{"id":22267,"date":"2011-07-11T09:36:58","date_gmt":"2011-07-11T13:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/countingpips.com\/fx\/?p=22267"},"modified":"2011-07-11T09:36:58","modified_gmt":"2011-07-11T13:36:58","slug":"what-you-can-learn-about-entrepreneurship-from-world-class-bikers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.investmacro.com\/fx\/2011\/07\/11\/what-you-can-learn-about-entrepreneurship-from-world-class-bikers\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Can Learn About Entrepreneurship From World-Class Bikers"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Early to Rise<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ever since writing The Biker\u2019s Guide to Business<\/em>, I get one question more than any other: \u201cDwain, what the heck do biking and business have in common?\u201d<\/p>\n

To me the answer is obvious in that bikers and entrepreneurs are a similarly bold lot. We\u2019re independent, strong willed, adventurous, and intolerant of fences. We go for it by harnessing our passion in order to excel.<\/p>\n

Both biking and entrepreneurship have inherent risk attached to them. But riding a motorcycle scared is a fast ticket to the hospital \u2013 and you darn sure can\u2019t run a company scared. Those who know this, the champions, get that it\u2019s not about overcoming<\/em> fear. Instead, it\u2019s about understanding and embracing<\/em> reasonable and controllable risk.<\/p>\n

As an entrepreneur, it is not a question of if<\/em> you\u2019re going to face hard times and challenges, it\u2019s a question of when<\/em>. This article is about how to prepare yourself for the inevitable \u2013 five ways to tap into your \u201cinner biker\u201d that will get you through whatever obstacles come your way.<\/p>\n

1. Yield<\/strong><\/p>\n

When faced with a business problem, our first inclination is to push harder\u2026 to fight back. In my experience, that\u2019s the wrong reaction. The first thing you have to do is fully understand why<\/em> you\u2019re in that position.<\/p>\n

You need to find a way to clear your head of the background noise, including all the advice coming at you from well-intentioned friends and colleagues. You have to take the time to get off the merry-go-round that is business. That may mean finding a quiet place to just sit and think. It may mean hiking, riding a bike or a motorcycle, going boating, or gardening. Whatever works for you.<\/p>\n

It is easy to blame a problem on a recent decision. But use this time to dig deeper. Was the problem based on a bad decision made earlier? Did you take your eye off your company\u2019s core values? Did you move away from what got you passionate about your business in the first place?<\/p>\n

2. Focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once you have figured out the source of your problem, it\u2019s time to get back in the game. And you must have total focus. You are either all in or you\u2019re not. There is no half-steppin\u2019 in business.<\/p>\n

You must focus on more than just your business goals. You must focus on what you want out of life. Reason being that, in the beginning, your main business goal is simply to survive, often pushing your life goals aside. Over time, you grow and prosper, and your life and business come together to form one long road trip with many exits along the way.<\/p>\n

The key is to figure out which exits are the right ones for you to take in order to achieve success. Don\u2019t make the mistake of chasing one opportunity after another, simply because they look good. Just because you have a clear and open road doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the right one.<\/p>\n

\n

California girl accidentally discovers $6 billion \u201cInternet Goldmine\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

Southern California native Valerie Johnson was simply shopping for pajamas online one day. And then\u2026 strictly by chance\u2026 she stumbled upon a rather unusual website. Most people have never heard of it. Not even most seasoned online entrepreneurs. But Valerie found it. And it changed her life forever.<\/p>\n

Today\u2026 thanks largely to the $6 billion \u201cInternet Goldmine\u201d Valerie discovered\u2026 she can work from home, call her own shots, and live life completely on her own terms. What\u2019s more, her online business brought in close to $2 million in recession-slammed 2009!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s Valerie\u2019s story\u2026 PLUS a way for YOU to master the exact same website that helped Valerie become a seven-figure online entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

Find out more. <\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

3. Sweat the Small Stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n

Any businessperson can tell you where they are today, and most can paint a rosy picture of where they want to be. But only the winners can also describe the in-between.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re on a motorcycle, that\u2019s the part of the ride that fills your senses with sights and smells. BUT it is also extremely dangerous if you fail to pay attention to where you\u2019re going. Getting to your destination safely depends on your ability to watch out for the potholes between here and there.<\/p>\n

In business, it\u2019s also about watching out for little things that can get in your way. Successful entrepreneurs know that when navigating the in-between, there should be few if any \u201cAha!\u201d moments. They take the time to map out their road to success. And they pay particular attention to the small stuff, the little things they deal with on a day-to-day basis.<\/p>\n

4. Plan Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Entrepreneurs hate to plan. We\u2019ve all been through at least one 2- or 3-day strategic planning session that produced a \u201cdetailed plan\u201d \u2013 only to have it end up on the shelf in a month or two.<\/p>\n

But we have to do it. And the process doesn\u2019t have to be painful. It doesn\u2019t have to take days or weeks. And it doesn\u2019t have to result in a huge binder of information sitting there collecting dust.<\/p>\n

Instead of trying to plan for months or even years down the road, you need to focus on your immediate strategy \u2013 The Tactical Plan<\/em>. Begin by setting a one-year goal for your company. Then identify the day-to-day, week-to-week, and monthly tactics to get you there.<\/p>\n

5. Sharpen Your Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

In business, you are here but need to be there. And in order to get there, your business has to grow. The only way that this will happen is for you \u2013 and your employees \u2013 to grow along with it.<\/p>\n

There are many ways to promote advanced business skills throughout your company. Consider the fundamental areas of:<\/p>\n