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Shop Owners Need R and R

Joe Marconi

By Joe Marconi
in Non-Automotive Discussions

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autoguy Rising Star

autoguy

Posted
Posted
  Joe said:
All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

 

I'm closing the day after Thanksgiving!!!!

  • 5 months later...
ROBK Apprentice

ROBK

Posted
Posted
  On 11/8/2009 at 11:45 PM, Joe Marconi said:

All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

 

What is this thing you speak off called "a day off"? I'm not sure I understand this concept :unsure:

 

Actually I agree. Having been working 7days a week most of the time I can see the difference in my productivity and motivation throughout the week even if it's just getting out a couple hours early on a Saturday and Sunday. Now that the weather is getting nice I'm gonna try to work in staying closed every other Sunday and going for a bike ride.

ROBK Apprentice

ROBK

Posted
Posted
  On 4/23/2010 at 2:19 PM, xrac said:

Seven days a week is not good. Your personal relationships and family life suffer. It is not good for you mentally or physically. One can do this type of thing in short spurts but eventually you will burn out and you and everyone you are connected with suffer but you didn't need me to tell you that did you?

 

yeah, I kind of noticed. I guess it helps that I'm single but at this pace I gonna stay single for awhile. The advantage of being open on Sunday while it isn't very busy or profitable is the visibility I get from people pulling in to get gas at the pumps in front of me and people stopping at the sandwich shop next to me(separate business in the same parking lot) and seeing my garage doors open. A lot of these people are local but work during the week so I feel I reached people that might not have otherwise given me a second glance. I always seem to get somebody that walks in asking for an estimate and have scheduled work that I might not have had if I wasn't there. The tire repairs and oil changes I typically generate on a sunday might not be much, but every penny counts when trying to keep the bills paid while trying to get established. It's kind of a fine line between necessity and burn out.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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