47. Pushing Past Racial Stereotypes to Reach Your Dreams with Jesse Iwuji
What's your biggest dream in life? Is it starting a multimillion-dollar business? Or is it competing professionally in a sport that seems way out of your league? Whatever it may be, we all have these desires deep in our hearts. It may seem crazy and impossible in the world's eyes, but you shouldn’t allow any racial stereotype or barrier to get in your way. If you move forward with ambition, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
In this episode, Jesse Iwuji shares his journey of becoming a professional racecar driver and making it to NASCAR. He describes what it's like working his way up and being part of the minority in the pro racing world. Jesse talks about winning over privilege and the mindset that got him closer to reaching his goals. Through his story, we learn that no racial stereotype can stop us from turning our vision into reality.
Tune in to the episode to learn how you can achieve your dreams when the world tells you otherwise.
3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover how Jesse pushed past racial stereotypes in the NASCAR scene.
Learn the difference between desire and ambition in reaching your goal.
Find out the right mindset to make your dreams happen.
Resources
● Connect with Jesse: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
● NASCAR
● As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
● Spencer Tarring’s YouTube Channel
Episode Highlights
[3:39] How Jesse Got Interested in NASCAR
● Jesse loved stick and ball sports throughout his life. But he knew he couldn’t do it professionally anymore after graduating college.
● He naturally gravitated toward racing because of his love for cars and the sport.
● He started joining amateur races, competing on open track days using his personal cars. Eventually, his goal turned to become a professional racecar driver.
● Jesse immediately started researching. He found that there was a racial stereotype against being black when it comes to racing. You also needed to have connections.
● However, he already had a clear vision in mind. No racial stereotype or barrier was going to stop him.
[5:35] Working His Way to the Top
● Jesse started at the lowest level possible in NASCAR in 2015, racing with late-model stock cars.
● Every year, he continues to work his way up.
● Now, Jesse is racing at the national level. He’s only about a step or two below Bubba Wallace, who is on the highest level.
● Tune in to the full episode to hear about Jesse’s next big goal!
[7:18] Being Part of the Minority in NASCAR
● He tries not to look at it, but the racial stereotype is apparent in their industry.
● The number of African-Americans on the pit crew side is increasing, but not on the driver side.
● Many African-American drivers are working toward the national series and NASCAR. However, it takes a lot of resources, energy, effort, and networking outside of skill.
● Unlike other sports, there is a branding and networking side in making it to NASCAR; being a good driver doesn’t guarantee success.
[9:22] Feeling Pressure
● Jesse doesn’t feel pressure about being one of the two African-Americans in NASCAR.
● Since he started late, he knows he has more to learn and experience.
● Right now, he races part-time between seasons. Once he gets all the resources in place, that’s when he can run full seasons and start getting better.
● Everything is part of the process. It takes time, so you have to stay patient, keep grinding, keep your head down, and keep moving.
[11:57] Dealing with Racial Stereotypes in NASCAR
● It always comes as a surprise to people when Jesse tells them he's racing in NASCAR.
● They often think he's joking because it's not usual for an African-American.
● As more minorities get into motorsports and racing, more communities will get more intrigued and start watching it.
[15:18] On Privilege
● Many people are privileged in different ways than someone else.
Jesse: “How I see it is life is a card game. We are all dealt a certain hand. So anyone's ever played a card game, guess what, when everyone gets dealt their hand, not everyone's hand is equal, right?”
● There is no rule in the game stating that you’re not going to win because you started with unfavorable cards.
● Many people have shown time and again that you can start with absolutely nothing and make it wherever you want.
● Jesse’s parents came to the US with just enough money to make it there.
[17:14] Desire vs. Ambition
● Many people have all the desire in the world but no ambition.
● The latter is finding ways to take that desire in you and make it a reality.
● Meanwhile, desire is just sitting and dreaming about a goal.
● It’s the ambitious attitude of putting in actionable steps that will allow you to get to your goal.
● Jesse also cautions against confusing movement with progress; some people do a million things a day without going anywhere.
Jesse: “Don't confuse movement with progress, ambition, over desire, and just stay strong enough, push, push, push every single day, you'll get to where you want to go.”
[19:47] The Importance of Mindset
● Once he got his mindset into the right place, it allowed him to start excelling.
● You can show someone all the steps they need to succeed, but it will not matter without the right mindset.
Jesse: “The mindset has to be in a place where you're able to clearly see your vision of where you're supposed to go, what you're supposed to be, what you’re supposed to accomplish, and how it's supposed to look like when you get there.”
● If you have a clear vision in mind, you will get through dark times in your journey.
● Along your way, don’t forget to help and inspire people to reach their dreams, too.
● As long as you keep pushing without quitting, you will get to the end of your goal.
[22:59] The Biggest People Who Have Influenced Jesse
● Ryan Hogan, who Jesse served with on his last ship, taught him a lot about business.
● His favorite motivational speakers are Les Brown, Eric Thomas, Gary Vee, and Robert Kiyosaki.
● Jesse didn’t realize that he already had what it took to succeed. Once he understood this with the help of these speakers, he started putting his energy towards them.
● What you think about, you bring about. So, Jesse envisions what he wants to attract into his life.
● He prefers listening to audiobooks because it allows him to multitask as his mind gets moving.
[25:45] Something Jesse Wishes He Could’ve Done Differently
● Jesse thinks everything happened the way they were supposed to happen.
● He’s grateful for his experiences because they allowed him to get to where he is.
● Listen to the full episode to know the only thing Jesse would have changed if he could rewind time!
[26:47] Parting Advice
● Don’t let society or the media tell you what you can and can’t do.
● Never let someone’s opinion of you become your reality.
● You can attract whatever you want in life through effort, faith, and insane belief that nothing is impossible.
About Jesse
Jesse Iwuji is a US Naval Officer and a professional stock car racing driver. He is one of the first African-American pioneers and the first active-duty US Naval Officer competing in NASCAR. For breaking racial stereotypes, Jesse became a two-time winner of the NASCAR Diversity Award.
He is also the founder of The Red List Group, an auto-racing event company holding track competitions for US drag racers. In addition, he is a NASCAR Driver Analyst in NBC Sports.
If you want to reach out to Jesse, you can visit his website. You may also follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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