3 Critical Business Lessons From Go-Karting
I belong to a business development group called “The Collective”. As part of their development program is time to do something different. Recently it was Go-Karting.
I’ve never been go-karting before and so my level of expertise in go-karting is almost zilch. So if you know nothing about go-karting then don’t feel like you won’t understand my lessons.
Lesson 1: Loop, loop, loop
Go-karting, like many motor racing events, is about doing the same thing over and over again. As a bunch of beginners, what quickly became obvious is that it is the person who could successfully complete the circuit without stuffing up is the most likely person to win.
Business is the same. While we like to think that business success is about big decisions, and deals, and glamour, the reality is that our business success relies on being able to do the routine stuff day in, day out.
It starts with getting a good product or service out reliably, day in, day out. Do we have the procedures in place that ensure that things happen smoothly? Do we have good staff in place that ensure that we are in for the long haul.
Personally I know one of the hardest things I have to do is create posts. We have a number of sites where I am meant to regularly create content. I need to be disciplined in ensuring it happens. It’s not easy.
Loop, loop, loop.
Lesson 2: Look for opportunities
The only way you can overtake is when an opportunity presents itself, and you make the most of it.
Business is the same. We don’t want to be so fixated on the day to day routine, that we fail to take an opportunity when it comes our way. We need to be continually looking for new opportunities, and be prepared to act when it presents itself.
Lesson 3: Don’t get comfortable
OK, this one you had to be there to understand. I was in second place. I thought I was in first place because the person winning was not in sight.
I knew the competition was behind me and so I fell back into rule number 1. I didn’t have to risk looking for opportunities. I had a couple of glory laps where I was sure I was first.
Until the finish, and I was second.
In business, we can’t afford to be comfortable. We can’t see where the competition is at. There may be another competitor who will appear unexpectedly. Look at the taxi industry who would have been watching each other. Or what happens when technology takes away your business, as Kodak are the classic example.
But there is one huge difference between go-kart racing and business. That, however, is my next post.
