What is your why?

[CARMandP]

As a shop owner, what can you say is your why behind your shop? Why do you continually put up with the hassles in this business?

[xrac]

I owe too much money not to.

[FROGFINDER]

I volunteered to help a nieghbor fix his car and people have been paying me to assist them fix cars ever since.

[HarrytheCarGeek]

The trade used to be a lot of fun and lucrative when I started in the early '80s.

 

Now, not so much. -Tough government regulations, low profit margins, financially broke customers, long hours, shady vehicle manufacturer trade practices, counterfeit parts, high insurance premiums, etc.

 

Why do I persists? Because I haven't found anything else that I enjoy doing that would help me pay the bills like this trade.

Edited March 6, 2013 by HarrytheCarGeek

[Joey N.]

I don't think I could work for another person ever again, it pays the bills, some weeks I earn a sizeable profit, there isn't another business I want to own right now.

[xrac]

Why do you continually put up with the hassles in this business? - This will make challenge for your business and then if you survive your business will be more fine.

 

Phanter001, where are you originally from? English is not your native language is it?

[DanW.]

I'm just too stupid to quit!

[Joe Marconi]

There is a book by Simon Sinek, "Start with Why". The book is about how great leaders and great companies understand "Why" they do what they do, not the what or how. In other words, car repair is what we do, it's not why we do it. Yes, we make our living fixing cars, why we started in business and why we come to work each day is truly what we need to focus on.

 

I think all of us, myself included, started with the why, but somehow got caught up in the day to day job of fixing cars, and for many, it's not fun anymore. Also, we rely on ourselves way too much and not on the people around us. I can tell you that for the past 5 years I have been building my company around the people that work here, not around me. I lost the why, but I'm getting it back, and it's fun again. It's not always a walk in the park, but we choose this life and we need to be happy with our choice. There was a time when I hated the business, mostly because I was the center of my universe and did not have the confidence or trust that others that I employ could do the job that I could. The truth is, those around me could do it better. Can a baseball coach play better than the players on the field? We all know the answer to that question.

 

It's no secret to ASO members that one of the reasons why I started ASO was to find ways to help us become better business people and enrich our lives.

 

I urge everyone to get back that passion and stop feeling like it's doom and gloom all the time. This is very emotional topic we are discussing. Too many of us end up miserable with our lives. It does not have to be that way. Help others around you become better at what they do. Encourage your people to help themselves succeed and become part of the business. Helping others succeed will help you reach your goals. Dismiss the negative and focus on the positive. If you look for the bad, you will find it, trust me!

 

Never forget, it all starts with....Why?

[Jeff]

The initial why for me was to get out of the dealership scene. Then as the biz grew and I got to know my customers the why became "Because they need me". In the past 3-4 years I have closed, quit, gave up and threatened to sell everything I own and buy a Kenworth (I used to be a trucker). Each time I got to thinking about the people who call me Friend before they call me their mechanic and I stick around. The money aint great compared to the BS that comes with it BUT I like fixing cars and I care about my "friends"!

Thanks to ASO and a few folks in other forums I can keep my head straight and stay on point knowing I aint the only one that fights this battle!