Assume that a human, a car and a bike are standing on a traffic signal with intent of racing. When the signal turns green on an empty road, the human would lead in the first 10 feet, the bike would lead in the first 50 metres and the car thereafter. If its rush hour, the biker would bend and cut across the traffic and stay infront of the car; if the path turns around a park, the human would cross the park and reach the other side quicker than the others.

Using the vehicle as a metaphor for business, it is immensely important to know and understand what is your business, a bike, a car or a pedestrian. Don’t judge it by size; judge it by manoeuvrability and by strength(hp).

A broker or a trader is most likely a pedestrian. He can change his product portfolio comparatively quickly and he makes lots of money by selling somebody else’s stuff (travel far by hitchhiking in a car). A small product company is most likely a bike, cutting across the cluttered market looking for spaces that they can fill up; reaching places where cars can’t reach.

So next time you are driving, observe the cleverest drivers on the roads and learn how you need to run your business!