Extreme entrepreneurs

The thrill of running a business is more than enough excitement for most entrepreneurs. It can quite often be a high stakes ride.

Will that deal close? Will that staff member make budget? Will I make payroll this week?

But among the world’s great entrepreneurs there has always been a tendency to take things a step further by indulging in extreme sports.

There are countless international examples. Richard Branson loves kite surfing and hot-air-ballooning; Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté has travelled into space on a Russian rocket; Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison races yachts; and Brazil’s Eike Batista held speedboat records.

There are some great Australian examples too. We’ve got plenty of surfing entrepreneurs, including Billabong founder Gordon Merchant and Rip Curl founders Brian Singer and Doug Warbrick; lots of ocean racing enthusiast (led by multiple Sydney to Hobart winner Bob Oatley); and a number of car racing devotees, including former Young Rich member and Brennan It founder Dave Stevens, who used to race Porsches.

What is it that makes entrepreneurs love action sports so much?

Partly is has something to do with their love of taking calculated risks, and partly it’s about the adrenalin kick they get from succeeding at their chosen activity.

There’s probably a hint of male ego thrown in too, given most of these extreme entrepreneurs seem to be men.

Of course, you do wonder how far these entrepreneurs would be prepared to go in the search of the next thrill.

Perhaps not as far as a group of high-flying business people in France, who have found a new extreme activity from which to get their thrills – fake kidnapping.

According to reports, a firm in France has established a service whereby people can pay (prices start at just over $1,600) to be abducted in a staged kidnapping.

The service provider apparently follows the customer around for a few days, snatches them off the street and then locks them in a cellar for at least four hours. Car chases, boar rides and helicopters can be added to the experience.

We’re not sure if this extreme sport might be a bit extreme for even the most thrill-seeking entrepreneur, but it does show the lengths that some business people are prepared to go for a bit of excitement.

Although on second thoughts, there are probably a few entrepreneurs who wouldn’t mind being kidnapped for a few days – and taken to a nice beach, of course. One that’s a long, long way from the office.