The Ride of a Lifetime: Doing Business the Orange County Choppers Way is not exactly what you would think that it is. On one hand it IS an autobiographical book about Paul Tuetul Sr., founder of Orange County Choppers, and star of American Chopper on TLC. And on the other hand, it’s a book about Tuetul’s Tenets of Doing Business, or more simply, Paul Sr.’ 19 Commandments.
From Passion to Perseverance, Commitment to Change, Sr unpacks his core beliefs on how he does business and suggests that more people should do business the “Orange County Choppers Way.”
It’s a good book, easy to read and very enjoyable. I’m a motorcycle nut, and a HUGE fan of OCC (Orange County Choppers), so it wasn’t difficult for me to get into reading about Paul Sr. and the rest of the OCC crew.
I learned a great deal about Paul and his life, from his battles with alcohol and drug addiction to getting sober and starting, what would become Orange County Ironworks. And then starting Orange County Choppers, it’s truly a great American story. He is not a perfect person, but if you’ve seen the TV show, you already knew that.
We’re there any leadership epiphanies? No, but it was all very solid business ideals that more people should emulate. Did I learn a new and exciting leadership strategy? Nope, but I did get a great reminder that, no matter what business you are in, you should always conduct your business in a straight-forward, upstanding manner.
Whether you are a new business owner, or have been in the real world for more years than you can remember, I would encourage you to read The Ride of a Lifetime, you learn about a great American, you’ll be tempted to go buy a motorcycle, and you’ll get some solid business concepts that will make you a better leader, and a better person.
QUOTABLES
- “Your past does not define you destiny. You have choices in your life.”
- “One of the keys to being successful in business – and in life – is the ability to not only survive a bad experience, but to come out the other side and figure out what you gained from it.”
- “When you are working, you’re either working because you have to, or because you want to.”
- “Your reputation is priceless.”
- “Use your brain, stick to your guns, and you’ll do the right thing.”
