power_hogthatmadeComeback.htm

Being Jewish, I probably shouldn’t be talking about pigs. Not a kosher idea. However, the subject of this story is not just a pig, it’s a hog. A hog that, for quite a few years, was in “hog heaven.” Then, this hog found himself facing some challenges.

Some hogs, like some people, have an incredible level of determination and commitment. This one made a comeback that we can all admire. A comeback that put him back on the road to success.

Speaking of commitment, an interesting correlation comes to mind. Commitment is like bacon and eggs: the chicken made a contribution; but the pig made a commitment.

Getting back to our hog, it all started at about the time the Wright Brothers were trying to catch a flight at Kitty Hawk. They had a bicycle store in Ohio but thought they’d better concentrate on the airplane idea since there could eventually be frequent flyer miles involved.

So, some other folks spent time thinking about the bicycle. They were not big on the idea of putting “the petal to the metal,” and wanted to find a way to make the bicycle go faster without human power. That meant either getting somebody to push them, or they could simply add a motor.

One place where such research was taking place was a 10 x 15-foot backyard wooden shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this unimpressive place, the predecessor of the modern day hog was born in 1903. There you would have found 21-year-old William and 20-year-old Arthur.

You know these fellows by their last names – William Harley and Arthur Davidson. Arthur’s brother Walter later joined their efforts. On the door of their shed was a crudely scrawled sign that read: “Harley-Davidson Motor Company.” They called the company Harley-Davidson because Bill Harley had the idea first to build a motorcycle.

Instead of just mounting an engine on a standard bicycle frame, Bill and Arthur made a real breakthrough by creating a new frame that cradled the engine. To start some of the early models of the Harley-Davidson, the rider would pedal the bike while it was still on its rear stand. A lever would be moved to tighten the belt attached to the motor.

Once started, the motorcycle was moved off the stand and the rider kept pedaling until there was enough engine compression. Then the rider soared away under power. These motorcycles were ahead of their time. They ran well, pulled strong and were a lot of fun to ride.

Production was slow at first but Bill and Arthur were persistent. In 1903, they built 3 motorcycles and the same number in 1904. By 1905, they made 16 motorcycles and, in 1906, they produced 50. As the business grew, the backyard shop doubled in size.

The company was incorporated in 1907 and production soared to 150 motorcycles. In 1909 the company introduced its first V-twin powered motorcycle. The seven horsepower engine produced enough power to reach the lightening-fast speed of 60 miles per hour!

It was in 1908 that Walter set an economy record on a Harley-Davidson – 188.234 miles per gallon. It was also in that year that the first Harley-Davidsons were sold for police duty in Detroit, Michigan. They were dependable and they were fast.

In 1910 the famed “Bar & Shield” logo was used for the first time on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Racers across America, riding on Harleys, were now often finishing first in races, endurance contests and hillclimbs.

In 1914, the company formed its own racing team, called the “Wrecking Crew” because of their incredible dominance of the sport. One of the Harley team riders adopted a baby pig as a mascot. He called it “Hog.” The name, from then on, became forever associated with Harley-Davidson.

In 1917, about a third of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles were sold to the U.S. Military. The next year, almost half of all Harleys went to the U.S. Army for use in World War I. By the end of the war, some 20,000 motorcycles were in use, most of them were Harleys.

By 1920, the company was producing more than 30,000 motorcycles per year and had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. By the 1930’s, Harleys had become a favorite of Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies nationwide. Although the company faced some ups and downs, it kept growing throughout the years.

In 1969, Harley-Davidson merged with the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF), a longtime producer of leisure products. In 1973, motorcycle production was upgraded when all assembly operations were moved to a modern 400,000 square foot plant in York, Penn.

However, it was during the 70’s that the Hog began to face some tough times. In order to survive and meet growing demand and increasing global competition, Harley Davidson had to transform itself and undergo a radical process of organizational change. All of us, from time to time, have to change and adjust our lives. Change is inevitable. At Harley, they embraced it in order to survive.

On February 26, 1981, thirteen Harley-Davidson senior executives signed a letter of intent to purchase Harley-Davidson Motor Company from AMF. By mid-June, the buyback was official and the comeback of the Hog had begun. Through challenging times, it survived to become the last American motorcycle manufacturer.

Today, as Harley-Davidson celebrated its 100th Anniversary om 2003, there are Harley-Davidson Restaurants, a clothing line, Harley Barbie Dolls, a traveling museum and luxury hotels that offer Harley vacations.

As I recall my recent ride on a new red Harley, I’m reminded of the fact that, it’s not what happens to us that makes the difference. It’s how we react to what happens. Let’s embrace change and get back on the road to success.

A Daily Affirmation for the Road

I react positively to change as I ride down the road to success.