From May 16-19, the 1000-mile spectacle in Italy will once again attract vintage car enthusiasts from Brescia to Rimini and from Rome to Parma.
It has always been in human nature to compete with each other: Who is first, who is the fastest?! And car races have been an attraction for people since the invention of the automobile.
The Mille Miglia was established in 1927 by four friends in Northern Italy, initially just as a pastime and pure hobby. It was later turned into an official road race and eventually became a classic car race for the first time - stepping on the gas pedal and having the most horsepower under the hood mattered. Over the years, its appeal grew alongside the horsepower, as advancements made cars faster.
Rivalry also increased, amateur pilots were replaced by real race drivers, and so far, it sounds like a true success story.
However, the increasing competitive pressure and the ever faster cars also made the car race more dangerous. Accidents became more frequent, and the race claimed more victims - even among the spectators. Due to the high risk involved, the Mille Miglia was discontinued in 1957.
What does this story teach us?
Technological and digital progress has remained an accelerator. We now live in the information age - information is readily available at all times, making things fast-paced. However, this often comes at the expense of interpersonal relationships and fun. Here, caution is needed: should the idea of progress really demand these sacrifices?
After several years of hiatus, the Mille Miglia was revived in 1977, but this time with a different philosophy. The restarted race is no longer focused solely on top speed but pays more attention to consistency and reliability.
This year, it is more about driving beautiful cars, enjoying the journey, and celebrating each stage. Refueling a sense of life composed of conversations, culinary delights, and a love for vintage cars unites the race participants. This makes this unique car race, limited to vehicles built until 1957, perhaps one of the most beautiful in the world.
The engine and bodywork must be in original form, and participation in a race from previous years must be proven. These are the conditions for the legendary vintage car race, where fun takes precedence. Otherwise, the motto is to maneuver your car wisely through the landscape, keeping an eye on the time.
From this structural transformation of the world-famous car race, we have derived the Mille-Miglia Strategy. We invite you to turn the path to achieving your business goals into a Mille Miglia as well, to suffer less from the pressures of progress and competition than your competitors.
It is about not being intimidated by the next big goal, but breaking it down into achievable stages and celebrating the interim successes properly. This is important to recognize the opportunities of progress in your company and promote a positive attitude towards change.
The participants of the Mille Miglia share their experiences over a glass of wine and excellent food to re-energize and refocus on the roadbook, the book that determines the time from start to finish. Too much indulgence would mean penalty points; however, rushing too fast would go against the spirit of the race.
Applied to your company, it means that the journey to the goal is also an experience. Every mile is a piece of life - your life. How sad it would be to go through the world with tunnel vision!
By the way, in the Mille Miglia, the driver relies on the technician for tire and oil changes. They also rely on the navigation skills of their co-driver for route planning and timing. We believe that leaders can learn from this Italian spectacle. Therefore, we advocate with this metaphor:
- Stay committed to your 1000 miles to the goal, but include pit stops!
- Endurance comes before speed, and teamwork before individual achievements.
- The interaction of all involved should be concise and collegial.
So, enjoy the journey, think in stages, and celebrate the interim successes. This brings energy and motivation, and you will reach the destination with joy.
Make your project the most beautiful race in the world.
YOUR Thousand Miles for
YOUR success.
Loredana Meduri & Alessandro Spanu were live at the Mille Miglia in Rome this year and exchanged ideas with the experts and consultants of the Mille Miglia - Marco Ruiz.
What is the success strategy for companies in transition?
Learn more about it
in the presentation: BE OPEN
DIGITAL READINESS - Mentally flexible for the future!
in the book: The Dolce Vita Strategy
