Auto Repair Shop Owner's Daily Dose 27: Friends (Family)

Friends by Rick White, President 180BIZ

This is just unbelievable. Tomorrow is going to be four weeks of doing this. And I am committed to staying here and being with you every single day just to give you a little shot in the arm to help you guard your mind, your most precious object. You must keep your guard up for what's going into your head. Whatever comes in through your eyes and your ears tends to come out through your mouth and our feet, through your words and actions.

So today is the family edition and I want to talk about friends. If we're social distancing as we should be, it's easy to feel isolated, but there are some things you can do to fix that. My wife and I have done some different things with our grandkids. We either use FaceTime or Duo, which is a Google app, on our phones.  I also use Skype sometimes with my grandkids so that I can see them and talk to them. We read stories and play games with them using an app called House Party. You can get a whole bunch of people on the House Party app and play games and stuff like. And I know a Brenda did it with her cousins up in Jersey and Philly. I could hardly hear myself think because they were laughing so hard and playing games. It really lifted them up.  

So don't sit there and sulk. If you're feeling down, if you're feeling a little bit disconnected, reach out and touch someone. Do you know what I do? My mom and dad are up in Massachusetts and I’m here in Virginia right now.  This is a time where it's really tough to be far away from people you love.  I’m conflicted because we have people up North and we have people here. When I finish my Daily Dose in the morning, my mom and I get on Facebook messenger.  We video chat while having a cup of tea together. I set up the camera on a stand or lean it up against a book and we have a really nice talk. It fills her up. She gets to see me.

But what I'm saying is don't feel disconnected. I want you to please to reach out to your friends. Let other people know that you're thinking about them.  Let them know they matter to you. We all need to hear that. We matter. We all need to know that we're making a difference with somebody. Another thing that I've done to stay connected with people in my life is to write letters. 

Someone who has changed my life was Jim Vernelli.  He was a Scoutmaster of the troop that I grew up in.  He was like my second dad.  I wrote him a note just thanking him for everything he did. I wanted him to know the impact he had on my life. Another person that's really been huge for me is Ron Riling out in Missouri. Ron gave me my first chance at speaking. He invited me to the Excel show in Missouri back in 2007.  If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today as far as being able to get up in front of other people and share a message that I'm really, really passionate about.

I’ll tell you something that's near and dear to my heart.  There is a way to run a business, connect with people, build relationships, and still be profitable. There are too many people out there that think one or the other; Have profit or have relationships, but not both.  I am here to say that we can have both. I truly believe that profit is the applause your customers give you for a job well done.

What I'm suggesting here is that you step back and think of somebody who hasn't been in touch with you lately. Somebody that you, at different times, wish you had time to talk to them.  Now's the time. Now's the time to talk to them. Now's the time to reach out. And just say, “Hey, how are you doing?” And if your friends are anything like my friends, I might not have talked to somebody for six months, but we just pick it up like we were just talking yesterday. Have you found that to be the case?

So for my family edition today, I’d like you to step back and think of somebody that's been meant something to you.  A friend, a mentor. Reach out to them. Say hello and let them know you're thinking about them. Let them know that you care. Let them know they made a difference.

Use this time to slow down and to reconnect. Reconnect to yourself, reconnect to your family and reconnect to your friends. Don't let this time slip through your fingers.  We’re going to be on the other side of this quicker than we think.

We can do this together.  If you need someone to talk to, reach out. You can get me on Facebook messenger. You can get me on a Skype email, or Rick@180 biz.com. You can text me, you can call me on cell number (540) 830-2293. Go out there and let people know you're thinking of them.  Let them know you care.

I want to thank you all for being here today. I want you to have an amazing day. Go out for a walk, get a little movement going on. Brenda and I are both getting it together and having a great time reconnecting.  I want you to do the same.

Take care. Have a great day. God bless.