Blog post 10 Inspire

INSIGHT 9 | EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Winning big is the dream.

Small wins make that happen.

We all make mistakes along the way; to err is human.

Can you spot the difference the second time around?

in⁹ | Experience Matters

And the winner is... An idea validated by peers

So, what exactly was my first venture, and why did it prove to be a hotbed of learning?

To provide some context I’ll share the backstory first.

I never imagined that playing Five-A-Side football would lead me to set up a business simply to launch a new product; and generally, I’ve got a good imagination.

Now I was of a certain age where you become prone to a ruptured Achilles. It can happen to professional sportspeople (sadly I’m nowhere near that standard), and it has happened to me twice!

On that first occasion, back in 2013, I heard a loud crack when tackled from behind and limped off, remonstrating with Gary from logistics for taking me down. It transpired that in fact he hadn’t even touched me, so an apology was due!

Driving home was difficult but after a night’s rest and all strapped up, I gingerly got behind the wheel and drove more than four hours to see family, sticking to our long weekend plans. We were off for a couple of weeks, and it was my birthday, so I stubbornly soldiered on, hobbling around thinking it was just a bad strain.

Stupid right? That’s not the half of it... oh no, I’m capable of a lot more than that!

By now you know I’m clearly driven and never give up, on this occasion, to the extreme.

Fate at play

Once home, my wife and I followed up on another plan, buying bikes. Newly equipped we set off on a 10k ride, despite my injury. Determined not to let anything spoil our staycation; I ignored the stupidity of it all.

Unsurprisingly, my ankle wasn’t improving, so before heading back to work I went to the local infirmary to get it checked. I was quickly diagnosed, placed in plaster, and sent to A&E; exactly where I should’ve been two weeks earlier.

It turned out I’d torn my Achilles tendon, not just bruised it; proof that pain tolerance isn’t always a virtue. The consultant lamented my ‘keep calm and carry on’ mentality and decided to operate the following day. He was incredulous that I’d done a 10K ride, as was the surgeon who double-checked before, in disbelief, wheeling me into theatre.

Frustratingly 6-weeks recovery was prescribed, For a doer, it felt like a prison sentence, so like all good lags I set out to rehabilitate myself through education. With far too much time on my hands, I set about exploring all things cycling. I was clearly bitten by the bug, a pursuit destined to change my life, and something I still love today.

Hands Off My Bike! Leapt off the page, an intriguing headline that started a family business sideline that would run for three years.

More about that side hustle later. For now, the message is simple: focus is good, perseverance is essential; but stubbornness? That’ll land you in trouble.

The humble pitch... Dragons Den by remote

Hands Off My Bike! The competition headline that started it all, a catchy name punctuated by a £50,000 first prize.

As with many government competitions the process was rigorous yet clunky, keeping distance between the innovator and judging panel. This lack of engagement placed a hidden emphasis I hadn’t fully appreciated; the need to pitch with authority, despite being an industry outsider, with only a user’s perspective to draw upon.

I thrive when facilitating interactive workshops, engaging with people to spark ideas and drive change. This time, it felt more like Dragons’ Den, minus the interaction; yet somehow my pitch still made an impact.

My lack of industry knowledge turned out to be an asset when shaping the idea. Being unshackled by preconceptions gave me a fresh perspective, complete freedom of thought. Ultimately that edge enabled me to present a solution that caught the judges’ attention and earned me a place as a finalist. For established entrants, comfortable in their own expertise, it must have felt slightly ironic to see me shortlisted.

This experience taught me that clarity and confidence count as much as content. When you believe in your idea, others start to as well, even from behind a screen.

And there it was BiKLOX the inventive new cycle security product that shackled the pedal was born.

But if you don’t mind let us leave it at that, just for now.