Committed to going the distance.

Referring to myself as a grandmaster is one of the joys of the euphemism selected to refer to athletes over 55 years old who are crazy enough to compete in a 100-mile bike race or triathlon.

"Athlete" is another stretch of the imagination. At any rate, for several years, I imagined riding in purportedly the largest bike race in America, appropriately called the "Hotter than Hell 100" during the last weekend of August in Wichita Falls, Texas. More than 10,000 riders mounted bicycles to challenge the weather, distance, flat tires, wrecks and their own will power to travel different lengths of asphalt. At the finish line, with T-Shirt and pin in hand, they could say, "Oh yeah, I did that!"

"Why?" "Why, indeed?," someone did ask, after about 70 miles, which is when the doubt usually sets in, I was told. I heard another cyclist reply, "I'm riding a bull next weekend." He was referring to the song "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw, singing, "I went sky divin'; I went rocky mountain climbin'; I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu."

My days are certainly numbered at 55, and business became especially difficult this year. Yes, I bit off another challenge, the CAT Expo, on top of the two magazines, and then retooled our operation with a team to grow toward the future. There have been some disappointments, and certainly, some extraordinary acknowledgements.

Faith is the most important ingredient in nurturing any business along; it's rarely the money while you are in the building stage. I was at a CCH meeting in Chicago the week before my illustrious 100-mile bike ride and heard two quotes concerning business that stuck with me. The always interesting Steve Blundell said, "it's all about the money." Later an attorney editor referred to his stint at owning a business, "as either the best return on investment he ever had, or the worst hourly wage he ever earned."

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Business ownership is all about the money when payroll comes around, and the IRS soon thereafter. It is unusually satisfying to provide jobs to people who enjoy their work. It is disheartening to work around people who do not appreciate the realm of small business. It is certainly not for everyone.

I am rambling on at the computer here, believing that other owners of businesses have the same thoughts some days. The transition to a stronger team, from a negative one, is a very hard transition ... harder and longer than the Hotter than Hell 100.

Surviving that race and surviving in business have two things in common. One, a commitment to achieve excellence when few others believe it is possible, and two, a commitment to go the distance. I say, "Don't Give Up," as Jim Valvano beseeched his audience and his basketball teams before they achieved what once seemed impossible.

So here's to you business owners and managers, who are committed to excellence, providing jobs to employees so they can achieve their dreams and provide for their families. And here's to going the distance, around the minefields, diatribes, government regulations and sometimes ungrateful employees.

"I believe in you." And I know how hard it can be sometimes. The Hotter than Hell 100 pales in comparison.

T. Allen Rose is editor/publisher of this publication. Contact him at cpa@cpamagazine.com.