9 Lessons from Mountain Biking to Grow Your Lighting Business

I love mountain biking. I try to get out as much as I can during the summer. I’ve learned that I do some of my best thinking on the trail.

A few days ago, during a ride, I was thinking about what I’ve learned about mountain biking and how those lessons can actually help grow your lighting business. This is what I came up with:

9 Things You Didn’t Know Could Grow Your Lighting Business That You Can Only Learn While Mountain Biking

1. Momentum

You gain momentum going uphill AND downhill. Don’t pump the brakes while you are going downhill, and don’t forget to work on that uphill momentum as well.

2. Grind When It’s Hard

Remember that uphill momentum—it takes work. Advice is not created equally; take it when you need it and what makes sense for you. Make sure you are grinding at the right time for you.

3. Lots of Shifting

Don’t stay in one gear—utilize all the gears at your disposal. Sometimes you’ll make the most progress in the lowest gear.

4. Don’t Look Down

It’s a long way down. Stop asking questions to people behind you.

5. Many Routes on a Single Track Trail

Don’t stay in the middle. Sometimes the easier routes are closer to the edge. You need to be willing to take risks.

6. Look Ahead, Not Directly in Front of You

You’re making nearsighted mistakes if you are looking directly in front of you. It’s a smoother ride when looking out at the horizon.

7. Do Hard Things

When you do, you get stronger and the hard things become easier over time. If you want to get to the top, you must be willing to do the work.

8. Compete Against Yourself, Not Others

Don’t worry about them—worry about yourself and your progress. I saw a kid crash on the third turn going downhill because he was trying to keep up with his friends. You don’t want to crash and burn on the third turn trying to keep up. You want to make it down to the bottom in one piece so you can do it again.

9. Follow the Proven Path

Learn from people with more experience. If there’s already a path, follow the proven path while you take your own route. If tons of people have already done what you want to do, learn from them. You can do that while still forging your own path.

And there it is—the 9 things you didn’t know could grow your lighting business that you can only learn while mountain biking. Hopefully, I get out on the trail many more times this summer to continue bringing these epiphanies your way. 🚵‍♂️ 💡

Keep Moving Forward!

- Ryan

# Mountain biking, business growth, lighting business, momentum, adaptability, risk-taking, business lessons #