We’ve all been there. Sitting in the garage, staring at your Motorcycle, a warm breeze blowing in, and your mind drifts to that epic ride. The one you’ve been dreaming about for months. Maybe it’s hitting the open road for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, finally trading up to that shiny new Indian Challenger, or just getting a few buddies together for a weekend run to the coast.
But what is stopping you from your next motorcycle adventure?
Have you ever planned a killer ride with friends only to have them all mysteriously back out one by one? You’re left with a solo trip that just doesn’t feel the same. Or, maybe you’ve been eyeing a new bike, counting the days until you can buy it, but when the time comes, the money for the down payment or the new machine itself just isn’t there. Worse yet, have you ever said, “I’m going to go on a motorcycle road trip this summer,” and then just didn’t ever get around to it?
If any of that sounds familiar, rest assured, you are not alone. I’ve been right there with you. I noticed a clear, simple difference between the times I “did the thing”—the big ride, the bike purchase, the rally trip—and the times I didn’t. The difference was simple: a plan.
The Power of the Plan
It seems so obvious, yet it’s the most common roadblock. A dream is just a wish until it’s written down. A plan is the blueprint for your dream. A real plan addresses the common obstacles before they become trip-enders.
For example, if your goal is a new Harley-Davidson Street Glide, your plan needs to break down the cost, the down payment goal, and a realistic timeline for saving the money. If it’s a road trip, you need to think about more than just the route. You need to consider accommodations, budget for fuel and food, and even how much vacation time you need to book off work. Consequently, when you have a plan, those last-minute roadblocks become minor speed bumps instead of complete dead stops.
The Magic Skill: Putting a Date on the Calendar
However, there’s one step beyond the general plan that I’ve found to be the absolute key—the “magic” skill, if you will.
You must put a specific date on a calendar.
I’m not talking about “sometime next summer.” I’m talking about: “July 15th: Kickstands Up for the Tail of the Dragon.”
When you commit to a concrete date, something shifts in your brain. That date becomes an immovable object that everything else must work around. It forces you to stop dreaming and start doing. Suddenly, booking the time off work, saving the specific amount of money, and making sure the bike is ready become urgent action items, not vague possibilities.
Therefore, if you’re planning on finally making the trek to Daytona Bike Week, book the hotel room for the dates you want now. Put the deposit down. That commitment will give you the motivation you need to get the rest of your plan into gear.
So, this week, don’t just dream about your next chapter on two wheels. Pull out your phone, your tablet, or a good old-fashioned paper calendar. Write down your goal and put a date on it. The open road is waiting, and your next great memory is just a plan—and a date—away.
What’s the one big ride or bike purchase you are putting a date on your calendar for this week? Let us know in the comments!
