Shift Happens
The shifter in a manual Ferrari produces a sound unlike any other when engaging through the gears. It is distinct, precise, and unmistakable. As the polished metal gate guides the lever home, it clicks with a satisfying metal on metal note that signals the gear is perfectly in place. It is a sound that belongs to no other machine, a mechanical signature that instantly confirms you are in something extraordinary. Among the many visceral sensations of driving a handmade piece of automotive art, this is the one that lingers. It is the absolute certainty that you are experiencing something exceptional. Tom Cruise may have famously declared in Risky Business, “Porsche, there is no substitute,” did not spend that film behind the wheel of a Ferrari.
This past week I escaped to my home in Western North Carolina, a refuge from the constant pull of daily obligations. The mountains offer something rare, a place where the world slows down and quiet takes over. Between the usual mountain home maintenance upon my arrival, I indulged in a far more rewarding task. I took Sophia, my 2013 Ferrari 458 Spider, for a long and winding drive through the Blue Ridge mountains.
In those moments behind the wheel, everything else disappears. My attention is consumed by the way the car performs, the symphony of the engine, and the rare privilege of joining the small fraternity of drivers who know what this feels like. Behind the wheel, I am filled with pride, excitement, gratitude, and above all, respect for the craftsmanship, the heritage, and the path that led me here. Nothing is ever lost on me when I drive her.
There was a point early in my career when the idea of owning a home, let alone a second one, was nowhere in my sight. I was in pure survival mode, both in business and in my personal life. It was not the kind of place where you can easily tap into the vast resources that become available when you are able to see the infinite gifts the universe has to offer.
It was early 1999, and I had reached a crossroads with my practice. I knew I had to make a decision about how I was going to succeed. The problem was, I did not have many options or the resources to create the opportunity I needed. By some good fortune, I found a business seminar in San Francisco that brought together all of the elements I was missing. It offered structure, self-improvement, and the tools to develop an abundance mindset.
The seminar was life changing on many levels. The most significant takeaway was the realization that tried and true business principles, combined with structure, discipline, hard work, and the belief that anything is possible, could shape my future. That was the moment I made the shift. I could see the entire trajectory of my career from the moment I walked out of that seminar.
It did not happen overnight, and there were many setbacks along the way. Yet over time, those principles became the foundation for everything I built. Additional resources were added along the way to help improve my success tool chest. Coaching, therapy and volumes of performance related literature rounded out my arsenal. Today, it feels as if I have come full circle from sitting in the audience as a participant to offering my skills as a performance coach. Today, my interest is to help coach individuals through their journey of self discovery along the way to fulfilling their highest expression of business excellence.
High performance in business is no different from driving a Ferrari through the mountains. Precision matters. Execution matters. Hitting all the right gears matters. The smallest adjustments can make the difference between simply getting from point A to point B and experiencing the pure exhilaration of mastery. My role as a coach is to help find that perfect gear, guide you into it with confidence, and give you the tools to keep driving toward your highest potential. When coaching becomes collaborative it creates a synchronous exchange between the coach and client. And this leads to the creation of the highest level of professional expression. And that is where you hear and feel all the horsepower you are capable of producing.
