Get The Right Team - Lessons From Harley Davidson

Last week I wrote about how the Harley Davidson founders were able to achieve success by going slowly. I want to continue the series today by introducing a new lesson: Get The Right Team.

Boyhood friends William Harley and Arthur Davidson started a motorcycle business because they wanted to get to their fishing spots more quickly. They had a passion for the business and knew they would be able to become successful by building the world’s best motorcycles. They also recognized, however, that they did not have all the skills they needed to build the company they wanted to build.

The Mechanic - Walter Davidson - The first challenge the friends came across was that they didn’t actually know how to build the motorcycle. They needed someone who had the technical background to be able to do more than put an engine on the back of a bicycle. Enter Walter Davidson. Walter was Arthur’s brother and also a railroad machinist in Kansas. The friends called on Walter, asked him to join them and promised him a ride on their new motorcycle. It was only after he arrived that he discovered he would first have to build the motorcycle himself before he would ever ride it.

The President - William Davidson - The Harley Davidson Motor Company only made three motorcycles in its first year and it wasn’t really much of a business. As such the trio were able to handle the affairs of the company. After three more years in operation, however, the company was up to making 50 motorcycles, had its own factory, and was officially incorporated. The company was growing quickly and the three owners realized that they needed someone with more experience to run the business. Enter William Davidson. The trusted older brother was a tool-room foreman at a local railroad shop and had the management experience to run a business. He was enlisted as the company’s first president.

As the company grew, it continued bringing on experienced workers to fill important gaps but it all began by bringing on Walter Davidson to build the motorcycles and William Davidson to manage the company.

As entrepreneurs we tend to overextend ourselves, believing we can do everything and work ourselves to the bone. The successful entrepreneurs recognize where they are strong and where they are weak. They focus in on their strengths and bring on partners or employees to fill the gaps. Look at your own company to see what pieces are missing then go out and find the Walter and William Davidsons to help take your company to the next level and build the business that you really want.