I n 1967, when Tatsuo Yoshida’s anime Mach GoGoGo (better known to us as Speed Racer) hit television, kids went wild. Especially this kid, as the sound of roaring engines filled the room and that infamous jingle began, “Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer. He’s a demon on wheels.” It was the perfect show, at the perfect time, as I was already a race car fanatic at the age of 9; the adrenaline rush of racing having subconsciously wormed its way into my psyche. This grip held me as I realized my racing dream years later when I too would begin racing; a demon on wheels.
While many might think these speed demon racers are a little insane; the truth is, race car drivers are skilled in both athletic and mental functions, having to constantly process lots of information at a fast pace – really fast. Racers endure high G-forces, have great instincts, superior peripheral vision and rapid reflexes. It’s a learned skill. So, what’s the point of all this?
Every day when we pilot our cars onto roads and highways, we invariably encounter someone who imagines (the operative word here) that he or she is a professional race car driver, or at least a true talent behind the wheel. Added to the mix are those who believe they can multi-task while driving; texting, eating, applying make-up, smoking, holding their phone and gesturing while driving with their knees, petting their dog, and other very un-racer-like activities. It’s dangerous enough just driving. So, when you decide to use a professional driving service (read: Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc.), is it too much to expect their driving skills be above the average?
The author “waiting” as Steve McQueen would say: “When you’re racing, it’s life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.”
I have spent decades thinking about how drivers could be so much better, so much safer. It’s pretty easy. Awareness and control. Those two things could save so many wasted lives. But I’m not here to preach. I’m here to make a point: Why in hell do so many drivers think that resting a thumb or two fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel is driving? Worse, when a paid “professional” driver, a la Uber, Lyft, yellow taxi, etc., feels that resting his thumb on the wheel is adequate skill to keep us both safe, we are all in trouble. Whether cruising on the highway in Boston rush hour or winding up a mountain pass in Park City, I am constantly made uncomfortable in the knowledge that another vehicle, an errant moose, debris, or ice could mean curtains given my “pro” taxi driver’s inability to do anything remotely defensive given the total lack of grip and control. Response time be damned – because in real terms, it would be. No thumb driver could possibly have the reaction time required to avoid an accident if one was coming our way. No longer is the Speed Racer tune playing in my head. Instead, I often find myself humming the Doors' Roadhouse Blues, “Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel…” And as the paying part of this car escapade, I now don’t hesitate to confront Mr. Thumb Driver about his grip, hoping it will permeate and inspire more overall awareness. Which brings me to this ultimate point.
The author with his Benetton F1 at the Bonneville Salt Flats
Searching the “driver requirements” for companies such as Lyft or Uber is akin to finding KFC’s secret batter recipe (good luck with that). While they divulge that they do background checks and search driver records; neither of these confirm you are entering the car of a skilled driver. Just because someone has never had an accident doesn’t equate to being a good driver.
I was over 35, with a beautiful wife and three boys. They weren’t even close to “out of the house.” I was starting companies and travelling a lot. I still do. And you can be sure there was little “balancing” going on when I had to be in China to review molds, parts and pre-production of our first SoundTube® turn-key speakers – a huge undertaking – and all during Christmas season! In my mind, I was applying averaging all the time to justify weeks of ultra-commitment with moments of family fun (or just time together, helping with food, driving and homework) – it didn’t matter what continent I was on, what holiday it was, what performance I may have missed. And yet, I managed to make tons of events, coach lots of teams and make it home for dinner 95% of the time. I still do it. I still have moments where I’m “too busy” and getting a hard time for it, and times when I am committed to a wide assortment of family and other activities. It’s not always easy, or fun, but I’ve made it work, even if I get bloodied once in a while…
Whatever your views on work/life balance are, they are yours and hopefully work for you and those who matter in your life. But there are three morals to the story. The first: We shouldn’t rush to judge either side of the work/life balance equation. On both sides, you’ll find happily married people who’ve had tremendous work success. Like many personal choices we make in our lives, how much time we devote to our work and our life outside of it cannot be gauged by pundits or anyone beyond your sphere of influence. The second moral is this: Even those people “inside” your sphere can wreak havoc on your balance, since they often forget to use the averaging approach as they try to micro-manage, demand, push, pull, fuss, cry, or make outrageous comments. Often, without considering the reality of all the factors, all that’s going on at the time, all that’s going on in that very finite, specific point in time. It’s like children crying when they don’t get what they want, yet they forget all about the 10 good things that just happened prior to the new need. It’s then, you may need to remind yourself and them about the averages. And the third: Don’t subscribe to the myth. Find your own balance. Find what works for you. Because if it doesn’t work for you, who else is going to be happy? Remember: If you’re like most of us, your balance will surely change from day-to-day.
[1] Burke, Peter (1995). "The Invention of Leisure in Early Modern Europe". Past & Present. 146: 136–150. JSTOR 651154.
2 https://manikarthik.com/smart-workers-are-losers-hard-workers-are-winners/