Why Even Run?

Spectators at this year’s Kentucky Derby saw the second biggest upset in the history of the race. In winning the world’s most prestigious horse race, Rich Strike beat incredible odds and showed us what is possible when you believe in yourself.

Only when another horse withdrew at the last minute did Rich Strike qualify for the race. Even then, few raised an eyebrow when the undersized horse, trained by an inexperienced trainer and ridden by a jockey who had never ridden in a big race joined the field. Nineteen other horses, many of them from established bloodlines and with multi-million-dollar histories, inspired much more confidence. This was reflected in the betting odds that put Rich Strike at 80-1. Though they obviously believed in the potential of their horse, the team surrounding him had to wonder if they belonged in the field.

When we’re facing steep odds like that, it’s hard not to feel like the longshot and wonder: why even run? In my day job as a recruiter, I try to find high-level talent for my clients. Locating talent is easy, when compared to getting that talent to take another position. As much as I try to suppress it, there’s often a voice in my head casting doubt on the likelihood of recruiting top talent. He’s never going to move. He’s been in his current job a long time. She probably gets annoyed by recruiter calls. Doubts like these creep in, because the odds are against me when I make that initial call.

Yet, I keep calling, because 1. my clients need me to help them succeed, and 2. I believe in myself.

Believing in ourselves isn’t easy. Even the most successful people struggle with self-doubt, albeit quietly. Abraham Lincoln wasn’t even quiet about it, openly sharing his feelings of inadequacy, even after winning the presidency of the United States. Self-doubt is not limited to those who don’t find success, which, in itself, is amazing for many reasons.

Successful people are typically more intelligent and self-aware, so they are quick to recognize the magnitude of the challenges they face. Furthermore, to be successful, they have typically failed more than most of us can even imagine. (Famous inventor Thomas Edison is noted for saying, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”) Still, to achieve, they know that they must keep trying, even when the odds are against them.

When I find doubt creeping into my mind, I use these four methods to help me push through:

1. I remind myself that I’ve found success before.
2. I remind myself that I have prepared myself to be successful.
3. I remind myself that I always have a chance, no matter how slim that chance might seem.
4. Most importantly, I remain optimistic, because I know that if I think that I’ll fail, my mind will start looking for ways and excuses to fail.

What Rich Strike accomplished was the equivalent of an obscure back-up quarterback on an underdog team winning the Super Bowl. Everything had to go right for him to win the race, and that day, in that race, everything did. The favorites pushed themselves at an early pace that had them rapidly losing speed toward the end of the race, and a nearly perfect path through traffic opened up just enough for Rich Strike to make passes toward the front. Reset the field and rerun the race, and Rich Strike would probably finish toward the back almost every time, a reality that played out a little over a month later in The Belmont, the final race of The Triple Crown, when he finished in the back half.

Next year’s Kentucky Derby winner will likely be a favorite with all of the advantages to make him successful. Behind him will be horses almost as good, and behind them will be the easily forgotten “also-rans.” Still, when the gate opens, because they’re in the race, they’ll all have a shot at the win.

That’s why they run, and why you should too.