Quantcast
Jump to content


[Podcast] RR 449: Maryann Croce – What Advice Would You Give a New Business Owner? Will this advice benefit the established business person?


Recommended Posts

Ask Maryann Croce! What advice would you give a new business owner? Will this advice benefit the established business person?

Would you like some advice on starting a business. What if you could apply this advice to your established business. With me is Maryann Croce from SmallBusinessvantge.com. She and her husband Tony also own Croce Transmission in  Norwalk, CT. 

As a business owner, she can chalk up many a mistake that has turned into wisdom. She has been there and done that and shares 5  key principles to help a startup business person get ahead of the game. She is speaking to resilience, commitment, getting help, being curious and giving.  Learn why messaging, relationships and financials are vital no matter what stage you are and your business is currently in. Don’t believe you need to go it alone.

Maryann was a banker turned business owner. Tony was a technician turned shop owner. She is also a member of Women in Auto Care and owns smallbizvantage.com

Her biggest mistake as a new business owner was thinking she had to do it all. This is one of the reasons why her signature talk “Gain Control by Letting Go” was created.

Maryann is also a member of Women in Auto Care and owns smallbizvantage.com. Hear Maryann in her previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points

  • What advice would you give to a new business owner
    • Resilience to be tested
      • Easy to be the owner when everything is going smooth
      • Will have constant challenges- need to be thick skinned
      • Don’t lose empathy or kindness but don’t take things personally
    • Take a stand
      • Core values- know what they are and take a stand for yourself and others. Have to work for you, your team, your customers. Be an example every day 
    • Ask for help
      • Building relationships is key- vendors, suppliers, other business owners in industry and community
    • Have a curious mindset
      • Be open-minded to new ideas- willingness to grow and learn
      • Won’t get stuck in negative flow 
    • Share and give 
      • Locally, industry event, you always have something to offer
      • Help each other without an agenda 
  • What is a healthy business?
    • Profitable, sustainable and enjoyable  .
    • Your business is part of your life, not your entire life- don’t lose sight of yourself, friends and family 
  • How do you evolve to a business owner?
    • Messaging- voice and messaging is right for business
    • Relationships- how you nurture them
    • Know the financials of the business
  • Maryann’s Newsletter HERE

Talk soon,

 

 

 

Resources:

  • Thanks to Maryann Croce for her contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
  • Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
  • Link to Maryann’s Small Biz Vantage website HERE.
  • Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

Listen-To-Learn-TRANS.png

Newsletter-Subscribe-1200x75.png

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:
Facebook   Twitter   Linked In    Email    Events    Speaking

Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE.

App-Rendering-16.png

 

NAPA AutoCare’s PROimage program makes it easy for you to make the most of the NAPA brand. A PROimage upgrade lets you maintain your shop’s identity as a reliable, locally-owned business while letting your customers and potential customers know you’re partnering with NAPA, the most recognized and trusted name in the automotive aftermarket. AutoCare Centers that have completed a PROimage exterior upgrade enjoy an average 23 percent sales increase during the first year. You can also choose to go PROimage on the interior and transform your NAPA-AutoCare-Logo-Vert-A.gifcustomer waiting area from merely utilitarian to warm and welcoming. You can even get a free look by visting www.NAPAAutoCare.com and clicking on the NAPA PROimage link under the NAPA PROimage tab. Of course, the AutoCare site is also the place to go to find out about all the advantages being part of the NAPA family has to offer.

 

Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio

Link to comment
Share on other sites



Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
  • Similar Topics

    • By Transmission Repair

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • By carmcapriotto
      What if there's a fire in your shop? An oil spill? A natural disaster or God forbid, a death? How do you prepare for that? Well, This week, Hunt talks about preparing for the unexpected:
      Vision Expo: Hunt shares experiences and insights from attending the Vision Expo in Kansas City, emphasizing the importance of community and industry events. Importance of Preparedness: The significance of being ready for unforeseen incidents, such as theft or natural disasters, affecting auto repair shops. Insights from Roundtable Discussions and Classes: Valuable lessons from discussions and classes, including managing risks and implementing preventive measures. Understanding Insurance Coverages: The necessity of comprehending what business insurance covers, identifying coverage gaps, and making sure you have comprehensive protection. Preventive Measures Against Risks: Steps to minimize risks associated with fires, accidents, and other potential threats to auto repair shops. Contingency Planning: The need for having a solid contingency plan to tackle unexpected situations effectively. Financial Readiness and Strategic Planning: Emphasizes the role of financial preparedness and strategic planning in fostering long-term success and stability for auto repair shop owners.  
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
       
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By carmcapriotto
      This week, Hunt takes a deep dive into the hot-button issue of price increases within the auto repair sector. He offers a nuanced examination of vendor pricing, market dynamics, and the psychological elements of setting rates in your business. With examples from real-life scenarios, this episode is a treasure trove for auto repair shop owners striving for balance between profitability and customer loyalty in today’s volatile economic climate.
      • The Psychology of Pricing: Unpacking the reaction to vendor price increases and what it reveals about our own pricing strategies.
      • Market Dynamics: Exploring the balance between cost, value, and competition in the auto repair industry.
      • Strategic Decision-Making: How to navigate the complexities of pricing decisions to ensure business growth and sustainability.
      • Real-Life Examples: Actual examples from a shop owners' group debate to illustrate broader industry challenges.
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.



  • Our Sponsors

×
×
  • Create New...