Have You Noticed the Doers?
If you’ve been here more than once, you may have noticed a similarity in many stories, a large percentage are about someone taking action, they get an idea and rather than debate the issue endlessly, they try doing it. Drawing a new design, building a new motorcycle or modifying an existing bike, if it works for them, they accomplish their goal. They answer the “What if†questions with action. They are doers, the folks who think and do, the ones who accomplish something.
I like doers, I have a lot of respect for anyone who puts in the time and effort to create something and then puts it out there for the world to see, especially since there are so many talkers and critics. Talk is cheap and criticism is free so there tends to be a lot of it. Talkers outnumber doers about 1000 to 1, or more, it’s why I have to work so hard to find the doers, they’re spread a little thin but finding them is worth the time and effort.
Doers don’t always get it right, they often make mistakes but rarely make excuses. What is done may be imperfect, but that’s how progress comes about, each attempt reveals where improvement is called for, but, like a magnet, each attempt attracts talkers and critics who are already perfect, because mistakes only happen when you do something, critics never risk it, they’re unwilling to test themselves in the world of action.
A doer takes action, building a motorcycle in his shop to test and improve his ideas, a talker imagines a perfect motorcycle in his mind and stops there.
Doers are more positive, if something doesn’t work, something else might. Talkers and critics are negative, they always knew it wouldn’t work and will be sure to tell you so.
Doers see the progress they made and feel good about it, critics point out how far from perfection the project is and point out every shortcoming.
Doers are always learning, talkers and critics already know everything.
Doers are more interesting
Doers know they aren’t perfect, they see their own mistakes every day so they let their work speak for itself and it sometimes says a lot about them. If you listen carefully, you’ll hear the passion for thinking, learning, trying and doing, they have an honest and hard won pride in their work, but they seldom shout about it.
Doers know you can’t please everyone, but they move ahead anyway and that’s why they’re so interesting, you never know what they’ll do next. There’s no guarantee of success and knowing they may fall short, the challenge makes it worthwhile. But don’t ever confuse falling short with failure, failure is not trying.
You don’t have to like their work and if you believe you can do better, start today, doers enjoy seeing others try, the world is always waiting for excellent work, the more the better.
The Kneeslider shows you the doers
We’ve covered all kinds of projects here on The Kneeslider, some great successes, some nicely done, a few had at least one interesting feature, others were simply odd, but in every case, the doer took action. I like action. They put in the effort and persevered. I admire that and I will continue to look for examples of doers, doing their best. I will bring them to you day after day and I will continue to bring them to you because I like doers! I bet you do, too.
Just look at some of the recent stories here, Brammo wants to try selling electric motorcycles in Best Buy, Paul Carberry is building V-Twin Royal Enfields, Privateer’s Garage is setting up a DIY motorcycle shop, Mission One electric motorcycles, the TSS RS500 2 stroke, and on and on. Every one is an individual or business just trying to do something new or different and daring to put in the time, effort and money to make it happen and in every case, there are those who point out every problem, every reason why it won’t work, can’t work, shouldn’t work, is too expensive, doesn’t look good, … you name it. It’s so easy to be negative, it takes no effort, but building and doing is hard work. I admire it and I want to tell everyone about it.
If you know of anyone doing something you believe deserves some recognition (maybe even YOU?) and The Kneeslider has not covered them already, drop us a line with a few details. We can’t possibly cover everyone but we can highlight a few, maybe shining some light on their work will give them a boost and give you some ideas, everybody wins!
Let’s get this recession behind us, we need more doers. We don’t need people waiting for someone to solve their problems, waiting for conditions to improve, waiting for the right moment to do something, … we need more doers to solve their own problems, improve their own conditions and take advantage of this current moment to do something because it’s the only moment you get, this one and the next one and the one after that. They’re all the same, until you make them different!
Don’t let the recession become an excuse! If you want to start a new motorcycle business, do it. Build a new bike, do it. Learn a new skill, do it. There is nothing stopping you. Already in business and you’re having problems? Fix it! Don’t watch the news listening to people who keep telling you how bad it is and what you can’t do. Identify the real problems and think of NEW ways to solve them. If the old ways worked, you wouldn’t be having problems. Think out of the box and take action. Start today!
A recession isn’t charts and graphs and unemployment numbers, it’s an opportunity to try something new, to test yourself in a changing environment, to take action to solve problems, to build, to learn, to improve. I’ll be here bringing you as many examples of people and businesses trying and building and moving forward as I can find. I’m not taking part in this recession, I have better things to do. How about you?
Jim says
Here, here! If you have a job that you feel is reasonably secure, then buy something. Preferably from a local merchant and made in the country where you live. Hire someone to do some work around the house or go out for dinner. The economy will only turn around when demand increases.
Phoebe says
Nice post, Paul.
Even though I don’t make very much money, for me the biggest impediment to my “making” is free time. Motorcycling is unfortunately not my only hobby, so I usually have several things fighting for my free time, as well as actually going out and being social with friends so I’m not just some crazy hermit lady who stays home and works on her hobbies. So, as long as I have my job *knock on wood* the recession isn’t affecting me too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people are in the same situation as me. I *will* build my little Honda cafe project though if it kills me or takes me 5 years to finish…hey, I have two other bikes to ride in the meantime! 😉
I’ve suggested this before, but for finding more makers…how about a once a month “reader’s rides” featurette? I’m willing to bet some of my fellow readers have some pretty interesting rides in their garages. And as we’ve found out from comments, some of your readers have also come up with some very innovative motorcycle tech too.
David says
I read where Neil Young’s father said:
Sometimes success comes from letting our dreams “get out of hand”.
Casey says
I couldn’t agree with your sentiment any more!
“A little less talk, and a lot more action” -Elvis-
Chris says
Those motorcycle startups that have been mentioned- most of these have been started up before the financiapocalypse hit, and they’ve been developing for so long it makes no sense to back out now.
It’s true though… there’s a ton of opportunity out there… land, buildings, etc. (other people’s misfortunes may become another man’s diamond in the rough), but the trick is to catch this recession when it’s starting to head on an upswing and people start buying things again.
However, considering that the source of this financiapocalypse is the financial sector, it’s much more difficult to see the shiny side of things.
I agree with Paul- talk is cheap… but unlike traditional downturns, this is different. For one thing, loans, investors… money is extremely hard to come by (banks aren’t lending out cash!), and dreams can’t be started unless you have money.
JR says
Chris, I agree with you mostly, the only thing I don’t agree with is when you say dreams can’t be STARTED without money.
I think dreams can definitely be started (putting together the initial plan and all the hard work that is involved before the loan check is written) without huge sums of money.
I think more people would see that if a person with a dream just plowed forward with the idea in their head that the money would come from somewhere, then things would start falling into place. If it doesn’t work, then a great experience has been had, and lessons have been learned for the next go around.
I think the first step for everyone is to stop listening to the media and stop calling it a financial apocalypse.
JR
I also really like the idea of putting a readers rides section together on this site.
Andy says
Well said Paul! lets all go and do. Make the best of what you have. Big Ideas start small and cheap!
Reader Rides sounds like a good idea too!
kneeslider says
“Reader’s Rides” looks like a winner. I’ll set something up.
D.T. Hammer says
I like this Kneeslider more everyday. I am a teacher that rides or better a rider that happens to teach. I sometime wonder what is goin’ on around this place and then i find something like this commentary that makes me know not everybody is nuts. i wonder why people are suprised that the recession is here. We have been buying things we cannot afford with money we cannot pay back. I know the doers, to use the term from Kneeslider, are not being affected as much. In fact they are not part of the hype. No bail-out for people that saved their money to buy things they could afford at payments thay could make is necessary. I am glad I saved some of my old bikes until now. Kneeslider has given me a source of ideas and a network of interesting people to confirm my notion that if I want to take my XT 550 and turn it into a seventies style flat tracker that is street legal, there are people out there that will help me. After reading this message from Kneeslider I know I am not alone.
Ry says
Paul , as mentioned above I really like the readers rides , or posters rides. I have some nice motorcycles that I have created and motorcycle products that I would love to share. I am not much a writer and not much of a website builder so it is tough to push my stuff without a large investment. It would be nice to get some feedback.
lostinoz says
Readers rides is a great idea, however, why just the “flashy” customs that everyone is so accustomed to seeing, why not the “guy that found a forgotten 1975 CB that he saved from a slow rusty hell”? They may not be the prettiest things on the road, however the creativity of these backyard engineers devote to the bikes means they are re-claiming and recycling “junk”.
Heres a start, take parts laying around from 6 different bikes none complete or running, buy a 19 dollar muffler, drink lots of beer and look at the parts to see what you can make. Frame, motor (no carb), forks and rims bought for 100 as “scrap” no tank, bars, seat, fenders, exhaust, tires, lights or instruction manual to combine what was laying around. Titled clean, and driven as much as possible. total cost (including the beer inspired engineering) 1500, biggest costs: tires @150, and gages @ 50.
Now for the “doers” all parts were bought from LOCAL shops or from private parties, it was assembled out of love, not money, and instead of a bunch of junk going to a landfil or junkyard, it can be sold as a running motorcycle (running junk pile) for a minimum of cash. If MORE people spent 20 here and 50 there to local shops and private parties, the infusion of cash into the economy would BEGIN a turn around.
http://2wheelvegas.com/images/Mixer_s_bike_011.jpg
Earl says
Great words! Unless you’ve lost your job, you have just as much money as ever, perhaps more because interest rates are down. Yet everyone runs scared, they stop going out to dinner so often, a restaurant goes bust, and so it begins…
A recession is mostly in the mind.
todd says
Scott, thanks for that REquieM.
Times are a challenge when you’re the last of the engineers on the job AND they cut your pay 20%. Then there’s the start-up you’ve been moonlighting for, working under the hope that you’ll get paid when they receive funding – never mind finding any time for your own dreams. Sure you don’t need money to dream but you do need money to ACCOMPLISH that dream. Not many people are willing to bet on your dream.
I don’t think it’s the end of the world as we know it. I think I’m a “doer” just like any number of other people who still have their jobs – and a number who don’t. problem is all my “doing” is for the benefit of someone else or at least to keep a roof over my head. I don’t have the heart to live off of someone else while I tinker away at my dream. I’ll save my dreams for when I can sleep at night. Sure I have dreams but they would require too much sacrifice from other people to get them accomplished. I don’t want my dreams keeping everyone else awake at night. My dreams can wait until after my responsibilities are met.
In case that sounds too much like a Non-Doer help me find some examples of successfully accomplished dreams that didn’t require the help of someone else, ruined relationships, and tremendous amounts of free time and money.
-todd
taxman says
that responsible thinking todd and i’m glad some people still have it. everyone whether employed or not should be worried about there purse strings. with so many people unemployed businesses are starting to think “why am i paying this guy $14/hr when i can hire a new guy and pay him $10/hour” so they start laying people off. this happened to a female friend of mine in the dental profession. just so the dentist could increase/maintain profit. it’s happening all over the place. people that used to be in the auto industry here in michigan are now being retrained through the “no worker left behind” program and are now overpopulating other job markets causing the wages for those jobs to decline. employment is down, average wages are down, could i be next? i’m a math geek, but not an engineer. i’m a do’er but i’m not going to start a new business making bikes. the number of people with disposable income to buy your product is down, WAY down. that will affect sales, harley, suzuki, and others have already shown that. the only way you could make a living would be to find a magical bike that fills a gap that no one already offers.
i’m rambling.
remember aesop’s the ant and the grasshopper. it is an important lesson right now to keep in mind.
leon holmes says
great article,thanks for the fresh outlook.can we make sure the readers rides actually have some of the reader “in them”?in other words no “store boughts”.they have to show some innovation or customization or modification or blood from the owner staining the metal somewhere.thanks fro the kneeslider.
todd says
As for reader-rides, to the contrary, I think there should be no exclusions. If you’re proud of it and Paul wants to show it then go ahead.
-todd
JimmyR says
A few years ago – about the time my son was old enough to understand what he was hearing on the TV – we made a decision to simply stop watching any news. And we don’t read the “news” section of the paper either. Trouble is, most “news” is simply stuff to make you angry or worried. It doesn’t often represent reality. I once photographed an event where our Prime Minister attended. It was a light-hearted, happy event where our PM came across as a funny, warm-hearted guy. IE nothing like his public persona. As I drove away from the event I happened to catch the radio news where they made it sound like WW3 had broken out at this very event. Who benefits from this??
Anyway, how refreshing to read about “doers”. How true, too. Bugger the naysayers! The guys at my local bike shops think I’m crazy because I dulled down all the chrome on my bike and took everything that was necessary off. But now I have the bike I want. Why start listening to the critics now? After all, if we did none of us would ride bikes at all!
Art says
The only reason I can see for paying attention to the world financial situation is to get ourselves informed to ensure it doesn’t happen AGAIN. My grandfathers fought and paid dearly in “The War to end all wars”. My parents survived ’29, the Depression and the The Blitz. At what point do we citizens of “civilized” Western nations get a clue and start to call those responsible for such repetitive idiocy to account. In Argentina and Iceland, the common folk protested in the streets to drive the corrupt and stupid from office.
The best thing to “Do” is to ensure they don’t “Do” it to us and our children and grandchildren… Again. And again.
The common slogan after WWI was “Never again”. 100 years later, it is still happening in too many places “again”.
What’s that old saw about not knowing you history? Unless we are informed and prepared to act against the staus quo, we are “doomed to repeat”.
OMMAG says
You’re right Paul.
Don’t worry though ….. there are lot’s of us who feel exactly that way.
We are dreamers … sure. Nothing wrong with that and it goes with the rebellious tendencies that make us interested in this motorcycling hobby, sport, avocation or whatever it is in our lives.
I believe that through our fraternity also runs a streak of pragmatism that helps us see through difficulties to find solutions and self reliance to get things done without necessarily looking to others.
In general the same attributes that make us want to go out and ride exposed to the elements, to tinker with mechanics and to bend metal to reflect out personal vision make it highly unlikely that we succumb to the chicken little or the nurse nanny world view. We are not like them. They are nothing like us.
Events or circumstances may conspire to keep us from succeeding in all our efforts BUT OUR EFFORTS never cease.
Those who
B*A*M*F says
I used to be really big on listening to the news on my drive to work and the drive back home. During the election and financial crisis, I stopped listening on the way back home. Recently I’ve given up listening in the morning as well. Lo and behold, I feel better. I’m more optimistic (despite the fact that we just cut one of our five people).
This is a good time to try things out. While not motorcycle related, I’m working on a line of furniture I’ve been sketching and modeling for some time now. I actually have someone interested in buying one of the items, so it’s time to finally make a few pieces.
FREEMAN says
For those of you that think dreams cannot take flight without money: I recommend you research the story of Burt Munro and his World’s Fastest Indian.
John says
Your the man Paul, you worded that beautifully.Nothing irritates me more than critisizm via email post of someones hand built to his own tastes machine.
todd says
yeah and Burt Monroe -had- four children and an -ex- wife. Hmm… He also didn’t get much sleep at night but he didn’t have to because he didn’t have to worry about any of those responsibilities. I know plenty of people like Burt Monroe and Brittown’s Meatball. They all end up unhappy and lonely in the end, but hey, they got to do all the things they thought they wanted.
-todd
Erick says
http://wisedog.multiply.com/photos/album/17
i happen to know a do’er on my town. this is my friend, Atub.
He help me with my own project, on where to find cheap parts and how to make DIY customize bike.
About the crisis, well, we here also have our own crisis, and even worst then most of kneeslider’s reader, but we’ll live on. too bad there’s even less doers and more talkers here in my country.
FREEMAN says
I agree with you Paul: way too many trash talkers. Trash talk anything and everything to bring everyone down. Trash talkers are just miserable people that like to bring everyone down to their level. Instead of being happy for someone or even, dare I say, being inspired by someone, they gotta nitpick every little stupid detail that doesn’t mean anything anyway in hindsight. It’s like you say and I agree with you for the most part, “doers are more positive.”
kneeslider says
todd,
Your concerns are real, not everyone can start a business immediately, but, all of us can do more than we’re doing now and that is the point of what I wrote. As others have suggested, you can buy very inexpensive parts and pieces and build a bike which, if you want, you may be able to sell to reinvest in more parts and pieces and bootstrap your way to bigger things. Obstacles are often in our minds.
Waiting for something to happen or expecting a bailout or magic government program short circuits the positive thought and paralyzes activity. We can all avoid that by concentrating on the job at hand and making plans and moving forward on our own.
The government is currently spending and planning to spend such enormous amounts of our money that it disrupts the plans of all of us who would rather make our own decisions and spend our own money on things we think are best for us, things you and I know or strongly believe will succeed, millions of things the government cannot and does not know.
The more we all realize how much we can immediately do to improve our own condition, the more apparent it becomes how destructive rapidly expanding government, and the control it takes away from us, can be.
Stay positive, think about what you CAN do, don’t wait for some perfect moment to arrive before taking action. Take control right now and MAKE the perfect moment.
Grant says
Yes, more of the “readers rides” please. There is a wide range of possibilities between the bone-stock and the total home-built. A change in fender or gas tank or seat can have a dramatic effect, and is within the reach of almost anyone.
And if, by showing what someone else has done on a shoestring budget, with a hacksaw, file and hammer, others are inspired to take the step and become “doers”, then all the better!
Chris Sidah says
This is a great time to start something new! Here on the coast of California a couple of guys got their money together and are opening up a new scooter shop. The owner of a Ducati shop south of here is getting ready to open another. The economy isn’t going down the tubes, it’s just getting back to where it should be after a decade of overheated expansion.
hoyt says
agreed Chris. It is interesting that the invisible hand that manages supply and demand also does a poor job at keeping things from getting out of control. Perhaps that will change with the next new economy.
Good luck on the openings.
F0ul says
Nice rant! 🙂
There is a good sense of sense in your article, but there is also a whole host of sentimental rubbish in there too! 🙂
The economy is wrecked, big style – ignoring the issue is not going to make it go away. That doesn’t make the idea of being a doer a bad idea though – just make sure you take it into consideration when you work out your business plan.
There are less people around to buy fancy bikes, so why not build cheaper fancy bikes? Bikes that are significantly cheaper to run will always find customers, that is a market in itself!
The downward economy is just another opportunity to exploit before the other guy – Doers make that sort of thing happen – and we should celebrate them – well done – just beware that you don’t let your enthusiasm blind you to the realities of life!
Phoenix827 says
only posted once before, but always checking out others post. I agree that to pull out of this recession is going to take everybody doing their part. My part is unfortunately small. I am building my first motorcycle. Trying to buy as much local as possible and also going to run american fuel ! How’s that possible? I’m building a diesel and running made in the U.S.A. bio-diesel. Keep the money here and working. If interested how the project is coming I can send pics.
Gibby says
Dreams take nothing but sleep. Action take nothing but movement. Money stops those who dont think outside the box.
Love the article
to achieve your goals it takes heart and WHY? a big WHY will go farther than any orther motivater in the world.
marvin says
Hi this reminds me of a post about doers on boing boing
1. There are three states of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps to get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you’re doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you’re doing even if you don’t and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you’re done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It’s boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.
13. Done is the engine of more.
With the exception of pretending to know what you are boing with breaks it sounds like a manifesto for your first custom bike.
Peg Leg Craig says
I also see lots of reasons to hold back in todays world. But along time ago someone said; “The first step to better times is to imagine them.” Chinese proverb.
Since we only get one lap in life, make it count. Revisit some other dreamers dreams, Britten, Monroe, Vesco and one of my favorites, Sir Peter Blake.”Never take no for an answer and never give up. If you really believe in what you’re doing, and you’re really keen, then you’ll succeed – it’s as simple as that.
I gotta get back to the garage, Bonneville is just around the corner and I’ve got work to do. Craig
Jason says
Yes! I would love to go off on my own and create something original (and I do to an extent), but it is really tough to take that first step risking everything (current job, home, family). What would be nice is to find others in your/my local area that share the same passions. You could trade skills, give each other support, make new friends and build some cool original vehicles. Just a thought. By the way, I live in Randolph, MA if anyone has the same thoughts.
Niki says
Sounds like people will be getting their hands dirty some time soon!
There is nothing like the sense of satisfaction of doing something that you were not sure you could do before you gave it a go.
Dave says
You write for me. Which means I check your site often.
I’m poor, so I buy cheap and spend time (and money) getting them reliable enough to use for local transportation and for multi-state trips. It also means making my own luggage and some fittings. I enjoy seeing what other people build and your site provides a look at machines that I don’t see elsewhere.