I’ve read somewhere that over 300,000 motorcycles are purchased by business executives – both men and women, each year.   When I first straddled a bike over 30 years ago people rode or one of two reasons – you either couldn’t afford a car (my case) or you were a rebel badass — no in-between.  Now people ride because it’s cool and hip, or as one motorcycle exec put it one day “35 year old accountants can now dress up in leather, hop on a bike and ride through small towns scaring people…” 

Yes, today bikers come in all shapes, sizes and age ranges but you can’t lump us into one simple category.  That’s because like in all things some are posers — ‘checkbook bikers’, who bought the bike because they grew tired of their boat and ‘oh by the way’, love the way they look in that leather on weekends.  Sure they can ride, but at the end of the day it’s just another trend to be a part of. 

Others may also be late to riding; however they are to their very bones true to life bikers who would have easily fit in 30 years ago.  These are the entrepreneurs and leaders who play at the highest level in whatever they do.  Alpha dogs who understand that in order succeed and survive in either biking or business you need to have attitude and a genuine love for it.  You not only recognize the risk involved in hitting the edge but also embrace it and wear it like a $10,000 suit. 

So if you resemble that remark, welcome to the party because this blog’s for you.  Going forward I’ll be writing about the things I see while riding along on my business journey.  Some will be smart, some will be funny and hopefully all will off you the type of insight all Business Bikers can relate to. 

Tell me about yours!

Dwain

The Biker Guy

Leo Kiely, CEO of Molson Coors said to me one day – “Riding is an instant sailing trip where I go to clear my head”.  And that’s probably the best explanation for ‘cagers’ to understand why it is that we ride. 

We Business Bikers all have that favorite ride we use to get away.  On our way there we think about everything and nothing.  Random ideas shoot through our head while fence posts fly by turning our thoughts into one long blur. This mind clearing allows us to go really deep when we finally do stop.  That’s the kind of experience no car can provide because when in that cage we’re either listening to the radio, a book on tape or talking on the cell phone.  All the while wondering if ‘we’re there yet.

And that’s precisely what the poster Strategic Planning is all about.  It’s that feeling we get when hopping on our bike and getting to that favorite spot tothink about what’s really important in our world. 

Enjoy,

Dwain – The Biker Guy

Ride On!

That’s because Business Bikers are a similar and bold lot.  What sets us apart is awareness, timing and a keen ability to sift through the background noise and bullshit around us.  Where we recognize rules, we don’t hesitate to break them when necessary. 

 And biking and business are way better for it!

 Dwain – The Biker Guy

Ride On!

 So, when wanting to design a poster that captured this attitude, I met with a number of these Alpha Females to make sure we got the right feel.  They all said that the glass ceiling holding women back is only real if you allow it to be.  They don’t accept convention–they re-define it and give it a style all their own. 

When designing this poster we wanted to capture the feel we get when business meets the open road. 

My job is to help entrepreneurs navigate their companies and get to where it is they want to go, so I’m always meeting in one office building or another.  Most meetings are interesting, but some can bore you to tears, especially top-level group meetings or ‘Board Meetings’. 

That’s why every chance I get, I take these meetings on the road.  The ride clears our heads and helps my clients and I sift through the BS of the day before stopping at our favorite biker hangout for intense conversation. 

Our open air boardroom rocks and we get more done than in traditional meetings.  Proves you can take care of business and get away from it all at the same time.   

Just think of how much better businesses would run if all Board Meetings were that way!

Dwain – The Biker-Guy

Ride On!

Like you, biking and business are both passions. They are also vehicles that take me where I want to go – one physically, the other economically. I hopped on my first motorcycle at the age of 16 and have enjoyed playing at the top levels of business almost that long. 

Recently while on a day-long ride with two of my CEO buddies, I brought up the fact that there are no inspirational business posters on the market that truly capture the feel of being a Business Biker.  I mean, birds and boats are nice, but we’re riders…We live by the creed that we’d rather ride our bikes and think about business instead of sitting in an office while thinking about riding. 

So we decided to design our own posters. What you see the first of our series. Let me know what you think…

Dwain – The Biker Guy

Ride On!