"I got into the race and people literally laughed. They thought I had no chance of winning"

In this quote, Patrick McHenry is describing a minute when he chose to go into a race, potentially a political one. He discusses that when he initially announced his candidacy, individuals responded by laughing at him. This suggests that they did not take him seriously and did not believe that he had a possibility of winning. This might be due to his lack of experience or certifications, or perhaps since he was running versus a more recognized or popular candidate. Regardless of the initial suspicion, McHenry went on to prove his skeptics wrong and eventually became the victor. This quote highlights the power of decision and perseverance in the face of doubt and criticism.