The famous Enzo Ferrari once said, "there are two types of drivers: those who race for passion and those who race for ambition. The former end up in two ways: either they make the supreme sacrifice, or they continue racing until they get grey hair. The others stop at the first failures or the first successes."
The other day I was preparing for a webinar in which I wanted to talk about legendary innovators. You know, those men and women who made, or are making, a lasting impact in the history of humanity with their innovations.
While doing a bit of research on a few of them, I realized that they were not just creating innovations. They couldn't help but be innovators. They were or are doing the most extraordinary thing; fully being themselves.
And then I remembered that statement from Ferrari.
What he calls passion for me it's about following our own essence. When you follow your essence, you are no more chasing something; you are fulfiling your destiny.
When you are pushed by ambition, by the desire to achieve something, you are doing the innovator. And you may get incredible results, like many racers who raced for ambition.
But you won't become legendary.
Legendary racers are not the ones who merely won trophies. They are the ones who changed the game and inspired the racers who came after them.
They were not racers because they raced.
They raced because they were born racers.