Understanding satisfaction - realising a childhood dream.

I knew this day would come. Not the day I might work in F1, but that in the days and weeks after having hopefully, maybe worked in F1, realising that the dream has been achieved and the satisfaction of it is slowly beginning to fade.

For context, and to get a few of the less important side points out the way, there were some aspects to working in F1 that I knew would in a certain way be considered ‘downgrades’ to working in other racing series. Not being able to film any track action is the main one. You know this before going in, but it still hurts when you realise how restrictive the parameters are for what is and isn’t allowed. Also, despite being so close to the action - working for a team - the schedule didn’t allow me to once see a single F1 car on track. Not once. As a mega fan of the sport, this is also painful. But you deal with it and quickly realise all the other aspects around operating within the F1 paddock and garages are pretty special. So, despite these limitations, I’m still very much drawn to further experiences in that world.

Many things working out in the sporting world, or at least from my experience in motorsport, are down to connections - right place right time. To be given a shot at something you’ve always dreamed of for as long as you can remember is surreal beyond comprehension. This happened earlier this year when I went to Miami with Alpine.

It’s been tricky navigating my own history of understanding satisfaction from a moral standpoint, and at times I’ve felt frustrated at how the corporate and business worlds operate in superlatives and maximums - always more, always the best, the most, the cheapest, the highest quality. When one task is fulfilled another is already waiting to go. One goal is achieved only for the next one to be ushered in hastily. Rarely is space, time, and energy given to taking a step back, observing what has just happened and really appreciating it.

I guess there’s something within our human nature that spurs us to new things and always wanting more. In my own experience I’ve found that more does not always equal more. And this is where I’m learning what things actually give me lasting satisfaction and lasting worth, for I so easily place my own worth within the parameters of my achievements. This is something I’m choosing to move away from, or at least where I’m trying to find the balance between not getting carried away with the ‘elusive more’, while at the same time using and honing the skills I’ve been given to the best of my ability.

Thank you F1 for showing me that I do and don’t care about you.