"Assembling a group of truly compatible riders is complicated alchemy at the best of times, a real treat when it happens....If you have a tribe like this, hang on tight. There's nothing more invigorating or restorative than being on the road with true companions."

An excerpt from the editorial in the April Motorcyclist magazine I received yesterday. I've only ridden with you guys a few times so far but this really nails it. MbM is an excellent off-the-bike extension of that.

You know, I thought the same thing when I read that.

On Thursday, leaving the building after a series of long meetings we ended up becoming stuck in an elevator for over an hour. It was myself, our CEO, our COO, our Banker, and the head of BD for a very large public company (who was the purpose of our visit). A relatively small elevator becomes remarkably small after only a few minutes when it isn't moving, and most people have some degree of claustrophobia that can be amplified if they also feel crowded. Luckily for me I have no claustrophobia at all, and it turns out that the team is pretty good in tight spaces as well. Why bring this up on this thread? The head of BD for the larger company got to see us as we are, in a stressful environment, filled with uncertainty. What he saw was some laughing, emailing, picture taking (accompanied and followed by more laughing and emailing), problem solving (we figured out how to get the interior door open for better airflow), and never a hint of panic, anger, or agitation. Why? Because our team at work is like our tribe at M-b-M, sort of the corporate version of it. We have excellent chemistry and though we are very different from each other in many, many ways we are in fact perfectly complimentary. That chemistry and comfort was on display in the elevator and it made it much more comfortable and an easier time for the other two people.

In my real life, away from work and that particular environment, my friends and the M-b-M community are with me on my "elevator". We laugh, take pictures, send email, solve problems, give support, provide comfort in calamity, and in storms of many kinds. Sometimes these are people we've known all our lives, and sometimes we've just met - and it still feels like we've always known each other. Like knows like

Cheers!

Cheers indeed!

I woulda panicked and scream like a little girl.

Choose your business partners carefully. Choose your riding partners even more so

Rob, excellent analogy and very well put. Glad they finally sprung you from the (non riding related) elevator

Agreed.