Guts and attitude. That’s what Judy Kessel says it takes to ride a bike and run a business. The president of StoneArch Creative, a health care marketing communications and education agency based in Minneapolis, Kessel bought her first motorcycle, a Yamaha 550, in 1995. Since then, she’s clocked 25,000 miles.
“My husband and I both have BMW bikes. Mine is a 1200 BMW, his is more of a touring bike. In May, we took a 2,200-mile trip to the Ozarks, and we’ve ridden to Canada and throughout the Upper Midwest, and rented bikes in California, Las Vegas, and the East Coast.
“Five years ago, we went to Sturgis, but I didn’t like it. I was the only one there over 50 wearing a helmet and a bra. I’m not into the motorcycle culture and people who dress like their motorcycles. I just like to ride.
“People say I don’t look like a biker but . . . I really am the type to ride a motorcycle. I’ve learned a lot from riding a motorcycle that also applies to running a business. You have to be a risk taker and go for it. You can’t be tenuous or overly aggressive. You have to enjoy the ride when the sun is shining and the road is clear, but you must also anticipate a bump in the road or an approaching storm.
“On a motorcycle, you determine the speed, direction, gear, and the weight you’re putting on the bike if you’re going on a trip. It’s the same with business. You have to have direction over growth, finances, sales, employees, and the culture of your business.
“There’s a wonderful sense of freedom when you’re riding a motorcycle. It’s the same with running a business. It’s all about achievement and challenges.”
