The Ride of a Lifetime: Doing Business the Orange County Choppers Way

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. 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. 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

Paul Teutul, Sr., a veteran of the Merchant Marine during the Vietnam War, is the founder of Orange County Choppers, one of the world's premier builders of custom motorcycles. Since 2002, he and his business have been the subject of the hit TLC show American Chopper. For more information, please visit www.orangecountychoppers.com.