Product Description

Tough, smart business advice from the star of the hit TLC reality show "American Chopper"

Now in paperback, The Ride of a Lifetime elucidates the business principles that have made Paul Teutul Sr. and Orange County Choppers a household name. Paul′s smart, commonsense business wisdom works for businesses both big and small in any industry. Here, he shows you firsthand how he built a uniquely successful business by working hard and demanding it from others; encouraging and embracing unfettered creativity; establishing well–defined roles for every team member and demanding they support each other; and using honest conflict and confrontation to solve problems and constantly innovate.

Paul and his sons build the best one–of–a–kind choppers in the world with unrivaled passion, creativity, and honesty. The Ride of a Lifetime shows you how they do it.

• Offers an inside look at the business practices that built Orange County Choppers into a massively successful business
• Reveals a different side to the OCC family patriarch
• Full of practical, real world business principles that lead to unlimited success for any business

The Ride of a Lifetime is a smart, tough–as–nails guide to business success that every entrepreneur should read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1744 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .80" h x 6.10" w x 9.30" l, .95 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
"The Ride of a Lifetime is a smart, tough–as–nails guide to business success that every entrepreneur should read." (International Lifestyle Magazine, 2009)

From the Inside Flap

If you think ripping down the highway on a badass custom chopper is the ultimate thrill ride, try running your own business. The same outlaw spirit that drives some people to strap on a helmet and hit the road drives other people to risk it all and build a business from the ground up. Bikers and entrepreneurs share at least one trait—they do it their way, without compromise.

The Ride of a Lifetime takes you inside the head of Paul Teutul, Sr., and shows you how he runs the world′s most famous bike–building business, Orange County Choppers. This isn′t some Wall Street guy in a fancy suit and a $200 haircut telling you how to do business. This is full–throttle, hardcore business wisdom from a true hardworking entrepreneur.

Starting a business is about taking risks and believing in yourself. After working on bikes as a hobby for almost two decades, Paul Teutul, Sr., decided to take that risk and invested his retirement money to start OCC with his son Paulie. If you watch American Chopper, you know that the OCC team quickly became one of the world′s best bike fabricators. But if you′ve only watched the show, you don′t know the business values upon which Paul Teutul, Sr., built the business, the risks he took to get there, or how he manages the ups and downs of life as an entrepreneur.

The Ride of a Lifetime takes you beyond the television show to show you the real nuts and bolts of running a successful business. Paul Teutul, Sr., is loud, brash, and in your face. But he′s got the kind of real–world business insight you can′t get from a seminar or a business degree. So put on your boots and tighten up your chinstrap, because building a business isn′t some joyride. It takes hard work, then more hard work. It means taking punches and hitting back, doing it your way, and believing in what you′re doing every second of every day.

Do what you love. Work hard at it. And never give up. Running a business isn′t easy, but it IS The Ride of a Lifetime.

From the Back Cover

The Ride of a Lifetime

Foreword by Dave Letterman

Want to run your business like Paul Teutul, Sr., runs Orange County Choppers? Start with the basics:

• Work hard—because hard work breeds success

• Work even harder—no matter what you′re doing, you′re always promoting your business

• Chase your passion—and surround yourself with people as passionate as you are

• Embrace creativity—imagination drives innovation

• Establish well–defined roles and support one another—teams work best when everyone knows their responsibilities

• Stick with your values—they′re not negotiable

• Never stop learning—technology changes and you′ve got to keep up

• Encourage conflict—a little confrontation helps settle big issues

• Learn from your mistakes—otherwise, you′ve wasted them

• Leave a legacy—the way you lead today shows others how to lead tomorrow

Customer Reviews

The Ride of a Lifetime
`The Ride of a Lifetime' is a book looking at the business philosophy of Paul Teutul Sr (of OCC fame) and whilst it touches on some aspects of his life and history it is in no way an autobiography. This is geared firmly towards the small businessman as a business book. Each chapter outlines certain principles Paul tried to live and work by and each is explained in a reasonable amount of detail. It does get quite repetitive at times, where he uses similar phrases throughout the book and the first few chapters stood out with the amount of times he states how successful he is! I guess you can't totally blame him for this considering the book is ghost written and maybe this should have been picked up in editing. It is amusing to read some of his principles if you know him from the TV show `American Chopper'. He constantly says in the book how humble he is and how he welcomes advice and criticism etc, but when you see him on TV you often see him doing the exact opposite and shouting down anyone with an opposing view or opinion. Maybe this is due to TV editing or maybe it is sugar coating his business ideals in the book but, whatever the reason, it makes for humorous reading at times. Some of the principles are also a bit dubious if you take them as gospel, for example he states never to have a partner. Whilst partnerships may not have worked for him, they most certainly have worked for a wide range of business' in the past and no doubt will do so in the future. It pays to be aware that this is just one mans take on how to run a business and though the principles may seem sound, they may not all be relevant for your business. There is a colour middle section with photos of the early OCC shop and various bikes they have built which adds an extra dimension to the text. Overall this is an interesting book which offers some insight into Paul Teutul's business practise and should be interesting reading for those fans of the TV show, as well as for small business owners looking to pick up some tips. 3.5 Stars

Brilliant stocking filler for Xmas
I bought this as a stocking filler for my husband for Christmas and having had a quick flick through, I am certain he will be delighted with it. It has lots of photos of the County Chopper Gang which is one of his favourite TV programmes.

The Ride Lifetime
When my boyfriend found that this book was coming out thats what he wanted for Christmas & with all the kids being quiet with there present I was hoping this would do the same job.

And with me having a quick look through this book it had lovely pictures and takes you back to the start of Paul Sr life.