As my friends know, I love long bicycle rides.  I ride road bikes more than mountain bikes since I had my back surgery a few years ago.  I love to compete and I absolutely love the month of July when I can watch the world’s most famous bike race, the Tour de France.

As I was watching yesterday’s epic mountain stage it occurred to me that racing bicycles and entrepreneurship have a few things in common.

1. There is luck involved.  Some days racers and entrepreneurs both find they crash.  It’s not that they necessarily did anything wrong.  In many instances it’s that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Or they got caught up in something beyond their control.  In short, they got unlucky.  Those who win on any given day could attribute their victory to luck as well.  Being in the right place at the right time.  Like when a break goes off the front and you’re ready to roll with those who will go for the finish first.  Some days your, no matter what you’ve done to be in good form, your body works well.  And other days it won’t.

Entrepreneurs face a big race every day.  They must develop and execute a professional business plan.  They must build, manage and coach the right team.  They must generate more leads, follow up and close more sales.  It seems the most disciplined in this regard have a higher success rate.  But business involves luck too.

2. Those who practice the most put themselves in a position to win the most.  Whether you know cycling or not, disciplined training and coaching is the key to success.  Genetics can play a role.  But most often the best racers work the hardest to train and practice.  I know a lot of business owners who are good at what they do.  But many I meet don’t do the tough training.  I equate the hard work in business to being disciplined with sales calls and follow up.  Attracting, organizing and following up on all the leads so none fall through the cracks.  And of course, success in business comes from taking great care of our partners, contractors and employees in order to exceed the expectations of the customer or client.  Work as a team.  Plan.  Practice.  Execute.  Learn.  Start over.

3. Everyone has a job on a cycling team.  Yes, cycling is a team sport.  And so is business.  Employees, managers and leaders must all work with one another in a way that the team exceeds the client’s expectations.  If there’s a breakdown in communication, commitment, or planning the end result can be disastrous.  Working as team requires discipline in business and in cycling.

Sadly, there are only a two more days of racing until most of the cyclists who started the Tour de France hit Paris and cycle to the ultimate finish line.  It’s been a pleasure to watch the race evolve.  And as of today’s start, twenty two of the original 180 or so racers had to exit the race.  It’s a grueling undertaking.

When I watch what the racers endure to just finish the race, I deeply admire those who have the guts to be there in the first place.  Same for those who won choose the life of entrepreneurship.  Facing our fears.  Doing the hard work.  Making the sales calls.  Hiring, leading, managing and firing the people.  Long days.  Long nights.  Steep hills.  Incredible odds.  It makes me proud to serve other entrepreneurs.

Clifford Jones, Founder
WealthNet Partners, LLC
“Discover The Art of Business Development”
Scottsdale, Arizona
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