Stop Running Your Shop Like a Technician | Rick White and Buckaroobob Bucknbob (John Firm) - Ep 27

0:00If you're an owner and you're still taking technical classes, you're still a mechanic. You're still a mechanic. You're still a mechanic. And that's a problem, right? Because you're not running the business. The business is running you. Definitely. And these all sound like clichés, but it's the realest stuff in the world. Sometimes the smartest stuff is said simplest. It's the simplest thing. It's so simple that it's right out.

0:21Welcome to Downshift with my sis, Tanika Haynes. We all know as shop owners, sometimes you got to slow down in order to speed up. And that's what this podcast is all about. About. It's time to downshift. I've been taking pictures of me and people, so before I leave, I want a picture of me and you standing side by side so you can make— so Michael can make us dance.

0:48Yes, yes. We've done one with Tracy, we've done one with Zeb, and now it's your turn. That man needs a job. I think he should do that. He should do social media Dancing videos for a living. Instead of auto repair? Instead of auto repair, yep. Yeah, he makes so much more money in half-assed marketing. You know, I think if you had lipstick on when you took that picture.

1:10Oh, that would be cool. We can do that. We can? Yeah, I can do like a light gloss that'll come off really easy. You might be pink for the rest of the day. I'm in the 180 booth today, so I don't care what kind of lipstick I have on. Okay, we'll, we'll, we'll get you some lipstick. Rick's trying to hold off on his.

1:24I'll just tell people the wig came off, but the lipstick wouldn't. Oh, we can. Did you bring your wig? I didn't. Not, but I do have all my gold. All of it. Maybe I can find some— something with a glitter in it. I have, I have, uh, I brought glasses. I bought like 15, 20 glasses with me, my money glasses. And I bought some gold necklaces, and I got some gold rings too.

1:48And I got a huge surprise. You need to work on that, John. What the hell do you do with yourself all day other than this? What do I do? What do you do? Do you even go to work anymore? I go there. Yes, I do. I spend an hour there sometimes. An hour a month, a week, or— well, I try to get there every week.

2:11Today is the official day. Cutter is talking with— Cutter's my oldest son. Okay. I don't think you've met him yet, but you will. Um, he— today he's talking to QuickBooks, and this is his first step. Of doing the finances for Firm Automotive. Okay. I love it. You know, he's already involved with the finances of Firm Enterprises. That's not a problem. But he's taking that next level step of getting involved heavier in Firm Automotive.

2:36He's getting ready to start doing payroll. Okay. I'm excited. You know what? What? I only have to go 30 minutes a week then. Yeah, I just do still do finances and payroll. But I hired virtual bookkeeping. So that's something. I'm still gonna do the payroll. I'm gonna do taxes until I'm really comfortable with them. Uh-huh. Yeah. So we've come a long way.

2:57He started doing sales tax. Yeah. That's easy. But this way. Yeah, sales tax is easy. Yeah. So QuickBooks. You don't wanna mess up nobody's paycheck. Yeah. And I'm not promoting QuickBooks by no means, but my coach really likes me to use QuickBooks. Who's your coach? I don't remember. His name is Ricky. Oh. Oh, yeah. Hey, speaking of that, Ricky's here with us today.

3:18Ricky! So look, you're sitting here with 2 of your students. Yeah, that's funny. We're all on the same mic. Yeah, we are on the ones and the twos. This is crazy. So yeah, I was looking at the dates because I was trying to figure out when I met everybody because like it all gets— becomes a blur. So it's 2021 and it seems like so long ago, but it's not that long.

3:40No. And I'm just thinking we're celebrating anniversary. But when did you start with Rick? I don't remember when Mayflower came over. Oh no, no, that wasn't that long ago. It was 20. 19 or 20. It was right after COVID. No, I think it might have been '21. Yeah, because I had to finish up with the other coaching company that I was involved with.

4:00Yeah. And I kept telling him I had 6 months at the end of my contract with him. I said, get ready. Oh, yeah, his contract. Yeah. The big show's coming to you. Get ready. Yeah. I think first ASTA was September '21, and we went to the wing spot for the pre-party. Right. And I was on the other side, like Rick was in the patio.

4:19And I told Dion, I was like, I want to coach with him because I had been stalking everything from ASOG, and Lucas had said it was a good coaching company. So I think I started in 2022. So that's cool. So I had been to ASOG one time before that. That'd be 2020. And I was coaching with you when I went. So yeah.

4:38Okay, so then it's— yeah, longer than that for you. Yeah, because you met me and— well, I met you and you embraced me and it was great. And I only known him for You know, like ever. I think we met 2015. 2015, 2011, 2012. I think it was 2015. Well, no, that's not true. We probably— we were hanging out. Holy crap. No, no, he's old, folks.

5:04He's really old. 2001. Yep. ASA, uh-huh. Uh, the national, uh, the, uh, annual meeting in Vegas. It was. Yeah, that's when Rick Charbro, you and I and So we've known each other for a long time. A long time. Yeah. And then, but it was funny because I think it was in 2015, I did a class at Vision and he come up to me afterwards and called me a name I didn't like.

5:30And he said, where were you 6 months ago? Yeah. Because you had signed up with the other company. Yeah. Oh, so did you have the 180 Biz when you met the first time? No, I had my shop back then. Okay. So you're a shop owner. Yeah. Let's talk about full circles and pivoting and all that stuff. So when we were in the 20 group together, right, you were still working in the shop.

5:51I was, yes. When did you stop? Like, when was you— when did you finally become an absentee? About 10 minutes after the group went there. So everybody told you to get the heck out of the way and you, you did it? I did. You know, it's after everybody left, it was like I— everybody gave me— there was such, such, such good advice.

6:13With all the people coming to my shop. Right. And it meant so much to me. That was a really good event. Yeah. I really enjoyed that one. That was one of my favorites. My goal was to— That wasn't the Brad moment that made that your favorite, did it? No. That was memorable. I can't say it was my favorite. Oh, that'll never not be funny.

6:32I'll tell you what, because it was Brad, you, Christine, and then I was right there. I was like, what? And Brian Walker was giving a class. And I thought Christine jumped. I thought she was gonna end up in my lap. That was wild. It was so funny. And we were a second away from having all that on video. Well, I'm glad it's not.

6:52A second away. Could you imagine what Michael would do with that today? The Big Bird was across from me doing a video of me because we're screwing with each other, you know, like we normally do. And, and he texted me, said, look at Brad. And about time I looked at Brad, that's when he fell over on you. Had no idea. We already know what to do.

7:08We've been to the trainings, paid for the coaching, learned the right way to inspect cars, build estimates, and talk to our customers. That's not the problem. The problem is consistency, because some days it only works when the right person is working, and when they're not, it's a whole different shop. So now you're stuck in that cycle. You need a strong team to run a great shop, but you need a great shop to attract a strong team.

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7:58My ARO is up 63%. That's not new knowledge. That's just consistency. If you're tired of your shop depending on who showed up today, go check out Detect Auto. Book a demo. There's a difference between running an auto repair shop and building one. Running your shop means keeping up with daily demands. Building your business means putting the right systems in place. Systems your team can count on and a customer experience that keep people coming back.

8:25TechMetric is built for shops thinking long-term. Shop management, payments and marketing in one platform so nothing slips through the cracks and your operation is smooth. Less piecing things together, more running the business you set out to build. Check it out at techmetric.com or tap the link in the show notes. Oh, thinking about that, I don't think about how many wonderful people I've met through conferences, networking, and coaching, because that's the first time I met— yeah, Kim and Brian.

8:53Yes. Yeah, all of them. So that's crazy. It's kind of funny because Brenda started pushing on doing group. We're celebrating 20 years this year. Oh, okay. So that's pretty cool. July 1st will be our 20th anniversary. Um, 2017, Brenda started talking to me about doing group coaching. Before that, it'd all been one-on-one. And I kept pushing back and kept pushing, but usually takes me about 2 years to go, okay.

9:17Uh, so in 2019, we started. And there are still people in the group from the original 2019. Yeah. Um, and just the family that we've created is like— we knew we, we were gonna do something really special, but what it has done is just off the hook good. We actually have had people leave, uh, just come back. Yeah, there's a bunch that leave and then they're like, man, that they're not like you.

9:51And it's funny, Jeff Ford, he went and tried a couple other things, and he called me up about a year later and he said, you're, you're an asshole. That's what John called me too. And, and I said, yeah, I know, I know. So I said, what's the matter? He says, these other 2 groups would have been fine if I hadn't been with you.

10:09And he's back again right now. He's actually coaching. Yeah, he's coaching. And, um, are you coaching? Are you gonna do any coaching? No, no, no. Are you built for coaching? I'm not going to be coaching. I'm never going to coach nobody. I don't mind helping. I don't mind assisting, but I don't have the knowledge or the skill to coach with somebody. But I will assist and help.

10:30My passion is to help the industry in any way I can. Okay. The number one thing I do for 180 Biz is I assist him, Rick. He's been great. And it's really kind of cool though to see the people Like even people that aren't in the group, Pat and Wendy Schwartz, they'll— I'll get a text from them every once in a while just saying hi.

10:54I saw Sarah yesterday. Yeah, Sarah, we sat down and talked. Yeah. How long did we talk to Sarah? Half hour, 45 minutes yesterday. I didn't realize that Liz and Keith were in the group when I was in the group. I didn't. Yeah, because we've all changed so much. Everybody's changed so much. Shake and bake, baby. Shaking and baking. But it was— it's all good.

11:10I mean, Benji and Christy, I I consider Benji my brother. Yeah. And I wouldn't have met him if it were not for 1-8 Biz. So that's, that's wild, that connection. It is so cool, the people that— the connections that are made besides the learning and the, you know, the support and encouragement and everything else. Because a KPI formula, all these formulas can be basically the same from group to group, pretty much.

11:34Math is going to math, but the connections and the networking for me has been a game changer. Like, Benji and I still laugh daily. And that's one of the things I wrote down. It's like, my ARO when I started was $252. We learned that was not good. Yeah, that is not good. And it's like, you guys are actually making money doing this?

11:55Like, we're doing more than breaking even? So, that was crazy. You can put money in the pocket. You can put money— what? And I don't have to be here every day. So, for me, 'cause I'm such a hard-nosed person, like, I don't really listen, but I know that about myself. So I have to force myself to just drink the Kool-Aid, drink the Kool-Aid, just do it.

12:13Because I, I'll just question everything. There's nothing the matter with that. But the thing is, but when I stopped and I started doing it, like, my ARO now is, uh, year to date was $820 when I checked it last. So that's a big difference. And I can't say it's all about— checked it last week? Yeah. You not check it daily? I had to check it daily.

12:30Weekly? I do not have to check my checking account, all of those. I do— only thing I have to check is payroll, make sure they get paid. Yeah. And my flight schedule. And your flight schedule. Exactly. Make sure I get to my plane on time. I love that. But you think about all the things that we used to worry about. So today, almost to the point of what I call a recovering shop owner.

12:47Yes, that's a good one. I love it. Because you think, like Rick used to tell me, you— I mother too much. I will smother everybody. And I think I need to know about every single car that came through or every single customer I know about no cars. I remember the customers and I want to meet the new ones. And so if I see a customer and I'm in the back office, it's like, oh, such and such is here, let me make sure I speak.

13:10But other than that, if you ask me about it, I don't know. Yeah, I've trained myself out of a job. I've hired myself out of a job and it feels really good to provide. But how— you know, it's funny, you're like, there's this curtain like in the middle, right? And on this side of the curtain, you know, depending upon where we are, we start as control enthusiasts Right?

13:30We can't say control freak. That's not politically correct anymore. Nope. But then as you get to that curtain, it gets scarier and scarier. The thought of being able to let go and then actually run a business instead of being in it micromanaging, managing, and everything else. Um, and it's, it's really cool because tomorrow I'm doing a class on Delegate Your Way to Freedom.

13:53So that's really going to be a great class. Um, and then for the Rick Live, we're doing the 5 Stages of Authority, which is building even more into that. Um, it's gonna be a full-day class on how to traverse— how do I actually delegate? How do— because you think you're the smartest person, and if I— they don't do it the way I say do it, then it's not going to get done, and I got to sit there and look at them, whatever.

14:19But it's almost like raising a kid, you know. A lot of people Their shop is very personal. It's not like, you know, the multi-shop operators and they have 5, 7 shops. No, my one shop is my baby. Those employees are my family. And I want it to feel like that. But on the other hand, if you sit there and tie your kids' shoes every day of their lives, they're going to never learn how to tie their shoes.

14:40And so when do they actually graduate? So when do I graduate from being— that's funny— a baby's mama into an adult mom? And then like, I know that my kids can go get that driver's license. They can go to the store by themselves. And if they need me, they can come to me. So the same thing with employees, they know what to do.

14:58They know what the outcome should be. They know what those numbers mean because I don't have to hide that. And that's another thing that I always was like, oh, you can't let people, you can't let them know the money. But if you teach them the money, they help you make it. They help you make it because they understand that all of that money is not going in my pocket.

15:14Right. Yeah. So this is how we pay. Yes. We're going to share on that goal. And you give a goal. It's like, okay, this year I want X amount of dollars. This year I want a million because everybody thinks that's the magic number, right? Like the Scaggle. $1 million. $1 million. So, but everybody wants that million. It's like, how do we get there?

15:31And you tell your team, this year we're going to shoot for a million and this is the plan. And they look at you and say, well, why don't we just make it $1.25 million, boss? And you're just like, Well, damn. Everybody's drinking the Kool-Aid. I love it too. But again, shop owners get— they're afraid of that because you feel like you lost control.

15:53I do not feel like I've lost control anymore. I feel like I've built a business and I do not have a glorified job. You built people around you. Exactly. The whole idea, and this is one of the things that's really hard. When we start out by ourselves, we're doing everything. And then we hire people to help us, not replace us. And then, yeah, you got— you still want to have the hat on.

16:16Yeah. Like, you're going to let— you can hold my hat for a little bit and then give it back because— and you call it scheduling your hats. Yeah. Yeah. And, and I think a really big part of this is being able to say, I need to hire people smarter than me. Amen. Because when they can do the job better— like, one of the things I like to do if I'm interviewing somebody, I actually want to be able to learn something from them in the interview.

16:37Like, if they can teach me something in the interview, that's value. That's like, okay, I'm interested. Yeah, right. Because, because you're only going to get— like, if you're the— as the owner, if you are the top dog, the business never— you are the biggest limitation on the business, right? Right. But if you hire people that have better skill sets in different areas than you do, now the business gets better.

17:03Mo better. Mo better. Mo better. I love mo better. I like mo better. You and mo money. Yeah, we like mo better. Yeah. Yes. So that's, that's the whole— you know, that's the thing that's just the biggest thing to get to what we're talking about right now. The biggest change was he recommended me read the book One Minute Manager. That is a great— that was the huge change.

17:23Now the new One Minute Manager is so different, so I can deal with the younger people. And understand the way they want to do things. I just finished reading that, listening to that on Spotify, and I recommended Cutter and Winston both to listen to it because that's the program we need to implement so they can step back like I've done. But the fact that you said you are even willing to read and learn is another thing.

17:49People think they don't have time, but you don't have to pick up a book. You have so much time. Oh, so much. Yes. Audible. Don't watch Spotify. Don't watch TV. Yeah, like right now my book that has been on repeat if I'm on a flight or whatever is Buy Back Your Time. Yes, love that book. It's a great one. That and One Minute Manager and New One Minute Manager and Who Stole My Cheese or something like that.

18:12Those are the most simplest things to listen to and it calls you out on your bullcrap. Yeah, and if you just keep listening to it the same way you learn a song, the same way people learn the American language, just repeat. On repeat. Yeah, just listen to it and it becomes a part of your DNA. And you're just— if you implement one thing and then another, and then you'll say, oh yeah, they're talking to me, you're calling me out.

18:33It's like being in church on Sunday morning. You think the preacher— I'm like, wait a minute, you're talking to me, master? Was he hanging out with men? Yeah, you saw what I did, preacher. He talking about me. But those books are just telling us how to do it. Amen. Yeah, so Zig Ziglar, once I once heard him say You got to do something, read something 16 times before you can actually make it yours.

18:58And, um, if you want to go with a couple other books from that series, there's a book called Gung-Ho and a book called Raving Fans. Raving Fans. I think I have that one downloaded. Those 2 are just amazing. Um, Gung-Ho is about getting the team working together. Raving Fans is about creating the experience. Well, you know, the book that was about getting out of my own way that you recommended was, um, oh, Misfire.

19:25Yeah, is it Misfire? I believe that's the one. Yeah, Mitch Schneider wrote it. That was a good one as well. Just, just getting out your way and let your— be more than just a shop owner that's wrenching and trying to answer the phone at the same time. And shop ownership is not about being in control of everything. That's right. It's not. I don't think so.

19:47Because I think we try to be in control of everything. You're going to try to control how that technician does his job from start to finish. And that means you're raising your stress level. And one, you don't trust your tech. Yeah. Like you're micromanaging everything and you think you're helping, but you're really getting in the way of them learning. Isn't that what he called the daddy syndrome, mama?

20:04Mama syndrome. I did that. Mama syndrome is different than daddy syndrome. It really is, ain't it? But I still do it. You still got a knot on your head. Yeah. But daddy syndrome is how I need to have the answers. Mama syndrome is I gotta wipe everybody's noses and— yes, and make sure they feel hugged and loved. Yeah, I can do— I still do the hugging and loving through because I have time, right?

20:26Yeah. And that's like— and people want to be seen, heard, and appreciated, right? Valued. So it's important to have that. But you— they don't want you to come up there and tie a grown man's shoes. No, right? No. Like, we gotta— let me get that off your nose, baby. No, that's my no-no spot. Don't touch that. No-no spot. I'm a grown man.

20:46Let me see. Let me see. Yeah. So I have a question for Rick. And then we both have to ask this question because we both have big personalities. Yeah, we do. Well, you have a big personality too. When you first met me, when I first started coaching with you, what did you think about me and this one? I Man. Oh, I want to hear this.

21:09I want to hear. No, no, no, no. I really enjoy it if I get somebody in the group and I say something or we recommend something and they just do it, they just do it, they just do it. That actually scares me a little bit. Okay. Because I don't want lemmings. I want people that are going to push back and I want people that are willing to take the information, kind of tumble it, smooth it out for them, and then implement, right?

21:42So when I get people that have very strong characters— that was very safe. That was safe. Very strong characters. I actually see it as a challenge. And it makes me a better coach, right? Because I've got to be able to get through the armor. Right? Because a lot of times that strong character is really a defense mechanism for what's going on in the back, which is a lot of fear and, and doubt and, you know, uncertainty.

22:16So we put this bluster up front. He ain't gonna get me. And it's just being able to find the crack and being able to weasel in a little bit. And, you know, I ain't got no cracks, Rick. Yeah, so Yeah, it was funny. I was teaching a class, uh, at, uh, Flaca, the Accelerate event, and we were talking about, um, influence. And I said one of the worst things you can do to try to influence somebody is tell them what to do, because you push, they push back, right?

22:52It's just— that's complementary behavior. I said Watch this. And I told the guy what I wanted to do in the class, and then I started asking questions. And by question 3, the person that I was talking to said what I wanted to say. Yeah. And I looked at the guy, Jedi mind tricks, and he went like he couldn't believe it. And I was like, people are always gonna believe what they say more than anybody else because they want to have the idea.

23:25So for me, I just I'll just ask questions until someone goes, oh yeah, like that makes sense. Yeah, right. And so my, my coaching has come a long way, to say the least. When I first started, when I first started coaching shops in 2003, before y'all— we're so sorry. No, no, no, no. My coaching in 2003 2003 was with a sledgehammer. It was my way or the highway.

23:56I was the biggest asshole. He was. If we could listen to calls back in 2003, we would be rolling on the floor. That's— oh, that would be cool. Some of them calls. Yeah, some of those calls. What did you say about this, Rick? Um, today, today it's much like I don't need to be right. I don't have to prove a point. So you've grown as a business owner.

24:23I have grown. Now you're delegating, you've got other coaches. Yeah. So, so you same journey. We've all been on a similar journey. It really is. Because for, for up until about the last, really about the last 18 months, I've been the worst shop owner in the world because I'm in the bays, right? And I was, Brenda and I were talking and I said something to her and she just kind of looked at me and she was like, Duh.

24:48I looked at her and I said, Brenda, you realize I've spent the last 18 or 19 years doing the— doing everything I can to become the very, very best coach I can become. But I haven't been the very best business owner. So now we're— I'm shifting focus. And we're, we're not changing how we do things like the message and the content and the, you know, the community and everything like that are the same.

25:15But now it's starting to pull back a little bit and say, okay, I'm gonna let other people do this. I got him talked into going fishing. I heard. Yeah. Yeah. I hope you make it back. No, that's not just fishing, though. No, it's not. It's an adventure. The whole thing's an adventure. You should come with us. No, I shouldn't. Yes, you'd love it.

25:32We had this Black girl over in the Amazon dead. Something ate me. No. That sounds like a Dave Ramsey episode. You'd love it. Oh, no. Most of the people down there are Black, but they speak Portuguese. They not Black. I'm African American from United States of America. They do not like me down there. No. You have me. I need all my fingers, toes, all my limbs.

25:51I've been a dozen times. I go fishing at my daddy house and get a couple bream. I'll be fine. I love it. I love it. You— I'll send me some pictures. I'll tell you what, send me some pictures. It's been so long since I've taken time off. John and Brenda have been conspiring. Yes, we have. Good. So Brenda— John's like, come on, I want to go on the 19th of October.

26:11I'm like, I don't know, I got so much going on. Brenda with her mom and everything. I said And Brenda went, you're going. Good for you. And she goes, you're not taking a computer. You're not taking your iPad. You may take your phone to take pictures. Completely disconnect. You are disconnecting from the 19th to the 28th. That's gonna be some good sleep.

26:30So I'm— well, you can't call nobody when you're out fishing. Your phone doesn't work. That's good. So I put it on airplane mode so the battery don't run down. So I can take pictures. Okay. And it works when you come back to the big boat. Because you got Wi-Fi. Because they have Starlink Wi-Fi. But when the boat's in motion moving from one place to the other, it doesn't work that well because there's signal to the Starlink.

26:53Okay. So he's going to completely disconnect. It'll be nice. And I'm not worried about it because I got such an amazing team. Right. Like they're ready to rock and roll. So. I'm so proud of us. Yeah. That's so crazy. Yes, students and the teachers and everybody's on a similar journey learning how to disconnect. Like, it was like, how are you away from your shop forever?

27:14Like, I've been on a plane every weekend for the last couple months just trying to go to the different shows because I want to experience a lot of different coaching shows, trade shows, and people and networking. Of course, the podcast. How do you do that? They've got it. They've got it. We've grown by 24%. From this time last year. So just looking at those numbers, I'm like, they got it and they don't need me.

27:39It's like when your kids leave and they don't need you except when it's time for some money. So that's what they— these kids, sounds like you need a new kid. No, this podcast is the kid. I've got a lot of kids. I've got a lot of automotive nephews and nieces. That— I love that. I love the kids. I keep saying that, but you mean like Katie?

27:59Like Katie. That is my boo. Katie, and Ash, and even Braxton. And I love the 30 and belows, 'cause they're so smart, but they're so stupid all at the same time. And it's the best thing. So, I think I was— I was saying I was at the Institute's leadership thing. And Michael had us writing down our new why and trying to come up with that.

28:19And it made me cry a little bit. But then, also said that what I've been praying for is not what God gave me. And I'll talk to him about that later though. Yeah, I was asking for like an apartment in Jamaica and he gave me a podcast and more people to network with. And I was like, that's not— it's not what I meant.

28:35Kind of a ways away from that. Yeah, I was like, when I say expand my territory, Lord, I was talking about some money and some land, not people. It may be, but pouring into people is fun. Yeah, so pouring into people has been really fun and going to church. Sometimes what we think we want is not what he wants us to have.

28:51It's not what we need. Not how we're going to get to where he wants us. Exactly. It's not what we need, right? Yep. Not yet anyway. Does yet— yet, yet. What, what, what did Rick teach us? Yet later is not our friend, but maybe it's your friend today. Maybe, maybe not yet. So, but I'm really enjoying it. See, I like not yet.

29:10I like not yet because I have a tech, he was— I mean, he is, he's still working on it. And there's another thing, a young tech that I'm working on building up, and I had to work on building his confidence. Because he would just get so frustrated with stuff. Like, why are you so mad? You're like, just started doing this. You're not a master tech yet.

29:28And then he said, no, you can't do it yet. Yeah, yet. And you literally put it on a sticky note and some marker and then put yet. Yeah, yet, honey. Because there's a lot of things that I can't do yet. You know, I'm not a skilled podcaster yet. Oh, but you are, girl. So you're so natural with it. Thank you. I'm trying.

29:46I'm doing See, we don't try. That's why I begged to be on here today. Yeah, we're doing it. Every, every one of your shows are so powerful, so full of information. You know, I just can't stand to miss one of the episodes thinking that you might be telling somebody else how I picked you up at the airport. Yes. You know, or maybe you might be talking about Michael in some way and his funny Big Bird shirt.

30:14Yes. You know, everybody knows. I mean, we're such a good family. We're just a motley crew of nut jobs that happened. Just started. But how cool is that? It is the coolest thing in the world. And Jordan thinks it's funny. Like, ASTA last year, he was like, Ma, all your friends are just weird. And I was like, I know! This is the best!

30:31And then to see him on stage with Benji with the suit and them dancing. It's like, yeah, baby. Your village is never meant to look just like you. Amen. And, uh, it is what it is. Family is not only DNA. And hey, no, so this is such a blessing that I met Lucas through lurking on ASOG, and he says you need to coach with him.

30:55And I took the leap of faith no matter how uncomfortable I was walking into ASTA. And it just amazes me that so many people have not had training And they think they can't afford it or they think they're not going to get anything from it. You cannot afford it. You cannot afford it. Because like, look, ARO, $252 to $820. 4 days a week.

31:15And that was 5 days a week at $252. I'm at 4 days a week, absentee owner, $820. And I know it's not the biggest number in the world, but we don't do foreign and we don't do diesel. But that is real growth. And that's huge number for your market. And that's a lot for my market. And here's the thing is, you've got a class and no matter how many times I can hear the same information over and over again, I am gonna keep going to class.

31:36I'm gonna keep learning because there might be just something I did not hear. I was telling somebody, like, one of my favorite movies is Friday, which is a very ignorant movie, but it's funny. And there's scenes, and everybody knows those little scenes. I said, hey, there's a scene when she's cussing Craig out, but did you realize that there was a man laying behind her in that bed while she was on the phone with her boyfriend?

31:57They're like, no. I said, yeah. That's when you listen to something over and over, you watch something over, you see it from a different angle, or you discover something different. So, that's why, training has to be essential and it has to be repeated. And if you ever think you're too good for training or coaching, then it's time to exit stage right. Always something to learn.

32:17It's time to retire, realistically. I don't think it's— I don't— for me, I think there's like 3 core issues. The first is they're on fire and they just can't get away. Like, they don't, they don't recognize you got to invest to get to start changing. They want it to— they want, they want the fire to go out. But the fire is not going to go out without some water.

32:40And the water is training, right? Knowledge, coaching. And so that's the first thing I see is they're just on fire and completely reactive. The second is, I should be able to figure this out. It's not that I'm too good for it. But I should be able to figure this out. And you can, just takes a long time. It takes a really long time.

33:07And things are on fire while you're trying to figure it out. Yeah. And I mean, there's a lot, like there's a lot of scars that come with that. Right. And there's, there's OE and OPE, right. Which is your own experience and other people's experience. So much better to learn from other people than it is to do it yourself. Yeah. Right. I don't need to burn myself on the stove.

33:27I'll watch somebody else do it and go, damn, I don't think I'll do that. You know, and it's one of those things. So that's it. And then the other thing I see sometimes is they try coaching, and I use the word try. And it didn't work out for them. And then they're allowing that mistake to bite them twice. Oh, yeah. Because the coaching didn't work.

33:50And then they say to themselves, all coaching is bad. And it's not just like auto repair, doctors, anything else. There's good, there's bad. And it's being able to find one that fits kind of your groove. And they're not going to tell you— like, I've had people come to me and I start talking to them about joining the group. And I, I suggest we just be honest for a second.

34:17They're like, yeah, what's up? You don't want a coach, you want a cheerleader. Don't we all do? Yeah, but I'm not a cheerleader, I'm a coach. So I'm gonna tell you stuff you don't want to hear. I'm gonna tell you stuff— I gotta tell you, this is the funniest story. If you ever get to see Megan, ask her about this story. At one point, I was coaching Eric and Megan, which I still am.

34:46And they were really distracted. And I said, what's the matter? And one of their boys was getting bullied at school, and Megan wanted to go scorched earth. No surprise, right? Right. Mama bear's coming. Mama bear. Yeah. And I said, you got to let him figure this out. You got to give him the tools. But it's his responsibility to figure this out. You can't go in and rescue him because then he'll get picked on more because your mommy came to the school.

35:20Not even that. What happens in 20 years when there's another bully at work? Facts. Do you see what I'm saying? Yeah. You got to give the boy the tools. We are here— I said to them, we are not here as parents to protect our children. We're here to, we're here to, um, get them ready. Right? We're here. I'm trying to remember the word I usually use, and I can't think of it right now.

35:45We're not here to protect them. We're here to get them. We're here to get them ready. Get them ready. Yeah. Prepared. Prepared. We're here to prepare them. Thank you. And and that's really what it's about, right? We are here to protect them. Mm hmm. But we're not here to like stop life from happening to them. No, you gotta take training wheels off.

36:03There's a. They're gonna skid knee. There's a whole bunch of people coming into the workforce today that are completely unprepared for disappointment and rejection and failure. And they think it's bullying. It is not. It's just life. Because they've never felt or seen it before. Participation trophies and all those things. And yeah. Oh, the world, everybody's supposed to— no, everybody's not going to love you.

36:25I'm so sorry. Your mama loves you. Maybe your daddy will, but no, that's it. Not everybody. Not everybody has to love you. So you're right. And I, like my kids, they understand the only thing they're entitled to in life is opportunity. And that opportunity often looks like hard work and it has an expiration date. So if you don't take advantage of it, it goes away.

36:48But there's another one will come by. It's not a, it's like, don't stare at that one, look for the next one, right? But you've gotta be able to recognize that It's okay to look for help, right? And, and realize, yeah, it's tough. And it is tough. And even now you have challenges. Oh yeah. Right? Those challenges don't go away. They get bigger and better.

37:10Oh, they get bigger. Yeah. New levels, you know, new levels. Yes. Right? It's just a fact of life. That's the way I think the good Lord made the world. And it's not a bad thing. It's not. You think it's so hard. Like, I had one, I'm having one, going through it right now. And the monetary side of it, it cost me $20,000.

37:30And I called Chad and I called Benji. And Chad looked at me and he said, that's one month of profit. And I said, but it's $20,000. He's like, but you've got it because you've done the work. I'm like, but it's $20,000. He said, but you've got it because you've done the work. It's like, okay, brother, you're right. Let's keep on moving. Because 8 years ago, I wouldn't have had a $20,000 problem.

37:51And if I did, I wouldn't have been able to afford a $20,000 problem. But through coaching and networking and 180 Biz, I was able to— and Detect Auto, because that's my sponsor, I'm able to navigate that so much better, lead through it, and actually coach my team on how to deal with that situation. And then the HR side of that situation, they were able to watch me deal with that without tears, without cuss words.

38:23Without regret. Just made an executive decision like a big girl, and I went on about my business, put on my big girl drawers, and came to— where the heck are we? Pennsylvania. Next. Next. And you'll— you step back, you'll learn from that experience. What did I do right? What can I do better? What could have gone better, right? What am I going to do different?

38:44And then you move on. Yeah, you move on, and, and you let it go. You learn And you let it go. Too many people carry all their mistakes in suitcases, and they carry them every day. That's what we call baggage. Yep. You gotta let that stuff go. They're just lessons. That's all it is. And you can learn from it. Learn from it, get better, and let it go.

39:04You know, because we have this expectation we got to be perfect when we start doing something. You got to go through suck before you get to great. It's just part of life. And there's a lot of suck. There's a lot of suck, but there's a lot of cool stuff on the other side. There's a lot of cool stuff. And with the suck, if you got the right people, the right people in your network, and you can share the suck, it makes a difference.

39:23It makes a difference because you ain't carrying it alone. You ain't carrying it alone. And then you realize you're not the only one going through it. I think a lot of people think it's just me. Like you said, I should be able to figure this out. This is me. Why is this happening to me? It happened yesterday. What'd you do? I just didn't cry about it because I knew better.

39:36That's one. It's funny because that's one of the major comments I get. Like after a new client comes on, I usually reach out about a week, 10 days later. And I'm like, hey, how are things going? They're like, this is really cool. Like I thought, like, I'm not the only one going through this stuff. I was like, yeah, I know. Yeah. We just wear it better.

39:58But if I told you— deal with it better. Yeah. If I told you that it wasn't a big deal, that wouldn't work. But if you saw it, but you saw— but if you saw other people going through it, And even if you realized, okay, I'm not alone. And that's the scariest part is being alone. And that's what happens when you set a business up where you have to have all the answers.

40:20You create a business where you are isolating yourself and you're alone. Whereas if you get people that are smarter than you or train the people to become smarter than you, that is the goal. Like I was, if you're an owner and you're still taking technical classes, I was getting ready to say something about that. You're still a mechanic. You're still a mechanic.

40:40You're still a mechanic. And that's a problem, right? Because you're not running the business, the business is running you. Definitely. Right? And these all sound like clichés, but it's the realest stuff in the world. Sometimes the smartest stuff is said simplest. It's the simplest thing. It's so simple that it's right. Like, yeah, taking a whole class about answering the phone. You should.

41:02I've heard you answer your phone. You should. Yeah. Yeah. Take a class about this. Yeah, you should. And just the simple stuff, like Becky says, soap, light, and paint. Yeah. Step outside and smell your shop. Amen. It stinks in there. Literally and physically. Like, it stinks and you got a whole lot of stinky stuff going on. Does it smell like a tire shop?

41:21Yeah, does it smell like a tire shop? Does it smell like differential fluid in your office? That makes a difference to that lady that's coming in with her kids. Like, what just happened? She doesn't know that a battery smells like a rotten egg. She thought you just had a number 2. Yeah. Fix your office. Put some ventilation in there. It's just like all those little things that people don't think important.

41:36Buy them a grate. Mechanic, you can't convince nobody to come in your shop, dude, because it's scary. Yeah. So my, my office was in powder blue, very light tones, no signs, no crap up. We had, we had the diplomas for the guys, their ASEs up, and that was it. Yeah. And then we had a book with all their other certs. I had a menu board behind us that told people what we worked on, the kind of work we did, and the peak— the cars we worked on.

42:06That was it. Yeah. And then flowers. Yeah, I've got plants, some pictures, and mirrors. Yeah. Yeah, and music. They don't need a bunch of wiper blades in their face. No. This is not a parts store. Or car magazines. Let's get some car magazines and put them out front. That makes so much sense because I'm going to learn about cars while I'm sitting here getting my car worked on.

42:26Yeah. Airboats and fishing for me. We got the Farm Bureau book and then the local magazines and then some kids' books. I'm so excited about you coming to Texas and driving my airboat. Oh my God. Yeah, you told me you could. I can. Yeah. Oh, I'm so excited about it. And then you get to say yes to so many other things that you never said yes to before.

42:45Yeah. And then later you're going, what did I just do? Yeah. But no, I'll get on the airboat. Lay, give me a date. Give me a date. Let's look at the calendars. And apparently I'm going on the airboat. I need to. I have to check that off. It's fun. It's fun. Open invitation right now. We'll lay it on the line. We're having the 2026 Michael Gunther Cookout in Nebraska.

43:07Why is it a Michael Gunther Cookout? Because he's cooking. Oh, Lord. Yeah. And we're going to be in August this year. August 6th through the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th. And we got cabins all set up and, and we're having a good time. We're inviting all the 180 Biz family. And past members and members. If you've been involved in 180 Biz, this is not a 180 Biz event.

43:33This is a family event reunion. Yeah, baby. It's a reunion. Yeah. Yep. I've already talked to Brenda. I'm going out. That's cool. So I'll be out at that one. That is going to be a lot of lives. So we're going to have an open mic night and the theme of it is Let's talk about it. So bring your subject, bring your idea.

43:56Oh, we're not gonna sing? No. Oh, we're gonna want one. Yes. I thought I was gonna go out there and be Tina Turner. No, we can do that. I was ready to do some karaoke. Oh, we're gonna have a kumbaya? Yeah, we'll have a kumbaya. We're gonna have a fireplace where it'll be all around the fireplace. Just— do we wear our shoes?

44:17Relax if you want. Yeah, it's got a lake. We're right by a lake. So you can go fishing and swimming, and there's a town just like right up the street, so you can go down, go shopping, goofing off. So it's a family time. I think I'll be interested in that because I like— I'm so glad that I've said yes to so many more things.

44:35Like when going to Montana with Kim last year was the best yes I have said in a long time. Candace and Jesse got the accommodations locked in. Okay, we got a bunch of cabins locked. Everyone, they got Or ours. So there's nobody else going to be there for 3 or 4 days. Okay. But the 180 Biz family is— Boris going? I'm not getting it.

44:54I haven't talked to Benji yet about this. Benji doesn't even know. You're the first to know. Thank you. Yeah. This is the first official announcement in August. Yeah. We haven't even— advisor training starts July 7th. I don't even want to hear about it no more. I've been asking you that for 10 years. No, I mean it. July 7th. July 7th is when it's starting.

45:17Finally, more to come. I know. Finally. And, and it's going to be Megan and I teaching it. Really? Yes. Megan is our last. She's so cool. Megan is— I'm so glad they're in North Carolina. Rock star. Yeah. On the front counter. Yeah. She's amazing. So she is— Megan and I are going to be teaching it. So are we allowed to talk about what's happening in June yet?

45:43In North Carolina. Well, this probably— I don't know. We don't have the dates locked in just yet. We don't have the dates. So the only thing I can tell you right now is Rick and Mr. More Money, Mr. Mo Money, are coming to North Carolina. The road tour. Yeah, the road tour. Yeah. North Carolina road tour. And I'm bringing my RV and I'm going to have a good old time.

46:05I was like, you're bringing your RV with good tires. But you're not going to pull a car behind it this time and wreck it? I probably won't. I think I'm going to be pulling a trailer, so hopefully the trailer won't let go. You bring side-by-sides with you? I don't know why I shouldn't, because the trailer is a 24-foot enclosed. Will we have time?

46:27You tell me if we'll have time. I don't think we have time. The side-by-side will be loaded and I won't bring a car. I'll bring 2 side-by-sides. Oh, let's see you getting side-by-sides out the shop, Dad. Yes. Yeah. Okay, the place to go. Well, we're all right. It's up past Raleigh. Okay. It's probably— it's a little dry now though. We were so dry, so it's not too much mud.

46:52It'd be like dirt and dusting. I don't mind dusting. North Carolina hasn't had rain in a while, so everything's so dry. Maybe by then it'll rain. Hopefully it'll be raining, get some mud and go in. I've seen some muddy pictures of you before. Nobody knows that about me. Yeah, I love it. We'll stick to the lipstick and the cuteness, not the muddy part.

47:10See mud and red. Mud and red. That would be so cool to do a couple pictures like that. That'd be funny. So yeah, yeah, we're not sure on the date yet. We're still working on the dates. I don't have it firmed up with Callie yet. Okay. Callie Grace is doing a great job. I'm so excited about that. So I told her I still was— I want to come to the social, the summer social.

47:30And then teach Saturday instead of the Saturday before the Saturday. But that's the only thing that's up in the air is that it's a Father's Day weekend. Oh, is it? It's Father's Day weekend. Oh shoot. Yeah, see what happens when you get so busy and popular? It's not popular. My daughter pops this skating tournament competition that she's been skating at, practicing for, for like 8 months.

47:54Who? My daughter. Skating? Yeah, ice skating. Ice skating? My hips hurt thinking about that. Yeah, sounds beautiful. Supposed to be the first weekend in June, and then she says, no, it's the 12th. Uh-oh. Oh my gosh. Like, I'm supposed to go someplace on that. I'm gonna get in trouble. So if we need to keep the dates where they are, I will. We'll figure it out.

48:17We'll figure it out. I don't want to— yeah, the next weekend is Father's Day weekend. That's the only thing. We could be four-wheeling on Father's Day weekend. We could be. Well, then you'd be away from your family on Father's Day. I don't have any kids at home. Well, I got one, two kids at home close. We'll see. So we'll figure it all out.

48:34But you've got to get to the expo floor. Do you have a class to teach today? I do. I'm teaching Grow Your Referral Business, new class. Okay. What time is it? 1 o'clock? 1:30? 1 o'clock? 1 to 4:30. I got a 2 o'clock recording, so I might sneak in and sneak out. Oh, this is really cool. We talk about the 5 areas of referrals.

48:54And I guarantee you nobody's doing all 5. And then tomorrow I'm teaching a class called Delegate Your Way to Freedom. I think I've done that one, but he's always going there. You could not, you could not have done that one. Now this one's a different one. This is a brand new class. Okay. Delegate Your Way to Freedom is brand new. Brand new.

49:12Oh, I bet we know a lot about it though. Yeah. Yeah. But you can never know too much. Never. Well, guys, thank you so much for being here with me. It was great. Thank you. Yep, let's go get to work. Look, where's Braxton when we need him? Braxton, come turn off everything. Oh, I forgot, Miss Tanika. Work, work is a dirty 4-letter word.

49:33Downshift with Tanika is where we slow down long enough to have real conversations, hosted by myself, second-generation shop owner Tanika Haynes. This goes beyond your car count, your KPIs. We want to talk about leadership, legacy, mindset, and the messy, beautiful journey of building something that lasts. You will hear stories from shop owners, technicians, and other industry leaders who are figuring it all out by themselves in real time.

50:02This is a space for growth, tough love, laughter, and leveling up.