Chase Elliott: Filling A Legend's Shoes
Chase Elliott has some of the biggest shoes to fill in
all of professional sports - how should he handle a
situation like this?
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Today marked the first running of "The Great American Race" that I have ever witnessed that hasn't had Jeff Gordon in the lineup card. The iconic sportsman and arguably the most recognizable figure in motorsports has moved to the FOX broadcast booth after a near fairy tale-like final season.
In my eyes, no athlete did a better job at representing their sponsors brand and their own brand than Gordon. If this guy was drinking a Pepsi and eating Lays chips in his post-race interview, you genuinely wanted Pepsi and Lays chips right at that moment. Subliminal athlete advertising (no, not like this guy) is a trait that I feel is beginning to get lost in this generation's professional athletes and Gordon was always the best at it.
However, the number 24 car still lined up on the front row at the Daytona 500. Only this time there is a different sponsor and a different man at the wheel - 20 year old racing phenom, Chase Elliott.
Elliott has all the tools to become something special in NASCAR. He is the son of a racing legend (we all know NASCAR fans love racing family trees), he is young, personable, has stellar performance attributes and he has the potential to draw young crowds to the race track - essentially, he is everything Jeff Gordon was when he came into the sport 20 years ago.
Of course with a great resume comes lofty expecations and Elliott certainly has enormous shoes to fill. How does a 20 year old jump into the exact same car as a racing legend and not look out of place? Many in the sport have crumbled under the pressure of not only living up to expectations but also the image of the individual that they are replacing. This is not only something that "Up & Comers"in the sports world have to face but also in the professional world. Millenials are slowly beginning to take over the industry making it likely that some young hot shot is likely going to move into the shoes of an individual that made the company that he works in what it is today.
So as a young buck, what needs to be done to silence the mass of critics you will inevitably face? Simpy put, begin to create your own image and perform. Perform like no tomorrow and be the best at what you do to erase any shrowd of doubt your critics might have. You need to immediately come to the realization that you aren't the individual that you are replacing, nor should you try to be. Although Elliott has many similar attributes to a young Jeff Gordon he can't go out there week after week and try to fill his enormous shadow. He needs to carve out his own niche in the market and become the best stock car driver that he can be.
Elliott is off to a good start. He became the youngest driver to ever qualify on the pole in the Daytona 500 to add to his already stellar accomplishment of being the youngest national series champion in NASCAR history. Although an early spin and wreck left much to be desired in his first start in the Daytona 500 he still layed down important building blocks for the foundation to a crucial season.
The same applies to the "Up & Comers" in the professional world. Whether you are replacing an individual in a junior position or making your ascention up the ranks into a senior position - make your own brand image and don't live in the shadow of the individual before you. Get in there and perform to the best of your capabilities and ensure that there is nothing left on the table. Chase Elliott is going out and doing it now - you should as well.
Until next time,
- D.
