In my last blog I gave you five reasons why all entrepreneurs should own a motorcycle.  Within an hour I received an email from my buddy PapaMike , who brought another view as to why entrepreneurs who ride are also found at the front of their industry. Mike Walrath is the publisher of Steel Horse News and talked about how the total commitment it takes to start and run a company is the same as getting onto and riding a steel horse and that for either one, you can’t come in half-shifting. 

This got me to look deeper into some of the common characteristics of the top entrepreneurs who ride, or as I like to call us – BusinessBikers. 

BusinessBikers are a bold lot – independent, adventurous, strong-willed and downright intolerant of fences. We crave the open road because it’s in our DNA.  When we walk into the room we’re the alpha dog exuding confidence and just the right touch of swagger that lets everyone know we mean business. It comes from a burning desire to carve our own path and a belief deep down in our soul that we have a better idea and go for it. 

And we know each other when we meet. 

There’s no secret handshake, just a revealing look in our eyes that tells the other we understand. That we’ve both felt the highs and lows of getting where we are today and paid our dues without reservation. In the beginning, we have, at some point, awakened at 2:30 a.m. on a Friday in a cold sweat trying to figure out how to meet that week’s payroll. And, at some point, we’ve looked at our bank balance not as a safety net, but as a down payment on something really cool to push us forward. 

Aside from the thrill of not having a safety net, biking is our way of maintaining an edge as well as a proper perspective on business and life. More than just a metaphor for how we live, understanding the edge in both business and biking allows us to approach life full out because that’s where the real jazz is. And it’s now a scientific fact that it’s good for both business and our overall health. 

The title to Guy Proctor’s article in the March 25, 2009 edition of Motorcycle News states that “Bikers have fitter, faster brains…” In the article, neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima is quoted as saying “Biking is good for your brain and your life. Long term riders enjoyed improved cognition, concentration and happiness, performed better at work and had lower incidences of stress, illness and worry.”

I think something John Paul DeJoria, biker, CEO and founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Tequila told me one day sums it up best – “The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people do all the things unsuccessful people don’t want to do.”

So saddle up, it’s time to grab your business and life by the handlebars!  

Dwain – The BusinessBiker

As always – These are just my thoughts on the matter, I could be wrong.  So, if you disagree or simply want to pile on, please do so either here on the BLOG or email me directly at Navigator@BikersGuidetoBusiness.Com  I look forward to hearing from you. www.bikersguidetobusiness.com

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