Go with me on this. Picture that you’re a race car. 

Whether you imagine that you’re a Nascar or a Formula 1 car, race cars need a good pit crew that is going to help them in their race.

As people, our pit crews are our communities. Our mentors, partners, children, family, colleagues, and beyond. The people we can lean on. The team who we know cares about us.

And just like a race car’s pit crew, the different people in our lives play different roles in supporting us. Someone on the team changes tires, someone comes up with a strategy, someone is a mechanic — everyone has different skills, everyone provides different kinds of care for the race car.

A race car depends on its pit crew, and so do you.

Your pit crew changes as you move through different seasons of life. It’s natural and necessary. Who your support systems are will shift — whether you're a new mother, a parent with kids in middle school, a college student, or a single professional navigating a new city and career, and so on. The people you lean on will change, and sometimes these changes can be hard, but it’s a fact we all have to accept.

I’ve seen my support systems evolve over the years, and I hope my experiences can give you some insight into what your own pit crew might grow to look like. Perhaps this will give you the courage to make adjustments to your team as needed. It takes maturity in both your professional and personal life to have the self-awareness to look at those around you and ask: Are they moving in the same direction as me? Are our values and beliefs aligned? Do I have the right people around me to keep myself fueled?

Finding the right people who fuel us — or who fill our cup, to use a different metaphor — requires a lot of reflection, and that’s not always easy. It can be painful to realize that someone in your life isn’t the best fit for where you are right now. I see this even when I look at social media or watch videos of business gurus who seem to have it all figured out. Getting the right people around you, especially those who are at the level you aspire to, is tough. It’s even harder to admit that maybe you’re not ready to sit at that table. This is real, emotionally charged internal work. Maybe you came here for lighthearted reading with a few jokes thrown in for fun, and I get that, I’ve been there. But remember that the race you’re in — the day to day striving you do in your life — is worth this investment. You are worth the reflection.

So let’s first get clear on where you’re headed. Are you sure this is the race you want to be in? Only you can answer that, and it will take some prayerful meditation, soul-searching, and self-awareness. Even if you feel certain, take a moment to pause. That pause is crucial because when you think you know everything, life has a way of showing you that you don’t. I’m almost laughing as I work that wisdom into this blog, because I’ve lived that. Again, I’ve been there. Confidence is great, but remaining open to what you don’t know can lead to beautiful discoveries. Stay teachable! As I always say, you don’t get to the gold without going through the mud. You don’t win the race without taking a few scary, unexpected turns.

An affirmation that I remind myself of often is that I don’t know everything, and I’m glad that I don’t. There is beauty out there that I don’t even know exists. Holding that powerful truth in my heart starts with me being able to sit in that discomfort, and having the humility to admit that I have so much to learn.

When you look at your pit crew, remember that your perspective isn’t the only one that matters. You might have grown up with someone, shared a lifetime of memories, but that doesn’t mean you have to be aligned on everything. Many pit crew members, like we talked about earlier, have specific roles — they don’t need to be everything to you. It’s essential to recognize the expectations you place on others and ask if they’re fair. Are those expectations accurate? Are they fulfilling the right role in your life, do you need to lean on them a little less, or even, should they be in your pit crew at all?

It’s also worth considering if there are things about yourself that need changing. Are there things you need to adjust so that others around you can thrive? Are you valuing your pit crew for who they truly are, and allowing them to contribute authentically?

Our pit crew and community are a reflection of our choices, our responsibilities, and how we show up in the world. Do we create space for authentic conversations? Are we being our true selves so that others can decide if we’re the right fit for their race, too? I’ve been vague in my own life at times, especially during transitions when I wasn’t sure who I was or what race I was in. It felt uncomfortable, but I was guided to places where I needed to be, even if at times I didn’t feel qualified.

Sometimes, life puts us in races we didn’t sign up for — like an unplanned pregnancy or a sudden job loss. Mic drop. You might feel unprepared, unsure of your footing, but there you are, navigating it anyway. With the right pit crew, however, you won’t have to run those races alone.

This blog leans into the idea of thoughtful leadership, having the self-awareness to ask: Are you using your talents? Are you open to learning? Are you open to being guided to places you never considered? Do you trust the process? When unplanned events occur, do they shake you to your core, or are you grounded enough to roll with life’s punches? Do you have the right pit crew, and are you a good pit crew member yourself? It’s okay to admit if you’re not, as long as you’re open to learning.

So I encourage you to cultivate self-awareness. Journal about these questions: Are you where you want to be? Are you surrounded by people who fill your cup? And are you contributing positively to the races of those around you?

I’d love to hear about your journaling and any insights this blog has sparked for you. Remember, your pit crew matters — who you are, who you surround yourself with, and whether you’re being fueled and fueling others in return. 

Cheering you on, friends!

Love,  

Quinn