Importance of having VISION

Picture 1. The limited view a racing driver has from the cockpit

I have spent much of the day speaking with a leading manufacturer of eye-tracking hardware. My current work role are interested in developing elite racing drivers and there is a growing consensus within the racing community that great drivers look into the exit of a corner earlier than other drivers who dwell on the apex of the corner.

I have always been in two minds regarding this statement. For me, where the driver was looking was a by product of their cognitive processing speed. What I mean by that, is that the elite driver is looking further ahead on the track because mentally they are already further down the track and problem solving the next corner. It didn’t make sense to me to train a driver to look into the exit of a corner until they were mentally ready to deal with that.

However, in my own experience I do understand that I head in the direction that I am looking. When working out on a treadmill if you turn your head to look sideways then it is difficult to stop your body from moving that way – to the end of me falling off that treadmill! In a race car when you start to spin out you are taught to look into the spin as your body will start to automatically do what is necessary to control the car out of the spin.

In life, I believe it is much the same process. You cannot get somewhere without focusing on it – regularly. If you are not conscious of where you are looking to go then don’t be surprised if you get lost.

This reinforces the need to look at where you are in your life regularly. Are you where you want to be? Are you heading in the right direction? Yes / No? Re-calibrate your focus and direction, chunk it into the smaller goals / steps you need and off you go again.

For now, stay focused on the future that you want and do what needs to be done right now in the present to ensure you get there.

Good luck out there!