RUNNING a business is much like racing a superbike. South African champion Arushen Moodley has translated a lot of what he learnt on the international racing tracks into the family business he manages as a director of the PE-based logistics company Dynamic Express Services.
"Racing is a mental sport and you need to have self-belief, determination and perseverance on the track.
"You also need to be passionate about what you're doing – it should be what makes you get up in the morning and try again after failures. It's very much the same in business," Moodley said.
When his father, Theeru Moodley, died in 2011 Arushen was racing in Qatar. Theeru had built up the company, which was started in 1989, with just a bakkie. It is now a successful logistics company with 50 staff, 150 vehicles and four branches across the country.
Arushen decided that his mother and fellow director, Poonie, needed his help with the business and he hung up his racing helmet for good. "When you are racing, your mind has to be clear. I could not have the distractions of a business.
"I miss racing sometimes, but I now focus all my attention on Dynamic Express Services because I am passionate about the company. Because of my competitive nature I also want it to be No1," Moodley said.
He started racing when he was 16, which was relatively late compared to fellow competitors who had been racing in motocross from the age of only five.
"I was always the underdog and worked hard at honing my racing skills and playing catch-up.
"I was told that I would never be a winner which made me more determined to prove the sceptics wrong," Moodley said.
He believes racing on international and national superbike tracks, and the competitive environment helped him to cope with the stress and pressure he faces in business.
Moodley had always helped his parents out at Dynamic Express Services – labelling boxes from the age of 10 – to becoming an assistant driver in his teens.
While racing and studying at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Damelin, Moodley also ran various other businesses.
These included fixing accident- damaged cars and reselling them, a motorcycle workshop, forex trading, and buying and selling property. "Not all the business ventures were successful but I learnt valuable lessons along the way. Some of them made money, but I did not focus all my attention on them as I was still racing," Moodley said.
Since taking over the management of Dynamic Express Services he said his focus had been to keep the business sustainable and increase the service level to customers. He said he would prefer to keep the business the size it is in order for customers to not become just numbers.
"I have a very supportive wife, kids and mom who are a true blessing for me," Moodley said.