So sorry it’s been awhile but it is now the silly season and it’s not so silly for me. Busy as ever and I hope it’s all busy for you guys as well. I am super excited to say the least. She Loves Racing’s Road Race rider PJ Jacobsen earned three national titles this year. USGPRU National 125 GP Championship, AMA 125GP Grand Championship and CAN-AM 125 GP Championship. It has been quite the year for my little boy (ok he is 13) but will always be my little boy. If that weren’t enough of a boost for She Loves Racing then here is the topper… Kenny Coolbeth won the AMA Grand National Championship that came down to the last race in Columbus Ohio. I should have been there to see it but I had a reception to attend to in Palm Beach (I was invited by Donald Trump) and my boss was there. Hard to turn down the invitation. I quickly got home to watch it LIVE on Live I sports and I think I was one of the few that had no problems seeing it. I lost my voice that night drank a bottle of expensive wine and cleared the tears of joy before talking to the champ. It was quite a night. Congratulations again!!

So where does this leave me? I am currently working on resumes and look to have them completed by months end. You should have yours almost completed as well. I have learned a grand business lesson that I am going to share with you now in hopes that it will help in some part of your career in racing or personal and it boils down to standards.

You have to set yourself a standard. A point of measurement of what you are worth and what the industry can hold. Sounds confusing. Not exactly. If you look back in your personal career. Your first job as a dishwasher, paper carrier, retail etc… The labor board set your standard. Then you graduated from High School and took another job. That diploma has value so your pay should reflect that. You should not be making the same as a part timer or someone in High School. If you go on to college or trade school your then next pay should be higher than that of a High School graduate. The same goes for racing. The difference is. People are always afraid to ask what the industry can hold. Why is that? Some get excited if a helmet company gives you three helmets for the year. The values of the helmets are $1500 to buy them outright. You will market and brand well over $1500 for the year. Do you think Nicky Hayden accepts free product with a cash deal in place… No why should he? He can afford to by the products himself and that would be one less patch on his leathers.

So setting standards requires some research but you have to start somewhere. You should be able to add value to yourself and come up with a number. Obviously the more victories you have the higher the standard. But winning isn’t the only value you hold. You can place 10^th but have a better marketing strategy, fan base and exposure than the guy in 3^rd and so your standard should reflect that (but you better back it up). I am not going to throw numbers out there for what you are worth. But you should be getting that type of information thru multiple resources READ!! It’s out there. The top 10 people in any sport should not be going broke. If you are it is solely because of your lack of standards.

If you don’t ask… you won’t get

If a sponsor wants you they will get you cheap if you don’t speak up!

Your risk on the track, exposure, and livelihood all holds value.. Your potential sponsors are in the business for your exposure.. Without that… they will spend many millions of dollars to achieve that.. You should be getting a cut of that buck!

Good Luck, stay positive and be strong.. YOU HAVE VALUE, take your standard to a new level in 2007.

Jennifer