Last night Brenna and I went to see the movie “Rush” which is a re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One race car rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
Lauda is a cool, calculating technical genius who relies on precision. At the 1976 German Grand Prix at Nürburgring, Lauda urges the F1 committee to cancel the race due to rain on an already dangerous race track. The request is vetoed by majority of the racers after Hunt convinces them that Lauda fears losing the points race. Halfway through the third lap, a suspension arm in Lauda’s Ferrari breaks, sending the car crashing violently into an embankment before it bursts into flames and is further hit by other cars on the track. After being pulled out of the flaming wreckage, he is airlifted to the hospital with third-degree burns to his head and toxic fumes in his lungs. For the next six weeks, Lauda is treated for his injuries while he watches his rival dominate the races in his absence. Against his doctor’s orders, he returns behind the wheel of his Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix to finish fourth while Hunt fails to finish the race.
Rush goes on as the season comes to an end at the Japanese Grand Prix. While Lauda was in hospital and recovering Hunts pulled to within three points of Lauda. Now here is where I am going to stop telling what happens in Rush so as not to spoil the ending though if you know the story you probably already know how it ends. (Sort of like the story of the Titanic.) With regard to the accuracy of Rush, Niki Lauda was quoted as saying: “When I saw it the first time I was impressed. There was no Hollywood changes or things changed a little bit Hollywood-like. It is very accurate. And this really surprised me very positively.”
You can get a copy of the Rush using the links at the end of this post.
I have always been a sucker for the underdog. I always like to see the person who comes back from insurmountable odds and triumphs. Or even just tries and gets close. People who do this or accomplish their big live long goals and do what every one said could not be done brings me to tears or at least a little misty eyed. Rush was no exception. They said Niki would never race again. They were surprised he even survived. Close to death, a priest is called to Lauda’s side to which Niki responds, ‘Tell the priest to fuck off. I’m still alive.’
Or that movie Ice Castles
Or race car driver Alex Zanardi who in 2001 was in a crash so violent it severed the nose of the car. Zanardi lost both legs (one at and one above the knee) in the impact and nearly three-quarters of his blood volume. Two years later, in 2003, Zanardi was not only back behind the wheel, he was also racing again, with the aid of hand-operated brake and accelerator controls. CART allowed him to complete the final thirteen laps at the race track which had nearly killed him in 2001, and did so at highly competitive speeds approaching 310 km/h (193 mph). In fact, had he been qualifying for the race that weekend, he would have been fifth. I cried like a baby watching him drive those laps.
Or the time in 1994 in Normandy, France where I was celebrating the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Four men in military uniform approached me from the side and asked if I could take their picture next to some monument. I turned and looked at the men and a quick calculation of their age along with their uniform told me these men where here in 1944 fighting a fight so massive, remnants can still be seen today. I saw holes in the ground so big we could have landed our Blackhawk helicopter in it with no problem. As I looked at these soldiers standing next to the monument I was glad I held the camera to my face so they could not see the tears welling in my eyes. I was so happy for them and proud of them.
Why is this? Is it because I feel I have yet to do anything that impressive? Some would argue that I have. I might disagree. Why haven’t I? What holds me back from doing anything great? Is it comfort. It it being lazy? Why don’t I have that drive that others have? Where did that competitive spirit I once had go? What will I leave here on this earth as a legacy?
It is time to crank it up to 11. It is time in the last half of my life to do something to leave this earth a better place and to enjoy what life has to offer. I understand I will likely never own my own island or airline or any of the other hundreds of companies my hero Richard Branson does but I can still do plenty to be considered successful and make someone proud. Maybe it will be my novel I plan to write. Or maybe it will be a business I build and grow. Regardless the first step is to just do. There is no better time than now. Conditions will never be perfect. So many of us, including myself suffer from this thought that we must know everything before we begin. We feel like without having a 100% grasp of the concept we should not begin for what if we get something wrong along the way?
If there is one thing I have learned recently it is to just get started. Just do. Do not try to start. Just start. If something changes along the way you can always change direction with the new knowledge. Without starting there will be no crossing the finish line. There will be no holding the cup or someone looking to you as their hero. There will be no legacy.
What are you going to start today? Let me know in the comments below.