Getting more than just my hands dirty
I sprinted up the muddy stairs with a bike on my shoulder, huffing and puffing as I crested the hill one last time. I eased the skinny tires onto the mud, leapt onto the seat and took off in pursuit of the racer ahead of me. There was one last descent before the finish, providing one final chance to make a pass.
I gave it my all, closed the gap, and looked to make my move as I entered the off-camber turn at top speed. Would it be enough?
It was too much. With one slip, my world turned upside down. My hands were still clutching the handlebars, but the bike was now on top of me as I slid on my back down the muddy hill and off the course. After coming to a stop, I picked up the bike and started to run through the slop, but slipped and fell again, to the delight of the spectators. I tried to right myself with the bike, but slid once more, this time landing on my stomach and face. By now the crowd was roaring with laughter. Looking down at my mud-covered body, I couldn’t help but join them. I had chosen this crazy sport for work?
It was indeed work. It was December in Kansas City, and I was reporting on the Cyclocross National Championship’s course conditions, reviewing a new bike, testing shoes and evaluating a wheel rental service, all while trying to finish my race respectably. You see, just over a year ago I started Cyclocross Magazine, the first print and online magazine dedicated to the sport of cyclocross, a form of off-road bike racing that’s as big as NASCAR in Belgium and Holland and steadily growing here in the U.S. But I wasn’t inspired by hockey-stick revenue graphs or pre-IPO business plans. Although I’ve had to put together my share of those in my past career, I am a long-time cyclocross racer and fan, and started this venture to help grow the sport, produce something that I’ve long wanted myself, and utilize my life-long passion for bicycles and racing. Now I dedicate most waking hours towards that mission.
It’s certainly rewarding work. Although I’ve worked on products in past jobs that impact tens of millions of users, today my efforts feel more meaningful despite benefiting just 1/1000 of that. I’m not curing cancer or creating world peace, and heck, we’re rolling in more mud than dough at this point. But if I’m successful at applying my passion to grow the sport and build a lasting company that informs, excites and entertains readers, I’ll happily be hard at work, getting muddy, and trying to stay upright until I’m a very old man.
Lessons I’ve learned:
Be authentic. Participate in what you’re supposed to be an expert in, even if it involves getting your hands (or entire body) dirty.
Engage your community. They’ll say what works and what doesn’t and will often want to help you.
Keep doing some tasks that you enjoy, even as your business grows. The idea was to do what you love, right?
Lastly, remember why you started your business. If there’s a larger mission or a lifestyle change you were aiming for, stay true to it.
Comments
It was very inspiring. It's great that you turned your life-long passion into your business, and you still enjoy what you do. It was especially inspiring that you mentioned about engaging the community. I think that is a key for any successful business to listen to them and provide what they want.
You exemplify an awe-inspiring dedication and nobility in your magazine and work. More people need to follow their passion like you. Bravo!
Absolutely fantastic, you're doing exactly what it sounds like this sport needs and keeping things down to earth. Sounds like you're doing a great job!
Cyclocross magazine is, without a doubt, the most exciting and fresh piece of writing to come out of the growing sport of cycling in years. Best of luck down the road! John
As always, great stuff. Keep up the good work. Good luck with the grant! Cyclocross is a great publication, filling a needed niche in the cycling community.
As someone with their own small business in a niche sport, I can only wholeheartedly agree with you. And knowing how much work it is to publish something, it's amazing that you took that burden upon yourself! I've seen the magazine, and an amazing collaboration, to say the least. Live the dream, and thank you for doing what your doing, from the rest of us.
Great advice! Thanks so much for your work over the past year or two. The magazine has helped bring the cyclo-cross community together, and we've benefitted greatly from your help.
Great advice! Thanks so much for your work over the past year or two. The magazine has helped bring the cyclo-cross community together, and we've benefitted greatly from your help.
Thanks for pointing the way -- good food for thought when the inevitable "is this what I want to be doing?" question comes up during the working day.
Great story. Congratulations!!!
It's admirable that you've left behind more traditional, and perhaps financially rewarding, pursuits to follow the path you've chosen. And as someone working to start my own business, I can certainly see the value and wisdom in your advice.
This is great! Thank you for sharing!
The story in the beginning is a perfect example of a favorite motto of mine: Embrace failure. In other words, by giving yourself permission to screw up--and hopefully learning from your mistakes!--you are able to get past the fear of failure that stops many people from pursuing their goals or giving up on them too soon. Your attitude should work well for you in your pursuit of your larger goal -- best of luck.
Your story reminds all of us to follow our dreams...
Truly inspiring! Do what you love; we love having a print and online magazine dedicated to cyclocross. The sport of Cyclocross is growing in Canada as well and I'm glad to help you guys make the sport grow here too. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing your story and lessons learned. I think it's great you're pursuing your passions and inspiring others along the way. Your magazine is not only informative, it's quite entertaining too. Thanks and keep it up!
I have seen this dedication at work and have to say even this inspiring story you've produced it still doesn't scratch the surface of the dedication you have placed on what you do. This is a great article to read.
I'm just getting into cross and your magazine and website have been a great resource. I had fun last fall during my first season, but was overweight and out of shape and was finishing in the bottom 10 of the 4's. I rode 100 plus miles a week outside through the Chicago winter to get lean and get used to some slush. I'll be ready come September. If you haven't tried cross, it's super fun, super hard, and the community is very supportive of new racers. Do it.
can cross season start tomorrow?
Well said! Good luck!
Brilliant! Just as I can always count on when I recieve your magazine in the mail, true and inspiring content that I can relate to and as a reader say to myself, I have been there, I have felt that, you and your fold of writers are very true to the readers and treat us as equals, very non corporate! Thanks
Great Story! As an aspiring small business owner one day, this inspires me. As a reader of the magazine and future cross racer, your determination and drive is what I hope to have while running and sliding through the muck come this fall. I wish you luck and hope to be reading the magazine for many years to come!
Great Story! As an aspiring small business owner one day, this inspires me. As a reader of the magazine and future cross racer, your determination and drive is what I hope to have while running and sliding through the muck come this fall. I wish you luck and hope to be reading the magazine for many years to come!
I love the fact that you have turned your passion into an entrepreneurial opportunity. I appreciate your story about giving up traditional employment and riding until you are old. I find myself envious as I wear my tie to work and come home and stare at my old athletic equipment reminiscent of a few good years I had a generation ago. Please continue your magazine and pursuit to better this sport.
Cyclocross Magazine is, by far, my most eagerly awaited periodical! As a like minded cyclocross fanatic, it's easy to see the passion that is behind the content and creation of this wonderful publication. Keep up the good work!
it is definitely about time a periodical of this nature rose to the surface. having a resource for gear, tips, races, etc - it has been a long time coming. getting the riders and readers involved on paper and online has been great to watch. it only gets better with time.
Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk. Not only am I a huge fan of the magazine, but I've been lapped by you at the local races. Sweet.
Your work to bring the Joy of Cyclocross to others is important, not only for the growth of the sport but also the inspiration it brings to others. Many of us toil in the day to day world of mundane jobs, yet Cyclocross is that outlet that makes this all worthwhile. The ability to share stories, learn more and expand our Cyclocross Horizons is your gift to us. Thank you.
CX get a hold of you and doesn't let go. Its a scene. Its a community. It hurts so good when its over! Bravo for growing the sport. Bravo for pursuing your passion!
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WITH THE HEART THAT YOU HAVE!
Keep it up!
This is great, I feel that you really show how the difficulties that are so commonplace in the world of cyclocross racing can prepare you for a business environment that may be less that hospitable.
Great job with the funny write-up. But you want to be rolling in as much dough as mud to inspire the rest of us in small businesses who want to make a decent living too.
Like the sport itself, Cyclocross Magazine magazine is perched on the verge greatness!
It was very inspiring. I have decided not to quit.
Great to support this sport!
inspiring - what a quality mag /b usiness in such a short time....
This is a fantastic story of pursuing your passion.
What we need is more individuals willing to take risks for something they believe in. The creation of CX Magazine filled a large void, and the dedication of this editor to the sport is non-periel. Create enthusiasm, bring new participants, allow the sport to grow and prosper! Awesome.
Thanks for sharing a great story - I'm sort of jealous that you have found something to passionate about that much, which not everyone can do. Keep it up, and hope good luck to you and your wife who support your dream :)
Awfully inspiring story with little nuggets of wisdom at the end. I'm still figuring out that passion and am so happy that you've found it. You seem to have started spinning this wheel of momentum and it's truly gathering speed!
You make some great points. Do what you love, and that passion will inspire others.
Great story! Thanks for the plug of the wheel rental service, too. :)
I love that you are pursuing your passions to grow a sport you love. Thanks for reminding me to "be authentic". I think if one is true to themselves they ultimately can do the most for the world.