I just had the pleasure to spend sometime with two passionate freaks and both have built a business around their uniqueness and idiosyncrasies. The idea behind this post is to inspire you to find YOUR business model for YOU. Do not copy somebody else but find something that fits YOU and YOUR unique skills.

 

I spent the last week ski mountaineering in Italy in Valle Maira (south east of the piedmont region, east of Cuneo). It was a very enjoyable vacation with lot’s of fun, work and pleasure but also with learnings I want to share with you.

 

I learned from two people, Lucas Iten, our mountain guide and chef Enrico Crippa from the two Michelin star restaurant Piazza Duomo in Alba. Both are passionates. Both are freaks.

 

MOUNTAIN GUIDE LUCAS ITEN

 

The first freak I encountered was our Swiss mountain guide Lucas Iten also called Mountain Geier. Actually, Lucas is not really customer-oriented; he is just the best in finding the best run under the present circumstances. And the best run is not really defined by the customer but the possibilities of the day. And if that means to climbed 1700m than you better ascend.

 

You have to fit to Lucas. When you do, you have one of the best times possible in the mountains. He loves the runs; he is like a child with all his enthusiasm and joy. He is childlike but very professional in regard to planing and the risk of avalanches. He loves the days out in the mountains and loves to share his enthusiasm. We found runs local alpinist were surprised that you could make them.

 

Early in life, Lucas knew that the mountains will be his life. In a young age, he climbed the Eiger Northface and did everything to avoid things he was not the best at like school.

 

Lucas has joined forces with a Bergpunkt, mountain experience travel agency. And like Lucas, the business model of Bergpunkt is not focused on end-customers but at their partners, the mountain guides. Remember that you need a value proposition not only for your customers but also for your key partners. Take a look at the canvas.

 

Bergpunkt’s business model targets creative and crazy mountain guides. For these kinds of mountain guides, Bergpunkt is a perfect partner, taking over all the things a mountain guide tries to avoid like administration and booking of guests. And by that, they get the “best” mountain guides and thereby Bergpunkt’s program is very attractive for end-customers like me. Lucas is not the only freak at Bergpunkt. All mountain guides I have experienced are just exceptional and in a very positive way out of the norm. They are freaks!