Auto Repair Shop Owner's Daily Dose 3: Who's the Boss?

Let's Show this Virus Who's Boss! by Rick White, President 180BIZ

Today I want to go over several things. I've had some people reach out to say, Rick, this stuff you're sharing is great, but what do I do about my business? I want you to understand that the most important thing you can do for your business is to recognize that you're either going to be the greatest stepping stone or the greatest stumbling block. We need to be aware of where we're at. Yesterday, I talked about the three preferences we tend to fall under. Whether I'm thinking about what I do have, or I don't have, whether I'm focused on what I can do or can't do and whether I'm focused on the past, present or future.

I have to be honest with you. I was focused on what I didn't have. I was focused on what I couldn't do, what I can't control. And a lot of times my time was spent fully in the past or always in the present, or even always in the future. Once I really understood those three preferences and understood where my focus was going, it really changed the direction of my life and my business. I believe it can do the same thing for you.

Today, if you stick around to the end of the video, I’ll give you a tip, something that you can use to help you with your business today. Okay?

Remember in Episode 1 and 2, I told you we had three questions to ask. The first question we asked ourselves was, “what am I focused on?” The second question is what does it mean? Because once we're focused on something, our minds automatically give it a meaning.

So, what does it mean?

For me personally, probably the most powerful example of this is when I separated from my second wife. For three months, my world was coming to an end. You know, the split-up was what I was focused on. I was focused on not being able to see my kids.

I headed out to Colorado to stay with friends. Doug and Rebecca, I love you to this day. Thank you for being there for me. They invited me over for a couple of weeks, I was a guest in their home. Actually, I was probably not really much of a guest. One morning, I was just staring out at the Rocky Mountains when it dawned on me that this was a beginning.

It's the same thing here. We can apply any meaning we want to this virus. This situation, is it ideal? Of course not.

I've been asked a number of times, “Rick, what would you change in your life if you could?” I honestly answer that I wouldn't change a thing. I wouldn't choose to go through what I've gone through, but I wouldn't change anything because I wouldn't have the people I have in my life today. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be who I am today. This is going to be the same thing.

I promise you; we will be stronger on the other end. We are going to be more prepared. We're going to be more focused. There are gifts in this situation, in this tragedy. If you look for them, you will find them.

This is an opportunity to reconnect with people. It's an opportunity to get outside of ourselves and see others that need help. It's an opportunity to step back and do all those planning things that we haven't done before in our businesses; all those things that we've wanted to do that we just haven't yet. Things we’ve been putting off. It's an opportunity to reconnect with our families.

What I want to talk about today is what can we do to give ourselves a sense of peace.

To start with, you’ve got to understand your first reaction to anything that's outside of the norm is fear.

I felt fear. I felt fear when this was all starting up. I was like, man, what is this going to mean? But then I embraced it and I said, “It’s ok”. “I'm going to be okay.” “We're going to be okay.” Because, after the fear, I let my faith kick in. I let my beliefs kick in. What I did was make a choice; I made a decision to stay calm. I made a decision not to feed the fear; not my fear and not other people's fear. I made the decision to believe that there is a better tomorrow. I made a decision to believe that this is just a moment in time; that it's going to affect everybody and that there's a lesson in it. That we're going to come out stronger and better on the other side of this.

So after I made that decision, relaxed inside. It really did.

The second thing you want to do is to get something you can control. Right now, we're dealing with massive amounts of uncertainty and that is what is freaking everybody out. So, grab hold of something you can control.

I've been on a weight-loss path for about 30 years but have been back on that path recently. And I'm proud to tell you that I am lighter than I have been in probably 15 years. I’m very proud of that. It's giving me a sense of accomplishment. It's giving me a sense of progress.

Find something you can control. Remember in Episode 1, I talked about the circle of control. All you can control is yourself.

So, start to focus on something that you can control. If you've been promising yourself you’re going to read, start to read. If you've been promising yourself to get healthier, start to get healthier. I've been really, really careful about what I'm eating and I've been increasing my activity level and it's been making me feel better because I'm not a victim. I'm not helpless. I can DO something.

The second is to decide to see something better, right? The future. And the third thing is to take control of something in your life that will make a difference. It really does. I'm telling you, just grabbing something, saying, “Hey, I’m going for a walk today” and then doing it makes you feel better. It really does.

The third thing you have to do is to stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about others. Don't put yourself ahead of everyone else. Look for other people that need your help. When you do that you go from being self-centered to becoming a role model, to becoming a leader. What you're doing is feeding other people and giving to them. And you know what happens? Two things. Number one is for a little bit, you forget about yourself, which is awesome. Second, you start to feel better because there are people, I guarantee you, who are going through something a lot worse than you are right now.

So be aware. Have your antennas up looking around for people who just need a smile or an elbow bump right now. I was going to say hug, but social distancing; Social distancing! Let people know they're not alone. Everybody, when faced with uncertainty, will withdraw and feel isolated. Don't let anybody feel isolated around you. Be there for them, please. That's why I'm doing this with you. I want you to know that I am here. I have been on the phone a lot this week helping people get on top of this. If you need help, reach out at [email protected] I will call you up. We will talk and we will figure out a plan to help you get on top of what's going on in your life right now. No charge, no expectations. I care about you. I want you to get on the other side of this stronger and more whole. Why? Because you believe that this is just a moment in time. In two weeks, three weeks, four weeks… we're going to be on the other side of this. Things are going to start to pick up again and you're just going to get going, man. That's one of the best things that you can do and then start taking action. Even if they're just preparing, you're going to take off like a rocket when business starts picking up again. I promise you that. So please, what I want you to do decide to believe today that there's a tomorrow, ok?

The sun WILL come out tomorrow. I can't hold a note in a bucket, but I'm telling you, that's my theme song right now.

Third thing, control. Grab something you can control. Focus on others and then take actions to build the life you want toward where you want to go. Keep going. You've got to assume that it's going to get better. You have to have that mindset and get something so that when this does go away, and it will. You're going to be in such a great place. You're going to be so much further along than all the other people out there running into walls because all they're staring at is the fear. And I hate to think of that.

That's why I'm asking you every day to please share these videos. I want to touch as many lives as I possibly can. I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want them to recognize that it is going to be okay. I want to be the voice of reason. I want to be a beacon of light, so please help me do that. I want to say thank you very much.

So, what did we talk about? We talked about the two questions, right? What am I focused on? What does it mean? We're going to talk about what does it mean more tomorrow. What am I focused on? What does it mean? And then what can I do myself to get that level of certainty now?

With all the uncertainty going around right now, decide to be calm.

Number two, decide to believe; recognize and embrace the fear. Then grab something you can take control of to give you some sense of ownership; to make you feel like you got this. And then see others; help others; serve others. Make those people your focal point and it's going to make a difference. You’ll go from being self-centered or self-focused to becoming a role model. You’ll be others-focused.

The last thing is to take action; to go where you want to go, right? Create a blueprint. Use this little respite to put your pieces in place. Okay?

So now I promised you that if you stuck around to the end of this video, I would give you one thing to help you with your business right now.

The number one thing you’ve got to do is to get out in front of as many of your customers as you possibly can and be their hope and their voice of reason. Let them know it’s going to be okay. Here are the things we're doing to keep you protected in our shop. Offer pickup and delivery. Let them know about your night dropbox so that they can keep their social distancing; make it as easy as you possibly can for them.

The second thing I want to tell you, and this is a bonus, is when you're talking to your customers, don't talk about your warranty and everything like that right now. Talk to them about how you want to make sure their vehicle is going to be reliable and ready for them if and when they need it during this crisis. That's what you want to focus on. Listen, Mr. Customer. Our number one goal here is to make sure that your vehicle is going to be there. I'm telling you, these things are helping my clients right now and they are part of the same crisis situation you are in.

So again, please share this video as many times as you possibly can, to as many people as you possibly can.

God bless.  Have an amazing day and go make a difference in somebody's life today.