“Educate yourself, soak up the wisdom from those ahead of you in business, and challenge what you think you know.”
Bridget Hallam of Throw Your Leg Over, has always been driven by the thrill of motorcycle adventure. Since meeting her partner Alan in 2012, they spent nearly every weekend exploring Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales on their 2008 BMW 1200 GS. Their passion for riding quickly took them further—venturing to Tasmania, South Australia, and beyond.
A friend casually remarked that together Bridget and Alan had ridden so many roads, they could write a book. Fifteen months later, they self-published a guidebook for South East Queensland and Northern NSW, sharing their favourite routes with fellow riders. Today, Bridget continues to inspire motorcycle enthusiasts through three guidebooks, a monthly membership, and guided tours in the European Alps.
Bridget’s people are motorcyclists looking for more adventure. They receive exclusive adventuring content inside their Membership every month. Her motorcycle guidebooks are available online and in over 60 stockists throughout Australia. She also leads luxe motorcycle tours through the European Alps.
Bridget has been a HerBusiness member since 2021 and attended the Growth Retreat in Port Douglas last month. Bridget says HerBusiness has helped her overcome the isolation from running her own business: “I’ve met the most incredible, generous businesswomen in HerBusiness.” Bridget also values the learning opportunities, saying, “I’ve learned so much from Suzi, all the guest speakers and so many HerBusiness members. It’s a joy to be in an environment where we’re stretched in such a supportive way.”
Together Bridget and Alan have ridden over 185,000km two-up in Australia, Europe, Asia, and North Africa on Beauty, their 2008 BMW R1200GS, and Scarlett, their 2008 BMW R1200GSA. One of their favourite things is sharing their adventuring experiences with other riders.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
- I admire everyone who has the courage to run a business.
- I respect many entrepreneurs, for the unique strengths they each bring and what I am learning from them.
- Anyone who is living life as themselves and pursuing their path (whatever that is) inspires me.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
- I love the creativity – from designing our books and our website to creating a unique route for our European Alps tours, and of course, getting to play with all the marketing.
- I love the freedom we have to design our business to fit the shape of our lifestyle.
- I love that our favourite thing to do – motorcycle adventuring – is central to our business.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Design a business model will make it easier for you to ‘ski-lift’ customers from one offering to the next.
- Define your ideal client. Get to know them really well. Learn their language so when you speak with them, they recognise themselves. See everything through their eyes. Focus on the transformation you offer them, not ‘the thing’ you offer them.
- Mindset is powerful – everything follows from that. Educate yourself. Soak up the wisdom from others who are ahead of you in this business game. Challenge what you think you know. Be open to taking the next giant scary step into what’s possible. Trust your instincts of what’s right for you and your business.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Surround yourself with supportive fellow-entrepreneurs and be supportive in return – the magic of this can’t be overestimated.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Marketing, marketing, marketing. There’s no point being the world’s best kept secret – it’s depressing for you and your ideal client misses out on something really awesome
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
- A community of wonderful motorcyclists who are planning and experiencing amazing adventures that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
- A flourishing membership, more guidebooks, more tours through the European Alps. Flexible to fit our nomadic lifestyle.
- Profitable and sustaining our own adventures.
- Fun
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
- The isolation and loneliness that comes with running your own business. I’ve met the most incredible, generous businesswomen in HerBusiness.
- Education – I’ve learned so much from Suzi, all the guest speakers and so many HerBusiness members. It’s a joy to be in an environment where we’re stretched in such a supportive way.
Learn more about Bridget and Throw Your Leg Over.
