Business Principles I learned in a Motorcycle Safety Course

[Donna M Rogers]

One of the numerous incarnations within my last 50+ years was as “Biker Chick”. Well, not…. really, actually…not even….close, but I do have fond memories of being perched on the back of my husband Doug’s Harley Davidson. During that period of my life I actually went to Motorcycle “driving” school. I had taken a class on “two up” (which is driver & passenger) with Doug, and was inspired to get my own motorcycle endorsement. So I enrolled at the local community college and off I went.

The purpose of this story is to tell you two very valuable things I learned in those few weeks that I think apply to everyday life and business “life” in particular. I learned two important principles. One, when you want to “turn” the corner on a bike you don’t turn the handle, you push the handle forward in the direction you want to go. Go left, push left. Interesting phenomena. Physics and all that! We were taught to push through the turns. In other words don’t stop when you’re half way there. The second principle was to look where you wanted to go. Somehow, through the function of body mind synapses, it seems to be natural for the bike to move towards where you look.

So, you can guess how this works in life, and also in business. Anyone out there not experiencing some hairpin curves? Feel that you might not be headed where you want to go? Remember; push through the turns. Don’t stop half way; just keep leaning on the handle until you are all the way around the corner. Keep your sights set on where you want to go. No matter how far you are from them now, if you can see them, somehow you may find that you actually end up there.

[Brenda Priest]

Thank you for posting this! My husband is a rider. Most friends don't understand how I can "let him ride!" How can I not! He has been riding for 20 years. I took the class myself to understand how it all works and to learn the 'right' way. He also always rides with FULL gear on; suit, gloves, helmet, boots and sunglasses. Even yesterday, when the humidity was 280% and 98degrees. He was suited, motto being 'ride to live-live to ride.'

We can all learn something from this about how our businesses work. Keeping your sites on the road ahead, while scanning what is in front of you takes practice, patience and time to learn the skill. We have to put our virtual 'business suit on to ride to our jobs too'

[Schelli Whitehouse]

Beautiful insights. "Push through the turns..." is an excellent analogy of keeping the momementum necessary to get to where you want to go! Love it.