Auto Repair Shop Owners are an Example

You are an Example by Rick White, President 180BIZ

I want to talk to you about the word example. It's really important because every one of us is an EXAMPLE. We are either a teacher or we're a warning. It's not that you're all in or not in or anything like that. That's not it at all. We are both good examples and we're warnings. We all have both within us. This is why I am so against hero worship. Hero worship is dangerous because you put people on pedestals. You're putting fallible human beings on pedestals, and at some point, they will disappoint you. And when they disappoint you when you feel let down by that person, you end up throwing away all the examples and you label them as bad.

The reality is we're all fallible. We all are going to make mistakes. We are all going to misspeak. We're going to misjudge. We're going to make mistakes in our actions and our words and our deeds and our thoughts. That's the way it works. So, when you're looking at different people, see the different lessons within. And if they're an example of something that you really admire, then that's amazing. But I want you to ask yourself, what are you doing when you're looking at other people? Start taking the different characteristics that you admire and cherish those. Don't put the person on a pedestal because they will disappoint you.  Make sure that you're seeing the characteristics that you like. Then they are also going to have examples of warnings of what you shouldn't do.

Number one is no more heroes. Look for characteristics that you admire and build on those, emulate those. That way you'll never be disappointed. The second thing is you are an example. Don't be that person that says, “ Do as I say and not as I do.” That doesn't work. You can talk all day long, but what are you doing to show your team the way you want your business run? What are you doing to be an example for them as far as caring, as far as connecting, as far as quality and experience? What are you doing to get them revved up to be out front and show them how to do it? That is so important.

Yes, I'm 59. Let me tell you something. I haven't even scratched the surface of education and understanding, and knowledge and wisdom. What are you doing as an example? What are you doing to show your team, your family, what is possible? You're a human being and you're going to make mistakes. A real leader doesn't try to hide their mistakes. They own them.  We have a mindset where we're supposed to know all the answers. And that's not true. You're going to make mistakes. You're going to fumble. You're going to drop the ball.  Go to your team and say, “I screwed up. I kept that toxic high performer for too long. I wasn't looking the right way and I am sorry. This is not what I want for us. I am human too. Please forgive me. This is what I've learned. And this is what we're going to do differently.”

So here are the three things.

1. NO more HERO worship. Let's look for attributes and qualities that we admire and build on those.
2. You are an EXAMPLE setter. What example are you setting> Step back and look at it, ask your team.  If you're coming into work and your team's kind of miserable, there's a problem. And you're probably it. Because your team is going to mirror the energy that you bring to your business. Step back and look at the example that you’re setting.
3. When you make a mistake OWN IT and apologize. We think that's a sign of weakness and I'm telling you, it's a sign of strength. It shows them that you're real, you're authentic, and you can be trusted. It's the first step in creating a safe environment for your team, which is what we need to grow the culture to get it so that everybody's performing at their best.

Stay safe, God bless, and go make some money.