Australia’s fastest-growing automotive company, Motor Culture Australia, has achieved phenomenal success since its inception in 2019. As the saying goes, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.’ This couldn’t apply more to Motor Culture’s founder, Tom McPherson. He grew up with a passion for anything to do with cars and bikes.
McPherson attributes his success to the fact that he watched and learned from other successful companies, and says that a lot of his inspiration comes from the forward-thinking and dynamic culture that’s embedded within his team.
Here are some of his recommendations for anyone thinking about turning their hobby into a business:
Be aware that success doesn’t happen overnight.Don’t compare your success to others in the business. It takes hard work, dedication, and a slow and steady rise to success with many ups and downs in between.
Business is a roller coaster. Everything can be great one minute and then seemingly fall apart the next. Things happen that are out of your control. Just learn from any errors in judgment and move on.
Don’t be afraid to re-brand when you need to. If opportunities show up in a different direction to where you were originally headed, don’t hold back, and don’t be afraid to make changes.
Build a strong team for your business. A strong team of supporters who are as passionate about the industry as yourself will go a long way toward ensuring your success. Be sure to empower them as their leader.
Look after your own mental health. Easier said than done, but running your own business is highly stressful. Be realistic about how much you can take on and manage your time wisely. You can’t do everything all at once.
Be resilient. You will always encounter ‘haters,’ people who try to bring you down when you’re successful. Just focus on the people who support you and don’t let these people get to you.