe how many bright and talented individuals are out there and how much “faster” their ideas can be. That was an important lesson that I will always take with me, the value of listening to others. It’s incredible, the teamwork that comes from listening.
And speaking of listening to others, working with others who are more talented than you is the key! When my husband and I started Sarah Fisher Racing, our goals of assembling the most talented individuals for what we could afford, was a priority. It has never been a question of my ego to hire someone better than me and that is what has made SFR a great team. No one is too egotistical to work alongside someone who can do just as good a job or better, but at the same time is humble about their opportunity to be working alongside another who is just as humble.
To have those type of people surrounding you is important, and they don’t come without being appreciated. I can remember when we started the race team, even back to when I crashed my first IndyCar. It was because I treated everyone (all the way to the front desk receptionist) with respect, that those same people work so hard towards achieving our goals. Because they respect how we treat each other, with confidence in their ability and appreciation for the dedication.
All that being said, it circles back around to believing in what you have set out to do so that others will know what to follow and how to get to their own goals. Setting an example for others to follow, for others to believe in, to work together in order to achieve the goal of winning the race is what it’s all about. And knowing that how you hold your character now, is the character you will be remembered for when you leave.
At just 30 years old, Sarah Fisher has competed in nine Indianapolis 500's, been voted "Most Popular Driver" four times in two separate Series (IndyCar and NASCAR), been awarded "Indy's Best & Brightest Leaders Under 40" and enters her fourth season as a team owner in 2011. Fisher is the first woman to qualify fastest for a major North American open-wheel event, the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indy 500 and is the youngest woman to compete at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In May 2010, Fisher made her ninth start in the Indy 500, marking the most starts for a woman in the 93-year history of the race. When she is not racing, Sarah makes her home on the Southside of Indianapolis with her husband (Andy O’Gara) and chocolate lab, Wrigley. The couple recently announced they are expecting a baby, due in September 2011. Sarah and Andy enjoy their off time hanging out by the pool and attending Kyle O’Gara’s (brother-in-law to Fisher) USAC races.
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