Serve First, Lead Better — Lessons from Autoshop Ministries

0:00What's up, you amazing superstars? This is Joe Adams with Adams Automotive, the number one shop in America. This is Master Tech to Millionaire presented by Auto Shop Answers, where we talk about the transition from technician to business owner, CEO. We are here for episode 2 with our resident chaplain for Auto Shop Ministries, Devonte Tidwell. Week 2, how you doing this afternoon, Devonte?

0:25I'm doing well, man. I can't complain. Listen, it's not raining right now, so I'll take it. The other side of that is that it's also over 90 degrees, so we're sweating. So it's still, you still got some, some water one way or another. That's right. People ask me all the time, they're like, man, Houston, how do you do it? Like, how do you deal with the heat?

0:42And I'm like, well, one, you can play golf on Christmas. It's not 20 degrees in December. Well, sometimes it is, but two, it's really good for car repair business for it to be super hot. If you didn't know, it gets really hot, man. The heat, the extreme heat breaks stuff. So we're really excited for the summertime. But, uh, let's go, man. So, uh, glad to hear you're doing well.

1:01I'd love to get right into the meat and potatoes of week 2. What do you got for us? Yeah, I want to talk a little bit today about service and really how all of this is service, right? So everything that we do, you know, no pun intended because we're in the automotive industry, we have service advisors that are listening right now. But, you know, everything that we do is not just to service a vehicle, it's actually to service people.

1:26So when we have that perspective, and I'm going to read a scripture here in a second, when we have that perspective, it makes us realize that we had a purpose long before we had a title. And that sometimes we've made them synonymous and we've tried to make them where my title is my purpose. But I'm actually trying to separate the two and say, man, you had a purpose before you had a title.

1:46And even when your title changes, you're going to have a purpose after that. So let me read this out of 1 Peter 4:10. Wait, hold on. Can you say that one more time? We had a title. We had a— that's really good. I want the people to hear that. We had a— yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So when you have a title, And a lot of people pair the title and the purpose together.

2:05But you had a purpose before you had a title. Okay. And when your title changes, you will still have a purpose after that title too. So no matter what titles you get through life, because titles change, you change from a single to a husband or a single to a wife, or you change from a husband to a father, or you change from a service advisor to a CEO, you still have a purpose that undergirds all of this all the way through.

2:33So we've always had a purpose. And you will still have a purpose no matter what your title is. So I'm here today to talk to people about how their purpose is not in their title. Okay, title is just a part of their purpose. I love that. Before you get into the verse, my dad— I love my dad's stories. He always says, you— the honor does not come from the job.

2:54You bring the honor to the job. Yeah. And I'll get choked up even just right off the gate here. We've got a— he always talks about— we've got a gentleman named Juan who's been our car wash, uh, a guy for 25 years, and he does it with such diligence and integrity, and he's always here on time, and he treats it like my dad would treat it, like we would treat it, and He's been doing it for 25 years.

3:20And it's like, so is it the title that makes him have integrity or be an honorable person, or is it the integrity that he brings to his labor every single day? So, wow, I love that, man. Shouts out Juan. Before we move on, I think that's important. I'm big on celebrating people. Shout out to Juan. Yeah, that's amazing, because that, that's exactly what we're talking about, is because Juan understands that this is, this is purpose.

3:44Yeah. And whether or not the title changed, I would still do everything with this level of excellence. I I still do everything with this level of integrity, with this level of character, with this level of attention to detail. This is what I mean when we're talking about, hey, your purpose is actually bigger than your title. Because your purpose will be the same no matter what season of life you're in, no matter what your title is, no matter, you know, who's the name on your shirt, or the name on the building that you're working, you know, maybe it changes, maybe you are a part of an acquisition and the entire company changes, you still will have

4:20a purpose. So with that said, let me read, uh, 1 Peter 4:10. Says, as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very grace. As each of us has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very grace. Isn't that special, man? I think so. Good. Every time we think about everything that we have, all of our life, all of the business and the influence and the employees and the peers, and maybe we get friends and we get privy to have some, some friends in other industries who are also successful, you realize that self-made is a cool concept.

5:05It's something to say, but like, you really couldn't do any of this on your own. Yeah, like, all of this really is a gift. The things that would have had to align for you to be in that place at that time in this space in history has to be a gift from God. And every gift that we get has a purpose beyond making us look good, feel good, or be happy.

5:26It actually is true, but it's incomplete. Let me break it down. It actually is true. It is for us. We are to be happy in it. We are to feel good in it, but it's incomplete if we don't use it to serve other people. Okay, I got you. Yes. And let me just riff for a second here. So I think a lot about— and correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is what you're getting at— I think a lot about entitlement.

5:54I think a lot of people are— and I struggle with this— I'm like, man, why does it have to be so hard? Like, this is like, I don't deserve this. Yeah. And then I heard in a sermon years ago, like, well, what you actually deserve is death on the cross. And yeah, you know, you're, you know, not like you're a bad person, but like, we're all sinners saved by grace.

6:14And so the part in that verse that's so relevant is like, as good stewards of God's varied grace, it's like, you don't got nothing. Excuse my grammar. Like, we are entitled to nothing. So I don't know, that's encouraging to me. Yeah. Um, uh, whenever I'm feeling entitled. Is that kind of, kind of where you were going with this? Yeah. So like, a part of that is, um, we think that we're the ones that gave it to us.

6:38So like, I always tell people all the time is there's a difference between arrogance and awareness. Like, a lot of times if you know anything about church church, or maybe you don't have a context for church if you're listening. A lot of Christians will talk a lot about humility. And humility actually doesn't look like the way that we painted it. It looks like kind of shrinking and playing small and speaking quietly.

7:01And that's not necessarily humility. Like, you can be fully aware and not arrogant. Like, you are aware, Joe, that you are gifted at what you do, that you were gifted this space, that you were gifted this influence. You also are aware that you didn't gift it to yourself. That's the difference. That one thing is the difference between being arrogant and being aware.

7:22So when you have that level of entitlement, when you feel like things are owed to you and not a gift, then you start to say, ah, well, you know, I'm the one that gave it to me. I'm the one that worked for this. I'm self-made. I built this. And it's like, really? Are you— are you sure? You did every detail every step of the way.

7:38You made them say yes to the contract. You made them you made them have that opportunity, you made them choose you over somebody else. No, it's a gift. And when you, and when you take the entitlement out of it, then if we say, okay, I didn't give this to myself, then I have to ask the one who gave it to me, what's the responsibility of it?

8:00You gave this to me, God, you gave this to me. Yeah. What am I to do with it? And that's where we're trying to get to where we say, okay, well, there has to be another purpose. You gave this to me not just because I was your favorite kid, not because I was the coolest of the 8 billion other people here on the planet.

8:14You gave this to me for a reason. And that reason is to serve. That's how we're good stewards, right? We use it to serve one another as good stewards. That's, that's the purpose. That's the purpose that supersedes our title. That's the purpose that, you know, goes beyond our location. That's the purpose that circumvents the disappointment and the man, I don't deserve this, and man, this is too hard.

8:38It's when I say, okay, but am I serving people. Juan is so good at what he does because he's a servant. He serves extremely well. And it's like, I'm gonna wake up every day, I'm gonna be on time because this is my way to serve others. That's what I'm trying to get at today. 25 years, man, it's unbelievable. He doesn't, you know, and I'll just, you know, I'll alley-oop Todd here.

9:03He's our CEO. If you're listening to this, you probably know who Todd is. Everybody knows Todd doesn't do it for the money. You know, he's been very successful in his career and people ask him all the time, they're like, what are you going to do with all the money if you guys are successful? Or what, you know, what do you need the money for, blah, blah?

9:18And he's, he says it all the time. He's like, it's a ministry. He's like, what? Yeah, it's almost like he almost doesn't understand the question. It's like, one, what else would I do? And two, if you have that kind of game, like, you almost feel obligated to not sit on the sidelines and do nothing with your game, like with your talent. It says, use— each of us has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very grace.

9:46So it's almost like a commandment. It's like, okay, I've given you— you know, you're Tom Brady, you can throw the ball really far. Like, it would be almost like— it's almost like we're obligated to not— like, you can— the good thing about business is you can be in business till the day you die, is what Todd says, right? What Tom Brady would give to be out there on the, uh, you know, at the 50 again, but he can't.

10:07And so it's like, man, what a disservice to my Creator if he's going to give me these gifts and talents and I'm just going to sit on a beach somewhere, right? You know, it's almost like an obligation. It's the way we feel. Yeah. And what about— what if— even stronger word— what if we see it as disrespectful, right? Like, man, I, I— you gave this to me and I'm only going to hoard the gift and the benefits of the gift for me.

10:31Like, because everything is serving something, you know what I mean? Selfishness serves, it just serves one person, you, you know what I mean? Selfishness serves too. It just serves you. But when you have an attitude of a servant, when you have an attitude of service, you literally take that gift and say, you know what, no, I have a responsibility beyond the blessing, beyond the peace, beyond the security.

10:54I now have a responsibility to serve others. Because, okay, I've won, right? I'm Todd, I won, right? But who else can I help win? Who else gets to rest a little bit easier at night if I help them by serving them? Who else gets to go home to their families and gets to sit down at a dinner table and say, yeah, I'm not worried about how we're going to put food in the fridge or in the pantry or the deep freezer because of, you know, somebody else serving me and stepping out of the way so that I can have a win as well.

11:25It creates a ripple effect. And that's It's really, it really is a formula. I know that you technically don't like the word formula for our faith. But for this, this is a formula. You create wins for other people in other generations and other households and for your techs, and for the people in your business office, and for the people who are managing your finances and your CPA.

11:46When you serve them, it gives you a level of relief. Number one, it takes the pressure off because you say, all right, I don't have to get this all done to sustain my own, you know, earnings or whatever. I get to say, Man, I want to put my pressure on how can I serve other people? Because I've never seen somebody that is passionate about serving other people be unsuccessful and unhappy.

12:11I haven't seen it, right? I see what you're saying. I haven't seen it where there's— because their purpose is being fulfilled, even if their title isn't. It's what sustains you, man. It's not money. Like, there's some number, I think it's like, I don't know what the number is, but they say money buys happiness up until like a certain number. And it's usually just enough to get your pain to go away.

12:29So like, you know, shelter and having enough food on the table and not having to think about money, right? You know, money doesn't buy happiness, but it certainly can remove pain from your life, you know, on this earth. And, and so at the end of the day, like, there is a dollar amount where you're set for life. Like, it's not like— and I think Todd hit that number a long time ago, but he's got a unique ability to create an environment where people win and not just him.

12:55And I think it would be— you use the word disrespectful, uh, to God to not give that opportunity to other people. So we talk about this in training, our training events, all the time. It's like, you know, we recruit— we, we, you know, I haven't talked to you about this, Devonte, so hopefully this doesn't rub you the wrong way. We, we poach employees, we poach team members from other shops, okay?

13:16We steal them. We straight up steal them from, from mom-and-pop operators who don't know what they're doing. And people are like, man, how do you sleep at night? Like, you're taking like Mr. and Mrs. Jones's best technician? And I'm like, yes, I absolutely am. Because one, they don't have the infrastructure that allows that technician to make a lot of money and create an infrastructure for their family.

13:40Um, and two, I feel obligated to recruit them because the number of text messages that I've received of people buying their first house, you know, or they're making six figures for the first time, or they can— their wife doesn't have to work anymore, or blah blah blah. It's like, I feel obligated. And now, Devonte, what I get to tell them is Devonte told me I was being disrespectful to God by not recruiting from Mr.

14:03and Mrs. Jones. I'm making a joke there, I'm making a joke there, but actually it's like, it's like I, I felt this before where I'm like, man, I'm tired today. And it's like, okay, that's cool, but you know, it's a, it's a responsibility. It really is. Like, to much who is given, much is expected. And, and it says it right there in 1 Peter 4.

14:25I love that. Yeah. So anyway, I'll hand it back to you. Yeah. So, you know, I think you hit the nail on the head because let's take somebody like you talked about the text. If your texts feel like a means to an end, right? Right. Why would they show up as their best? Who says I want to be the best tool to be used by everybody?

14:45Yeah. Nobody, right? Like nobody wants to feel like a tool. But when you make people feel like they're good enough to be served, like that takes, that takes the way that I show up That takes the way that I attend things, that takes the way that I treat the meetings, the way that I send the emails, the way that I clean my station, the way that I interact with a customer, the way I shake a hand, the way I make eye contact, because I said, man, I am being served here.

15:11This is, this is bigger than me, but they care about me. That, that makes the difference between people who stay for 25 years and people who stay for 25 months before they're home and complaining and sad and upset and stressed and, you know, feel disappointed about life. Like, think about it. Nobody goes to a restaurant and says, man, I sure love when the waiter comes to my table and they're talking to their friends.

15:37And man, I love like when that— when my drink, the glass has been empty with just ice for 30 minutes. Like, I love when the drink is empty, man. I love when they come to the table and they bring a plate and the food is ice cold. Like, who does not love ice cold broccolini? Like, I love— you know what I mean?

15:54Nobody ever says that. Because we all know what good service looks like, and we definitely know what bad service feels like. And yeah, people come through our training all the time, and they're like, man, I can't get my guys or girls, I can't get my team members to do it. And I'm like, are you doing it? Like, I literally ask them point blank.

16:14I'm like, okay, well, are you having a meeting? Are you having a take five in the morning every, every workday? Are you in the trenches with them? Yeah. Like, because you can tell when you're at a restaurant and the waiter is checking a box. You can tell when they're checking a box, and then you can tell when the owner is passionate and he's a servant, or she's a servant, right?

16:32And they train them. And you could tell when a waiter is like super passionate about the menu, like, oh man, you gotta try this, man. Or like, you know, we talk about Charlie, he's one of our partners in business, and he's got two shops in, in, uh, in Boston. And I— you go up there and you ask them, and they're like, oh, we're here for Charlie.

16:51Like, it's not, it's not Pleasant Car Care, it's not a paycheck, It's not— it's like they are uniquely passionate because they know they work for somebody who like will take the shirt off of his back for it because he's a servant. Yeah. So if you come to Key2Key, if you come to our training and expect to like send your managers to a training and get the silver bullet, it just doesn't work like that.

17:12And I think what you're telling me is it can be applied biblically to the rest of your life as well. 100%. Because think about it, and I'll say it like this, and I'm going to say this slowly so that people can hear. Maybe they're listening. Service is what takes people from feeling like they're a means to an end to feeling like I mean something to you.

17:31Okay, say it again. Service is the thing that takes people from feeling like I'm just a means to an end to, man, I mean something to them. For sure. That's a, that's a drastic shift. Like, if I feel like I mean something to you, then yeah, Charlie, what are we doing? Yeah, we got to do that. Oh, I got to, you know, do a little extra.

17:51That's outside of my wheelhouse. But listen, Charlie asked, Like, I'll do anything for Charlie, right? Because I mean something to him. The difference is, at Mr. and Mrs. Jones' shop, I'm just a means to an end. I gotta, I gotta fill a station, I gotta check off a box, I gotta hit a quota, I gotta be there because they don't have anybody else.

18:08Like, that's the difference. When I see that, you know, in my own leadership, when people feel like— because it's true, not when you, when you, you know, manufacture it— when people realize that they mean something to you, then it's not how do I get them to do anything? It's, man, I got to stop y'all from doing something because we're doing too much.

18:28Like, I don't need all of that. And I'm grateful that you would go out of your way for somebody like me, because servant really should fit the description of your character first. Because if it's in your heart, it'll be in your hands. If it's inside, it'll come out in your actions. If it's in who you are, it's going to come out in your actions.

18:47It's going to come out in the way that you lead. It's going to come out in the way that you talk to the employees, the way that you say good morning, you know, it's going to come out in the way that you slow down your pace to ask people twice, like, hey, how are you for real? How are you doing? Like, for real?

19:00Yeah. Yeah. You know, because that's who you are. And when you see that, you'll start seeing more and more people will show up the way that they show up for Charlie, the way that Juan shows up, you know, and less than, you know, those people are, or less of the people are in a space that they feel like I'm just a means to an end.

19:17They'll say, I mean something to this person. I mean something to this leader. I mean something to this organization. And they make me know it. Like, it's not that they just say it. Like, anybody can come up with the cool leadership huddle catchphrases, you know what I mean? Like, but another— it's another thing to say, man, like, they went out of their way when my wife was sick and didn't have to tell anybody.

19:41But man, they just said, hey, don't worry about those medical bills. Like, we got you. I don't want you to promote it. I don't want you to— you know, man, they realize that, like, I really had to work, but it was my son's championship game and I needed to be there. And they say, hey, don't worry about that, go be with your son.

19:58That task, it'll be there when you get back. Your son only has one game. That's the difference between you're a means to an end versus I mean something to you. Does that make sense? Yeah. And I'm just reflecting on my own leadership and it's like, it's actually— I don't want to use the word easy and out of context, it's like shockingly easy to let people know how much you care about them.

20:20Like, it's like the look I've seen on technicians' faces, on service advisors' faces when I just ask them how their kids are. And I remember their kid's name by name, and I don't remember them all anymore, and I wish I did. I got to get better at that is what I'm reflecting on. But like, asking somebody how their kids are doing is— it's not hard.

20:40Like, it's not a hard thing, but you can't fake it. Yeah, it's like a very, you know, we— I teach a lot on sales, you know, and a lot of it's like taking care of the customer and like serving them in a lot of ways. And I talk about it like it's the same as communicating with your, you know, your spouse or people in your real life.

20:58It's like, imagine if you're talking to your wife and you're like, okay, I'm just going to take out the trash and I'm going to clean the house, not because I actually love her, but just to like check a box. Right, right, right. How's that going to work for you? Like, it's not going to— you think that's going to be a 60-year-long marriage?

21:12Like, it's not. Uh, but when it, when it overflows from like, man, I just so deeply care about this person, I want to make their life better, like, that's the sustainable one. And, you know, your business is a marriage. I'm telling you, you're, you're working 12 hours a day with these people, with your team, teammates, man. So you got to treat them like they're part of the family.

21:32Yeah, I love that you said that. It's so easy. The way I like to say it is service costs nothing but it's worth everything. It costs almost nothing, but it's worth everything. Imagine that. Like, imagine just asking somebody about their kids, saying, you know what, they care about me. Like, like, you know what, they actually remember that my son had that championship game because I've been talking about it for weeks and weeks and weeks.

21:56So imagine a tech being excited about it for weeks. And man, my boy is doing great. And man, you know, he's gonna do this, he's gonna do— and then it's like, wait, why are you asking to be off again? It's like, dang, like, did you not hear anything I said for the last last 4 weeks about how excited I was that, you know, my son is playing in the championship.

22:14But if you say, hey, you know what, I know your son's playing in a championship. I just wanted to let you know I covered that for you. I covered that shift. We've already moved some things around. Go be with your son and text us when he wins. Do you know what that would do? Like, it's— it costs nothing. Yeah, it costs nothing to care.

22:31It costs nothing to serve, but it's worth everything to people. You know, I'll tell you a story about a famous restaurant in, in New York When I was working for a luxury car dealership, we had a specific training. And there's this video that the owner of this store— I'm sorry, of this restaurant— mentioned, and he's going to use a different word, but I want it— the concept is the same.

22:56And he said, hospitality is something that happens for you. Service happens to you. Okay, he went by that. So he said this. He took away all tips in his restaurant, like, because he said, I want my waiters to feel so cared for, to feel like I'm so hospitable that they don't have to worry about faking it and, you know, rushing through things to hurry up and get things there so that they can depend on tips.

23:21They don't need it because I already pay them far beyond what anybody else could do, you know, what they can make in tips on their own. So because I'm hospitable, then that hospitality to them bleeds down into the hospitality towards our customers. So then they do go above and beyond to say, hey, well, maybe, uh, listen, I don't want to drink soda out of the tap.

23:41Well, guess what? Now they go out of their way to go get them a Coke Zero in a bottle, right? Yeah, that's because I have set the precedence from the top, because I've said I will be hospitable, I will serve my people so well that it has no choice but to be a trickle effect. And honestly, that's really how it is, right?

23:57Like, we have a purpose, and that purpose is to serve. And maybe that alone is encouragement for somebody. They just needed to hear, like, man, your purpose is bigger in your title. And that's all they needed today. But for everybody else, it's something to evaluate. You know, again, maybe it costs nothing. Here's a challenge for people. You know, I know we're getting to the end of this episode, but like, here's a challenge for people of how service costs nothing.

24:20Send some words of encouragement. That, like, make a phone call that has nothing to do with your bottom line. You know what I mean? Make a phone call that has nothing to do with the schedule. Maybe help, you know, your elderly neighbor with the landscaping, Maybe turn something in for your coworker, turn in that report that they left on their desk that they forgot to submit, you know, and you know, they needed to submit it by a certain time.

24:43Maybe go to the— go to their kids' championship game, maybe find time to just be there. Just, hey, hey, man, I know that this was important to you. And you're important to me. So I wanted to be here. Tell somebody they're doing better than they think. Like, that's stuff that literally costs nothing but is worth everything. And when you understand that God gave you a purpose bigger than your title, and, and this servanthood is a part of your character, it will come out into everything else.

25:08And the morale— we all know how, how ROI positive high morale is. Yeah, there's, uh, some stat like if you tell somebody 10 good things, if they remember every one bad thing that you tell them is like 10 good things. I don't know if that makes sense. So yeah, yeah, you could praise them 10 times But if you criticize, you know, or put somebody down one time, it's like, yeah, it's 10 times more powerful in the wrong direction.

25:36So it's like, how does this formula work? It's like the people, you know, you have to be— if you're the business owner, you got to take care of your people and then the people take care of the customers, right? And then the customers take care of the business, you know? And so you can't just like expect to send people to some silver bullet training and just like expect them to take care of their customers.

25:58Like, you have to take care of the people. Right. So I, you know, I was at a conference one time and, um, you know, the person on stage, they were like, take everybody, take out your phones. And I, you know, I, I'm, I'll just piggyback on what you're saying, Devonte. Yeah. Like it costs nothing. They were like, take out your phones and text somebody.

26:17It was a work conference. Mm-hmm. They were like, and whoever's listening to this, say I sent this text message to, hopefully they remember it. They were like, text whoever's back home right now. Who's running the business today, just text them that you love them and that you're really grateful that they're, you know, side by side with you. Yeah. And so I felt a little awkward, you know, like sending that text, and then I sent it, and it's like, man, I hope you really— I hope that person really like understands how much they mean to me.

26:43Like, like, like, I'm out here learning and like we're trying to grow the business, and like, dude, I appreciate you. Gosh, that is— I had somebody on a phone call today tell me like, dude, you're doing— somebody, because Because as the leader, you don't get that a lot. You know, they're like, yeah, somebody told me today, hey man, you're doing a great job.

26:59Like, and I was like, man, that feels good. And now I'm talking to you, I'm like, man, I needed to be doing that. I need to be doing it. I need to be like, everybody's so focused on like the problems and how to get people feedback and make it better. And it's like, just celebrate their wins and tell them you're grateful for them.

27:14It doesn't cost you anything. And it's not, it's not like a formula, like, hey, if you text your people you love them, they will do more performance. It's like, doesn't work like that, right? You have to actually have the internal, like, love of the Creator or something flow through you. Yeah, bear fruit for other people to experience it. So, uh, yeah, yeah, no, I think, I think you're hitting the nail on the head again.

27:35You know, you don't even have to have full context for what this scripture even means or where it came from to find yourself in it. Like, you don't have to believe what we believe yet in order to see yourself in this and see the, the value in but this is what I mean, you know, when we try to open up that conversation around like, you have a purpose.

27:51Your purpose, number one, is to be a servant. Like, imagine, you know, the reason that Adam's is such a successful business and story is because of how you guys have served the community for a long time. Not like— it has been consistent service. It's been a consistent presence. It's been a consistent, you know, staple in in the neighborhood. And I think that's a, that's a testament of that idea.

28:17If you can serve, and you will be fulfilling your ultimate purpose more than you will be fulfilling your title. You can fulfill your title and still find somebody to serve. Maybe you say, man, I don't really know how to serve in my role. You know what you can do is say, you know what, like, I don't need any money. Who can I buy groceries for today?

28:34Yeah, I'm just in line behind somebody and I see their card get declined and just say, hey, ma'am, you know what, I got it. I got it today. I was like, hey, go feed your babies. That cost you maybe $100, but it may give them food for a week. And sometimes it's that perspective of like, man, service. And that, like, let's just, let's just work that real quick.

28:52Let's just work that scenario out. What if that you were in line? Let's hypothetically go there. You were in line behind somebody and their card got declined in the grocery store. And they had a basket full of groceries. It was $150. And that was going to feed their family for a week. Mom of 2, you paid for that. That now moves on.

29:11So the money she was gonna spend for that now gets to be used towards something else, what helps her get a little bit ahead. And then the money she was going to use for that bill gets used to something else, or she gets to put it in savings a little. And now she has a little bit to, to build on. And that one small service decision is the thing that helped her get ahead so that her card never declines again.

29:31What if Yeah, and that's all about— it's all about listening to the Holy Spirit to know when, when to push on, on moments like that. And you gotta have a— you gotta have a deep faith to be able to, to know when, when is the right time for it, for sure. Yeah, that's it. That's it. Well, hey man, I totally believe everything you're putting out there, uh, that you're saying.

29:49I think, you know, I can't start crying on this podcast, but my mother has been doing this 46 years, diligent servant. Yeah. And when she tells people she's praying for them, like, they know she means Yeah, think about that. Like, that's crazy. Like, I think I take it for granted sometimes. Like, you know, I've been a Christian my whole life and, you know, I like, you know, I pray for people and I don't think anything of it.

30:14But some people don't know how to pray or they don't like really, really maybe believe that they're worthy of talking to God. And it's like to know that somebody like my mom, like she's like, I know for a fact, I don't know what her prayer life looks like, but I know there is one. Yeah, I know that when somebody asks her to pray for them, like she, she takes it serious.

30:30And so like, what's the downstream effect of that? It's like diligently serving the community for 46 years, and then the downstream effect of that is like, you know, she's been abundantly blessed to take care of her family and hopefully a lot of other families. So I love it. Uh, I think we're up on time here. This has been episode 2 of Auto Shop Ministries.

30:51Devonte, you want to close us in prayer? Absolutely. Uh, Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for every single person, especially those like Joe said who may feel like they don't deserve to pray. God, I pray specifically for them, um, that they would hear your voice. God, that they would know that they had a purpose long before they had a title.

31:07God, that we are called to serve because we've been served first. God, you gave us this gift, and the way that we can be sure that we're being good stewards is making sure that service is a part of the equation. So God, let us go out of our way this week to find somebody to serve, because it costs us nothing but is worth everything.

31:27Be with them today and the rest of this week. In Jesus' name, amen. Boom! Well, happy Sunday everybody. Let's go make it a great week. Thank you again, Devonte. We can't wait to see everybody next Sunday. Let's go! For more information, reach out to Todd Westerland at 925-980-8012 or visit autoshopanswers.com. Get more information about Key 2 Key 2 callbacks, Courtside VIP Racquetech Day where you spend a full day in the trenches with our teams.

31:58We have leadership classes, an AI academy, accounting first, fraud and prevention, as well as auto tech training. We are literally your one-stop shop. Please don't hesitate, reach out to Todd Westerman, 925-980-8012.