EP (15) Mike Brcic: Riding the Highs and Lows of a World Renowned, Socially- Conscious Mountain Bike Company
Life's a funny one.
You may think you have a plan, but if you look back years from now, I can almost guarantee that it will be very different from the picture you have in your head today.
All it takes is one decision to set your entire life on a completely different trajectory.
For Mike, that's exactly what happened. He graduated University with a degree in a field he had no interest working in. And so, when the mountains of British Columbia called, he listened and headed West.
He'll be the first to tell you that he didn't really have a life plan at that time. He coasted from one job to the next, without an end goal in mind. And in his words (there was one thing for certain), he wasn't a great employee, having been fired from a few mediocre jobs.
Then one day his friend suggested he start a mountain bike company that takes tourists on the trails he regularly explored. It was a bit of a no-brainer, as he loved the sport and knew a lot of the hidden gems. And he didn't need a lot of start up capital. All he needed was his bike (and maybe a few more).
The rest as they say, is history.
Almost 20 years later, with a lot of highs and lows under his belt and a business that has been rated by National Geographic as the Best Mountain Bike Tour Company in the world - Mike carved out a successful entrepreneurial life for himself.
However, he'll be the first to tell you that the number one thing that sets successful entrepreneurs a part from wanna-preneurs, is their perseverance - not talent. He's suffered his own pitfalls and moments of "how am I going to keep this company going," and trudged through a lot of s**t to get to this point in his life. Both personally and professionally. Which is why he now mentors young entrepreneurs- many of whom have launched successful businesses.
His own company, Sacred Rides, currently offers tours in 15 different countries around the world, with singles, couples and beginners alike exploring new surroundings, while having the time of their lives. The company even has a policy of guaranteed departures and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
SOME QUESTIONS I ASKED:
How do you maintain a balanced lifestyle with three young kids, a thriving adventure company, mentorship programs, teaching gigs and an NGO?
What's your morning routine look like these days?
What systems and processes do you have in place in your business to keep your remote team functioning at their highest level of efficiency?
Were you always interested in creating your own company?
What was it like getting your first customer?
How long did it take for you to realize, "hey, I think I have a business?"
How did you manage to pull yourself out of your darkest days?
You've worked with many young entrepreneurs - what's your take on who makes it and who doesn't?
The greatest mountain bike tour you've ever taken/would recommend?
What would you credit to your company's success?
And so many more great experiences
What you'll learn:
Strategies on how to start a socially conscious business
Different apps and techniques to keep you focused, calm and productive
Why you may not be doing what you love (all the time) when you start a business around your passion and how to adapt to change
What happened to Mike when he was in the middle of a desert that still 'haunts' him to this day
How to manage a remote team and make it work for your company
Why caring and working towards a social cause isn't always enough
And so much more!
Other links:
Connect with sacred rides
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
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Edited by: James Nicholson