The Lesson I Learned Fixing an Old Truck With an Olympic Hopeful
Complex problems often have the most basic solutions
Thirty years ago, an Australian friend of mine jumped on a plane and came to Wisconsin to spend the winter. He exchanged the sun, sand, and waves for biting snow and brutal cold.
Clark aspired to make Australia’s national team as a cross-country skier. He was in pursuit of the Olympics, and Wisconsin allowed him an ideal place to train during the Australian summer.
We dreamed the same way kids in their yards fantasize about throwing a touchdown in the closing seconds of the Super Bowl. I never got close to any national team, but following that path showed me the way out of my hometown.
Clark had ambition, but he didn’t have money. When money is lacking you can make do with ingenuity. The first thing Clark did when he arrived was purchase an old pickup truck for $200. He looked at me with his crooked smile and said, “It’s a whole lot cheaper than paying rental fees.”
The trick was keeping it on the road.
When the truck broke down
I accompanied Clark on many adventures. People need a pursuit of passion. You need to race and feel the thrill of speed. You need to keep track of your…
