Biker's Guide To Business

Sharing

2008-03-24T04:26:00.000-07:00

Bikers are widely known for our generosity. In any community on any given weekend you’ll find a poker run or some other biker event geared towards one charity or another. It’s a great thing and we are extremely proud of how much money we raise along the way.

John Paul Dejoria, Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Systems and fellow biker said to me one day that “Success not shared is failure.”

Of course we gladly do this on our bikes because it’s connected to our passion for riding and by extension life in general. It’s a no-brainer. But what about your business life, are you sharing your passion and knowledge? Is there a favorite charity or non-profit organization which shares your passion that you’ve connected to?

Now I’m not talking about just giving dollars although that’s important. I’m talking about giving your precious time because there are some excellent organizations out there that can use you and your skills. So if you’ve not looked around your community do so.

Go out and offer others the same kind of helping hand we all received along our path to success. Get involved by teaching a class at Junior Achievement or share your experiences through the local Center for Entrepreneurship or Rotary Club.

Because whether it’s on the bike or off, there’s no greater feeling than giving something back.

Ride On

Tough Riding

2008-03-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

OK…are we in a recession or aren’t we? Whatever the politicians and economists elect to call it, all signs are for slower times ahead. And, if so, what are you doing to prepare?

I’ve found that tough times in business are similar to riding through one of Florida’s summertime downpours. You know its coming and won’t last forever but you just can’t tell how bad it really is until you’re in the middle of it.

The key is to keep your wits about you and pay close attention to what’s directly around you. Be patient, narrow your focus to the road immediately ahead instead of looking off into the horizon and keep it straight.

So, in your business, pay close attention to the fundamentals and focus on what’s happening now. Keep your eye on the little things and by all means, sweat the small stuff. Because just like that Florida downpour, slogging through it ain’t fun, but you’re still moving forward…just not as fast as before.

After all, whether it's business or biking, the goal is to get there safely.

Ride On

Bike Week Baby!!

2008-03-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

It’s Bike Week and one of the perks of living in Central Florida is that it comes twice a year. So on Friday I removed myself from the business ‘grid’ for a mental health weekend that just ended. No business, no emails, no cell phone calls…just riding.

The weather has been awesome for the thousands of brother and sister bikers who have ridden in to make it one hell of a party. We’ve come together to celebrate the freedom of motorcycling and it’s all about great riding and rock and roll music from Orlando to Daytona.

Bike Week aside, there aren’t many outside diversions that allow for this complete of a ‘get away’. Sure there’s sailing or mountain climbing, but that requires you to travel to wherever it is your boat or mountain is in order to take advantage. On a bike the wind in your face is immediate and the smile that comes with it is constant as it blows away the cobwebs and clears your brain. It’s why we ride...

So if you’re one of the thousands out here this week be safe and keep the rubber side down. And if you come across someone wearing a Biker’s Guide to Business t-shirt tap me on the shoulder and say hi...I’ll buy you a beer!

Ride on…

Getting Better

2008-02-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

What do you invest in yourself in terms of professional development on a yearly basis? I’m talking specifically about conferences or workshops that will improve you personally, which in turn improves your company.

In my line of work as a Navigator of companies I need to maintain a critical edge in most of the crucial business areas, i.e. marketing, leadership, development, etc. So, I find myself attending 3 or more conferences a year, each requiring substantial bucks along with my getting on a plane and flying somewhere.

Yes, there’s the definite cost in terms of time and dollars, but the decision is easy as getting smarter ensures that I not lose a good client because I lazily handed my competitive edge to someone else. Plus, my clients see this investment in my education as an investment in them. It’s like I wrote a few weeks ago in Riding Partners…they too want to hang out with someone who’s on top of their game.

And if you’re gonna do it – do it right! These conferences are usually in a cool location so get there a day or two early and rent a bike. I’m currently in beautiful California where I spent the day before this conference riding a Harley down the Pacific Coast Highway.

While some of my fellow attendees were fighting 4-5 hour flight delays in order to get here, I had the wind in my face and the Pacific Ocean as my riding partner. It totally relieved me of the stress I left behind and cleared my mind of the cobwebs in order to open up to what I’m came here to learn.

Now that's how you combine work and pleasure…and people wonder why we ride!

Ride on,

A visit to the dealership...

2008-02-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

There is something about being around other bikes and bikers that instantly takes you out of your box. It’s a bit rebellious and a bit of I know something the ‘normal’ guy doesn’t because I choose to step outside of the mainstream.

It’s an attitude. Not cocky per se…just a feeling of confidence one gets from having control within a vulnerable environment. You’re not the biggest and baddest…no, 18-wheelers are. But you are agile, powerful and fast…just like your company needs to be - no matter the size.

To be successful in business you always need to question the status quo and be willing to come across as a bit ‘different’. After all, we didn’t come here to follow the pack. Hell no, we came here to lead!

So, rather than think of yourself as an entrepreneur who happens to ride, flip it. Walk through your business world like the biker who happens to be an entrepreneur. Walk with that swagger that let’s others know that you’re different…that you have it together.

Because, as both a biker and an entrepreneur…you do.

Ride On

Begin at the End

2008-02-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

How often have you begun a year just rolling full steam ahead off of last year’s momentum only to find yourself in March or June having to change direction? If that’s happened to you it’s probably because you’ve not stopped to think about the up-coming year.

This is why at the beginning of the year I asked myself and each of my clients to finish this statement. “2008 will be a successful year if…?” If what happens? If you accomplish what?

This simple but profound exercise can help you to see the coming year in its proper perspective. It forces you to project out and look at what projects and tasks you’ll need to focus on and is a great way to stop things from falling thru the cracks.

It also is a shot of adrenalin as your sense of urgency goes up along with your anticipation to get things done. Try it and pass it along to your employees and associates…it works.

Ride On

Riding Partners

2008-02-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

Do you ride with the same group each and every time or do you mix it up a bit? My personal preference is to mix it up as I’ve found that diversity brings more enjoyment on the open road as each set of riding partners has their own likes and riding preferences.

There are some that like the easy roll that comes with the back roads and there are others that love the speed and vibe of the open highway. In either case, it’s good riding.

It’s the same in business. I always mix it up...especially in business! Reason being is that business, by its very nature, is competitive and you need every edge in order to become and remain successful. Therefore, you need to hang out with those who are just as hungry as you.

I surround myself with people who are hungry for more knowledge, greater skills and improved techniques. I want to hang out with the best at what they do and who wake up every day looking for ways to improve and move forward.

It’s the easiest way I’ve found to close my ‘knowledge gaps’ and cross those chasms with new skills and insights. And, just like riding, we help each other get to where it is we all want to go.

Unexpected Consequences

2008-01-26T03:56:00.000-08:00

One of the benefits of an offsite planning meeting is that you get to see all of your company’s talent (or lack there of) in the same room. Facilitated properly, no one can hide and as such, your real players will rise to the top while the posers get totally exposed.

During one recent offsite, when getting down to the real nuts and bolts of the plan, it became obvious that the recently hired Director of Operations was struggling. Where we needed concrete details, he spouted theory. Where we needed real life experience, he quoted from a business book.

The farther it went along the more the body language of the room changed when he began to speak. When launching into one of his shallow, long winded answers everyone shut him out by either doodling or getting a cup of coffee.

At the end of the day, the CEO walked up to me and asked a question that really wasn’t a question. “He’s (the D.O.) not going to make it is he?” To which I replied, “Nope.” He then asked what he should do and I responded, “Follow your gut instinct and if it’s telling you that he needs to go, then the question isn’t if, it’s when.” He nodded his head and walked off.

They replaced the Director of Operations a month later and based on the needs outlined during the offsite meeting, found the right person for the job and haven’t stopped growing since.

So, remember, a successful plan is simply about the work to be done and who best fits the role. Mismatch those two and you’re doomed to either mediocrity or failure.

Ride On...

Offsite Meetings

2008-01-20T04:18:00.000-08:00

As I said in an earlier blog, I love offsite meetings. I lead my clients through them at least twice a year because of the magic that takes place. Sure, most of us have horror stories about the offsite-from-hell that went on for days and left us all wondering why we were there in the first place. But with the right environment, a well executed offsite leads to epiphanies and understandings that one-off conversations cannot.

A great example of this is a recent offsite meeting I navigated where the boss dropped a bombshell of bad news on the group. Revenue and profitability bad news. It immediately sent the entire group into a semi state of shock. Like the proverbial ripping off of the bandage, the brutal facts of their situation smacked them in the head and forced an immediate attitude adjustment.

What happened next was 45 minutes of the most intense and valuable conversation this group will experience all year. It dropped all defenses. The entire group released their pent up fears, challenges and frustrations. After all, on the heels of the news they received, how bad could it get?

It turned a group with a ‘what the company needs to do for me’ mindset into one of ‘what can I now do for the company to be successful’ and did so in a split second! It forced many in the room to grow up in a business sense and brought beautifully into perspective their individual responsibilities to the whole.

In the end, they discovered that if each of them increased their revenues by just FIVE PERCENT, the entire issue would be corrected… FIVE PERCENT!!!!

Talk about getting a group to ride together and in the same direction…

Starting with a bang...

2008-01-15T17:17:00.001-08:00

I’ve spent most of the past year working on my much anticipated book – The Biker’s Guide to Business. But it’s a New Year and time to get my head out of my tailpipe and begin blogging on a regular basis.

You can expect at least one per week from me on a business topic that’s relevant to my world and yours. For January I’m going to focus on the value of offsite meetings. I love offsite meetings as it’s a great way to get everyone on the same page quickly - especially when starting a new year.

Four of my clients have rocketed out of the shoot with offsite meetings this month spending a day or two focusing on how to reach their goals this year. The thing I don’t understand is why more companies don’t do it.

It could be that most business people associate off site meetings as taking too much time, too expensive or complicated. None of which could be farther from the truth.

Heck, all it takes is your management team, a hotel conference room, coffee and lunch to hold an offsite. As for it being complicated, simply focus on where the company needs to be at the end of the year and how to get there. Document your discussion and you’ve got the makings of a plan. And when has building a path to success ever been a waste of time?

I’ll write more on this topic during January and share with you some key insights that may convince you to use this incredible tool to grow your business.

BG

Time to Blog

2007-06-26T04:53:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting trip so far since launching this site. I'm working diligently on my book - The Biker's Guide to Business as well as keeping my existing clients happy. Not an easy task, but the most interesting and fun stuff I've done in a while. Like this Blog, I've not had much time for the bike, but in both cases, that's going to change shortly.

The key to keeping up is focused passion. Biking and business both draw my spirit and my attentions and this weekly Blog will serve to reflect the merging of the two and in such a way that will, hopefully, engage and offer you a new perspective on life it's own self.

Like I always say, Happiness is finding your passion and turning it into performance...

The time is now...

The Big Idea

2006-11-30T04:46:00.000-08:00

It was a cold crisp morning in July as I topped the 12,000 ft. rise just outside of Leadville Colorado and literally rode through a frigging cloud! My first thought was ‘So this is what it’s like to kiss heaven’…followed by my second thought…ONLY on a bike!!!

That’s when it hit me like a love bug while doing 80 on the highway…we all need to do this. How cool it would be to share this experience with other entrepreneurs…people just like me who know how to live life on the edge and understand that it’s only on the edge where we’re happiest.

I mean think about it…what better way to get away from it all, reflect on your business AND hang out with 9 other people just like you!?!

That’s why I host the Biker’s Guide to Business motorcycle tour/retreat for those leaders who ride. It’s designed to scrub your head clean and remind you why you do what you do. Entrepreneurs need time to feel the world outside and remember what it’s like to truly connect with new surroundings. And, nothing clears your head and reboots your soul like cruising the mountains of Colorado.

The beginning

2006-11-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

As a Navigator of companies, my role is to assist Entrepreneurs cross finish lines. I help them not only see the forest for the trees, but manage their way through it with a minimum of obstacles. In order to see the forest for the trees I have to keep my head clear and spirit stoked. This is why I ride.

As a fellow entrepreneur and biker, you know all too well that when on a bike, you’re mind can run free and think clearly without the constant barrage of phone calls, emails or personal interruptions. We ride to reflect and re-boot. Feeling the wind in one's face and experiencing the smells and texture of the road is essential to maintaining a proper business/life balance.

So, join me...this blog is for those fellow travelers who love the wind in their face and want to learn how to better wrap their minds around businesses most pressing issues while simultaneously letting it run free.

Ride on!