Danica Patrick has learned life lessons in the fast lane
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[September 10, 2018]
By Chris Taylor
NEW YORK (Reuters) - If you ever wonder
what it's like to be a woman in a man’s world, just consult the planet’s
leading authority on the matter: Danica Patrick.
Racecar driving is a famously male-dominated arena, but that did not
seem to unnerve Patrick as she developed into a champion racer and the
most successful woman in the history of the sport.
So it stands to reason that Patrick, 36, might have a few things to say
about standing up for yourself, following your dreams, and succeeding
against tall odds.
As she transitions out of racing and steers her multiple businesses -
athletic wear, winemaking, writing and speaking - she spoke with Reuters
about the lessons learned from her high-risk, high-reward life on the
track.
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Q: Did you get your entrepreneurial spirit from your parents?
A: I grew up in Roscoe, Illinois, and my parents worked a whole lot.
They started a glass business out of their garage, they had an oil
exchange, they started a drywall company. So they were very much
entrepreneurs, and always had that sort of mindset.
The business I probably remember most was the coffee shop. We were
living in England at the time, since I was racing over there. We
literally loved coffee, so we decided, ‘Let’s make a business!’ I even
remember designing the logo on my little notebook paper. But my parents
still say I was a terrible employee.
Q: As you first got started in racing, how did you deal with prejudice?
A: The challenge I always had was getting people to believe I could do
it. Everybody deals with that on some level, but not with as much
skepticism as I faced. Your confidence has to be pulled from your own
knowledge. If you truly know what you are talking about, then you can
hang with anyone, or even school them. People will usually respect you
after that.
Q: When success hit, what was the best advice you got about handling
fame and wealth?
A: It was from Bobby Rahal, my first IndyCar boss. I just saw him a
couple of weeks ago, and told him it’s still the best advice I ever got.
He said: ‘Don’t spend all your money, and make sure to create businesses
that will still make money even after you are done racing. That way you
can continue living the life you are used to living. Create that
infrastructure early, so you can be financially secure even after you
retire.’
Q: Any money mistakes that you regret?
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![](../images/091018pics/busine28.jpg)
NASCAR Cup Series driver Danica Patrick waves before the Ford
EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, U.S,
. November 19, 2017. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY
Sports/File Photo
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A: The worst thing that happened to me is just learning from bad deals. With
race teams there is a lot of money flowing in from different places, and the
more hands it passes through, the more it gets confusing. So contract disputes
develop, because one person thinks one thing, and another person thinks another.
It’s sad to see money lost like that.
Q: You have done a lot of advocating for life insurance, as spokesperson for
September's Life Insurance Awareness Month for the industry's trade group – why
is that?
A: As soon as I started racing Indy cars and earning some money, I started
thinking about life insurance. I thought, what if something happens to me? Who
will pay the mortgage, or the monthly bills, or take care of my employees? Once
things started getting risky on the track, I realized how important it was.
For me, I had to protect my house and my businesses, but for other people it
might be their families and kids. You have to prepare for the worst, if your
income stops coming in.
Q: How do you distribute your charitable dollars?
A: I thought about creating my own foundation, but it’s a lot of work, and there
are already so many charities out there. So I would rather show up to my
friends’ causes and support them, and draw attention to those charities. I’m the
girl who raises her hand a lot at live auctions.
Q: What life lessons do you try to pass along to others?
A: Quite simply, follow your passion. When you do that, you are happier, and you
are probably more successful because you really enjoy it. In life, you have to
do what is calling you.
(The writer is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.)
(Editing by Beth Pinsker and Bernadette Baum)
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