http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/getFeed.kickAction?quantity=25 New blogs from Mitchelljs on AutoPro Workshop Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:44:40 GMT Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:44:40 GMT mwillins@advanstar.com (AutoBizGuru) mwillins@advanstar.com (AutoBizGuru) KickApps Feed Builder 2013-01-07T00:44:40Z 105 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/searchEverything.kickAction?as=31710&sortType=recent&tags=null 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Be-Nice/blog/6496823/31710.html [image]   My wife was at a Staff Meeting tonight, which basically means I was on my own. Now, for some people that might mean dinner out and a chance to do whatever they want. For me it meant two slices of left over mushroom quesadilla, U-Verse, and a chance to watch Road House… yet again! If Lesley was home and walked into the family room and Road House was on… again: the conversation would go something like this, “How many times are you going to watch that movie? Don’t you have it memorized by now!” and, I’d probably respond with something clever, like: “As many times as it’s on… And, almost, but not quite yet!” To tell you the truth, I have memorized most, if not all of it. But, there are great lessons to be learned from Sam Elliott’s character and still more to be learned from Patrick Swayze. One of those things is something I learned a long time ago and that’s, “Be nice…” It comes during a scene at the very beginning of the movie where Swayze’s character, Dalton, is sharing what turns out to be both his operational strategy for the bar he’s supposed to reclaim and resurrect and his own personal philosophy: “Be nice… Be nice no matter what happens: no matter what anyone does, no matter what anyone says. Be nice until it’s time not to be nice.” It’s an operational strategy and philosophy I’ve tried to adopt, but honestly, my execution is generally something less than perfect. In fact, it’s something I have trouble with just about every day… Why? Because, it’s hard to be nice when you’re dealing with someone who by nature appears to be anything but nice. It’s hard to be nice to someone who appears to be ‘working you’ every time they show up: nice when in your presence and bordering on malicious when you aren’t there and they’re skulking around in the shadows. There isn’t enough time or ink to tell the whole story here, but I’d be willing to bet if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you know this guy or at least, his type. In fact, if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you’ve probably already had him in your office. “Be nice… “ While he can be absolutely charming when or if he chooses: you can just as quickly and easily find yourself confronted with someone how is condescending, demanding, annoying, confounding, insulting and contradictory – and, as my wife would say, “Those are his GOOD points!” “Be nice…” My attitude may have been poisoned by the email he sent a few weeks ago implying one of our technicians actually sabotaged his vehicle, creating a problem just because he didn’t like working on his vehicle. Or, it could have been his unwillingness to believe me when I tried to tell him that couldn’t be further from the truth: that our technician actually had no problem working on his car. What I should have told him, but didn’t – what I couldn’t tell him – was that the problem our technician had was working with the owner, not with the vehicle! “Be nice…” I’ve tried. But, it’s hard – almost impossible – to be nice to someone who isn’t nice to you. It’s hard to be nice to someone who has insulted you. Or, worse yet, insulted people you respect: people who have earned that respect over a lifetime of service. And, yet, I keep trying. I keep trying even when the veneer of that effort is worn so thin it’s almost become transparent. “Be nice…” I’m giving it one last shot… going over the vehicle one last time and at least attempting to knock every last concern off this guy’s list. I’m going to kill him with kindness… Or, maybe, I’ll just kill him? Who knows… Whatever I do, I’ll be doing it for me and not for him and that’s kind of a shame because he’ll probably read it the wrong way and think it’s all about him and everything is OK. I’ll be nice because that’s who I am: that’s who we are… It’s how we are with just about everyone who comes here. It’s the way we do things: the way I was raised, the only way we know. But, it will be the last time we’ll be nice. Because I think we’ve reached the point it’s finally time not to be so nice!” As the new year begins, I’d like to thank all of you for being “nice” to me. And, while I won’t be contributing here as much as I have in the past, I’ll still be writing (You will be able to find me at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com) about the world in which we live in and the industry we share. So, drop by... and, bring a friend with you when you do! Hope to see you there… If you do stop by, I promise you I’ll be nice! [image]   My wife was at a Staff Meeting tonight, which basically means I was on my own. Now, for some people that might mean dinner out and a chance to do whatever they want. For me it meant two slices of left over mushroom quesadilla, U-Verse, and a chance to watch Road House… yet again! If Lesley was home and walked into the family room and Road House was on… again: the conversation would go something like this, “How many times are you going to watch that movie? Don’t you have it memorized by now!” and, I’d probably respond with something clever, like: “As many times as it’s on… And, almost, but not quite yet!” To tell you the truth, I have memorized most, if not all of it. But, there are great lessons to be learned from Sam Elliott’s character and still more to be learned from Patrick Swayze. One of those things is something I learned a long time ago and that’s, “Be nice…” It comes during a scene at the very beginning of the movie where Swayze’s character, Dalton, is sharing what turns out to be both his operational strategy for the bar he’s supposed to reclaim and resurrect and his own personal philosophy: “Be nice… Be nice no matter what happens: no matter what anyone does, no matter what anyone says. Be nice until it’s time not to be nice.” It’s an operational strategy and philosophy I’ve tried to adopt, but honestly, my execution is generally something less than perfect. In fact, it’s something I have trouble with just about every day… Why? Because, it’s hard to be nice when you’re dealing with someone who by nature appears to be anything but nice. It’s hard to be nice to someone who appears to be ‘working you’ every time they show up: nice when in your presence and bordering on malicious when you aren’t there and they’re skulking around in the shadows. There isn’t enough time or ink to tell the whole story here, but I’d be willing to bet if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you know this guy or at least, his type. In fact, if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you’ve probably already had him in your office. “Be nice… “ While he can be absolutely charming when or if he chooses: you can just as quickly and easily find yourself confronted with someone how is condescending, demanding, annoying, confounding, insulting and contradictory – and, as my wife would say, “Those are his GOOD points!” “Be nice…” My attitude may have been poisoned by the email he sent a few weeks ago implying one of our technicians actually sabotaged his vehicle, creating a problem just because he didn’t like working on his vehicle. Or, it could have been his unwillingness to believe me when I tried to tell him that couldn’t be further from the truth: that our technician actually had no problem working on his car. What I should have told him, but didn’t – what I couldn’t tell him – was that the problem our technician had was working with the owner, not with the vehicle! “Be nice…” I’ve tried. But, it’s hard – almost impossible – to be nice to someone who isn’t nice to you. It’s hard to be nice to someone who has insulted you. Or, worse yet, insulted people you respect: people who have earned that respect over a lifetime of service. And, yet, I keep trying. I keep trying even when the veneer of that effort is worn so thin it’s almost become transparent. “Be nice…” I’m giving it one last shot… going over the vehicle one last time and at least attempting to knock every last concern off this guy’s list. I’m going to kill him with kindness… Or, maybe, I’ll just kill him? Who knows… Whatever I do, I’ll be doing it for me and not for him and that’s kind of a shame because he’ll probably read it the wrong way and think it’s all about him and everything is OK. I’ll be nice because that’s who I am: that’s who we are… It’s how we are with just about everyone who comes here. It’s the way we do things: the way I was raised, the only way we know. But, it will be the last time we’ll be nice. Because I think we’ve reached the point it’s finally time not to be so nice!” As the new year begins, I’d like to thank all of you for being “nice” to me. And, while I won’t be contributing here as much as I have in the past, I’ll still be writing (You will be able to find me at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com) about the world in which we live in and the industry we share. So, drop by... and, bring a friend with you when you do! Hope to see you there… If you do stop by, I promise you I’ll be nice! Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:44:40 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Be-Nice/blog/6496823/31710.html Mitchelljs 2013-01-07T00:44:40Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image]   My wife was at a Staff Meeting tonight, which basically means I was on my own. Now, for some people that might mean dinner out and a chance to do whatever they want. For me it meant two slices of left over mushroom quesadilla, U-Verse, and a chance to watch Road House… yet again! If Lesley was home and walked into the family room and Road House was on… again: the conversation would go something like this, “How many times are you going to watch that movie? Don’t you have it memorized by now!” and, I’d probably respond with something clever, like: “As many times as it’s on… And, almost, but not quite yet!” To tell you the truth, I have memorized most, if not all of it. But, there are great lessons to be learned from Sam Elliott’s character and still more to be learned from Patrick Swayze. One of those things is something I learned a long time ago and that’s, “Be nice…” It comes during a scene at the very beginning of the movie where Swayze’s character, Dalton, is sharing what turns out to be both his operational strategy for the bar he’s supposed to reclaim and resurrect and his own personal philosophy: “Be nice… Be nice no matter what happens: no matter what anyone does, no matter what anyone says. Be nice until it’s time not to be nice.” It’s an operational strategy and philosophy I’ve tried to adopt, but honestly, my execution is generally something less than perfect. In fact, it’s something I have trouble with just about every day… Why? Because, it’s hard to be nice when you’re dealing with someone who by nature appears to be anything but nice. It’s hard to be nice to someone who appears to be ‘working you’ every time they show up: nice when in your presence and bordering on malicious when you aren’t there and they’re skulking around in the shadows. There isn’t enough time or ink to tell the whole story here, but I’d be willing to bet if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you know this guy or at least, his type. In fact, if you’ve been in this business for more than an hour-and-a-half you’ve probably already had him in your office. “Be nice… “ While he can be absolutely charming when or if he chooses: you can just as quickly and easily find yourself confronted with someone how is condescending, demanding, annoying, confounding, insulting and contradictory – and, as my wife would say, “Those are his GOOD points!” “Be nice…” My attitude may have been poisoned by the email he sent a few weeks ago implying one of our technicians actually sabotaged his vehicle, creating a problem just because he didn’t like working on his vehicle. Or, it could have been his unwillingness to believe me when I tried to tell him that couldn’t be further from the truth: that our technician actually had no problem working on his car. What I should have told him, but didn’t – what I couldn’t tell him – was that the problem our technician had was working with the owner, not with the vehicle! “Be nice…” I’ve tried. But, it’s hard – almost impossible – to be nice to someone who isn’t nice to you. It’s hard to be nice to someone who has insulted you. Or, worse yet, insulted people you respect: people who have earned that respect over a lifetime of service. And, yet, I keep trying. I keep trying even when the veneer of that effort is worn so thin it’s almost become transparent. “Be nice…” I’m giving it one last shot… going over the vehicle one last time and at least attempting to knock every last concern off this guy’s list. I’m going to kill him with kindness… Or, maybe, I’ll just kill him? Who knows… Whatever I do, I’ll be doing it for me and not for him and that’s kind of a shame because he’ll probably read it the wrong way and think it’s all about him and everything is OK. I’ll be nice because that’s who I am: that’s who we are… It’s how we are with just about everyone who comes here. It’s the way we do things: the way I was raised, the only way we know. But, it will be the last time we’ll be nice. Because I think we’ve reached the point it’s finally time not to be so nice!” As the new year begins, I’d like to thank all of you for being “nice” to me. And, while I won’t be contributing here as much as I have in the past, I’ll still be writing (You will be able to find me at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com) about the world in which we live in and the industry we share. So, drop by... and, bring a friend with you when you do! Hope to see you there… If you do stop by, I promise you I’ll be nice! annoying, be nice, condescending, confounding, contradictory, dalton, insulting, mitc schneider, mitch schneiders world, motor age, nasty, nice, patrick swayze, road house, rude, sam elliott, trust nonadult false Be Nice... text blog annoying,be nice,condescending,confounding,contradictory,dalton,insulting,mitc schneider,mitch schneiders world,motor age,nasty,nice,patrick swayze,road house,rude,sam elliott,trust 590 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6496823 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Top-Ten-Threats-Yours-and-the-Industry39s-for-2013/blog/6495079/31710.html [image] We're rapidly approaching the end of another year. I don't think there is any question it's a year most of us will be happy to close the book on.  It's been everything a year can be: at least, it has for me and just about everyone I know... Difficult... Stressful... Challenging... Rewarding... Satisfying... Frustrating... Maddening... Impossible...  Choose, E: All of the above I don't know about you, but I for one am ready to start a New Year: new in lots of ways, one of the most important has been the birth of my new blog site: http://mitchschneidersworld.com. It's where you will be able to find me and most of what I write as we move into 2013. I will also be rolling out a new program, something we're calling here at out shop, "First Choice... Buy Anerican!" and you can find out more about that at the: mitchschneidersauto.com website. In the meantime, however, I'd like to ask you a favor as this year comes to an end. I'd like to know what your "Top Ten" list of the greatest threats and challenges you were forced to confront in 2012 OR those you feel you might be forced to confront in 2013. With everything that's gone on in our industry and everything that is going on in our industry a list of the Top Ten problems facing all of us should be much of a problem.  If you show me yours I, I'll show you mine! More than that, I'll compile and aggregate the list and share the results with all of you. All you have to do is be sure to provide a current email address.  Why not just post the results here? Mostly, because there are those among us who will want to know what those Top Ten Threats really are... But, who are unwilling to take the time or invest the energy to come up with a list of their own... Oh, and if you're fortunate enough to have a "short list:" a list with less than ten threats or challenges, send me what you have!  In the meantime, Best Wishes for a Safe, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! And, remember to stay well, take care, make money, have fun and resist the urge to do business with anyone you don't like! There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and I'll bet most anything you don't really need to find out what that reason is! Certainly, not this close to the end of one year and the beginning of a new one!   [image] We're rapidly approaching the end of another year. I don't think there is any question it's a year most of us will be happy to close the book on.  It's been everything a year can be: at least, it has for me and just about everyone I know... Difficult... Stressful... Challenging... Rewarding... Satisfying... Frustrating... Maddening... Impossible...  Choose, E: All of the above I don't know about you, but I for one am ready to start a New Year: new in lots of ways, one of the most important has been the birth of my new blog site: http://mitchschneidersworld.com. It's where you will be able to find me and most of what I write as we move into 2013. I will also be rolling out a new program, something we're calling here at out shop, "First Choice... Buy Anerican!" and you can find out more about that at the: mitchschneidersauto.com website. In the meantime, however, I'd like to ask you a favor as this year comes to an end. I'd like to know what your "Top Ten" list of the greatest threats and challenges you were forced to confront in 2012 OR those you feel you might be forced to confront in 2013. With everything that's gone on in our industry and everything that is going on in our industry a list of the Top Ten problems facing all of us should be much of a problem.  If you show me yours I, I'll show you mine! More than that, I'll compile and aggregate the list and share the results with all of you. All you have to do is be sure to provide a current email address.  Why not just post the results here? Mostly, because there are those among us who will want to know what those Top Ten Threats really are... But, who are unwilling to take the time or invest the energy to come up with a list of their own... Oh, and if you're fortunate enough to have a "short list:" a list with less than ten threats or challenges, send me what you have!  In the meantime, Best Wishes for a Safe, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! And, remember to stay well, take care, make money, have fun and resist the urge to do business with anyone you don't like! There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and I'll bet most anything you don't really need to find out what that reason is! Certainly, not this close to the end of one year and the beginning of a new one!   Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:47:24 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Top-Ten-Threats-Yours-and-the-Industry39s-for-2013/blog/6495079/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-12-31T16:47:24Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image] We're rapidly approaching the end of another year. I don't think there is any question it's a year most of us will be happy to close the book on.  It's been everything a year can be: at least, it has for me and just about everyone I know... Difficult... Stressful... Challenging... Rewarding... Satisfying... Frustrating... Maddening... Impossible...  Choose, E: All of the above I don't know about you, but I for one am ready to start a New Year: new in lots of ways, one of the most important has been the birth of my new blog site: http://mitchschneidersworld.com. It's where you will be able to find me and most of what I write as we move into 2013. I will also be rolling out a new program, something we're calling here at out shop, "First Choice... Buy Anerican!" and you can find out more about that at the: mitchschneidersauto.com website. In the meantime, however, I'd like to ask you a favor as this year comes to an end. I'd like to know what your "Top Ten" list of the greatest threats and challenges you were forced to confront in 2012 OR those you feel you might be forced to confront in 2013. With everything that's gone on in our industry and everything that is going on in our industry a list of the Top Ten problems facing all of us should be much of a problem.  If you show me yours I, I'll show you mine! More than that, I'll compile and aggregate the list and share the results with all of you. All you have to do is be sure to provide a current email address.  Why not just post the results here? Mostly, because there are those among us who will want to know what those Top Ten Threats really are... But, who are unwilling to take the time or invest the energy to come up with a list of their own... Oh, and if you're fortunate enough to have a "short list:" a list with less than ten threats or challenges, send me what you have!  In the meantime, Best Wishes for a Safe, Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! And, remember to stay well, take care, make money, have fun and resist the urge to do business with anyone you don't like! There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and I'll bet most anything you don't really need to find out what that reason is! Certainly, not this close to the end of one year and the beginning of a new one!   2013, challenges, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age nonadult false Top Ten Threats: Yours and the Industry's for 2013 text blog 2013,challenges,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age 516 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6495079 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Out-Of-The-Box/blog/6493271/31710.html My father would talk about a lot of things when I was ‘little’ and rode with him to work. The drive from the South Shore of Long Island to Bensonhurst was formidable enough at five-thirty or six o’clock in the morning, but it was downright brutal heading home regardless of the day or time. It didn’t matter which route you chose either: whether you found yourself sitting in traffic on the Belt Parkway or “parked” on the Long Island Expressway – the ride was one part long: two parts boring. Either way, the radio would eventually be switched off and the first or second long silence would be broken by an equally long period of conversation. One of my Father’s favorite topics was ‘packaging.’[image] I know, it sounded strange to me too at first. But, that didn’t stop him. We would talk about how the packaging was too often a distraction: how an incredibly beautiful package, complete with gift-wrapping and a big bow, might be empty or contain junk, while a plain brown cardboard box might conceal a hidden treasure inside. [image]It was a concept we discussed often; often enough for him to be certain I understood… often enough for me to realize he was talking about more than just gift wrapping: often enough to realize he was really talking about people and human nature. Looking back, I believe he was trying to teach me that what’s inside the package is what’s important and that anything else is either decoration or a distraction. We’ve got a problem with ‘packaging’ in our industry and I’m not sure what, if anything, can be done about it. An argument can be made that we shouldn’t have to do anything about it, but I’m not sure how realistic that kind of an answer really is. You see we have always been a safe haven for outliers and eccentrics, outlaws and non-conformists: the lunatic fringe abandoned by conventional education because we failed to accommodate ourselves to their perception of ‘normal.’ Consequently, it isn’t all that difficult to find a pierced and/or sleeved ASE certified Master Tech (Or, two…) successfully working their way through the industry. It isn’t that hard to find brilliant technicians whose social skills are less than 'elegant' or whose ability to interact with members of the ‘greater society’ is as rough as their ‘packaging’ might imply. Being successful: being effective, despite our appearance, despite the fact we didn’t necessarily do well in class or on an academic track, despite the fact we choose to set ourselves apart from the more polite elements of our culture is a badge some wear proudly; too proudly at times, perhaps. The problem is obvious. Because, we depend upon the patronage of ‘the more polite elements’ of our society for our livelihood, it behooves all of us to demonstrate our professionalism in every way we can and that includes appearance, communication skills, demeanor and technical ability. That doesn’t mean we have to hide who we are. But, it does mean we have to overcome the public perception many of us are still held captive by: especially, when there are those of us who still revel in the impact their appearance or demeanor may have on those who would be shocked by it! Unfortunately, the sad truth is not everyone understands packaging the way my father did. Not everyone sees the difference between content and decoration as clearly, either. And, that means elevating the industry is a shared responsibility: a journey we must all take together.[image] I think it starts with an understanding of what it means to be a professional: what the perception is, what the expectations are. Then, we need to deliver on the promises implied by the title. We need to understand that no one will ever know who we are, how good we are at what we do or the contribution we make to the culture we serve unless or until we have the opportunity to demonstrate any of the above. That’s right, no one will care about the content – the quality of the product – unless the package it comes in is considered attractive or desirable enough to open. In a way, I guess that means we all have to think out of the box in order to have anyone even consider what’s inside that box… No matter how exceptional that hidden treasure might be.   NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2013, you'll find me at: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com... If you make the effort to visit I promise to make it time well spent! [image] My father would talk about a lot of things when I was ‘little’ and rode with him to work. The drive from the South Shore of Long Island to Bensonhurst was formidable enough at five-thirty or six o’clock in the morning, but it was downright brutal heading home regardless of the day or time. It didn’t matter which route you chose either: whether you found yourself sitting in traffic on the Belt Parkway or “parked” on the Long Island Expressway – the ride was one part long: two parts boring. Either way, the radio would eventually be switched off and the first or second long silence would be broken by an equally long period of conversation. One of my Father’s favorite topics was ‘packaging.’[image] I know, it sounded strange to me too at first. But, that didn’t stop him. We would talk about how the packaging was too often a distraction: how an incredibly beautiful package, complete with gift-wrapping and a big bow, might be empty or contain junk, while a plain brown cardboard box might conceal a hidden treasure inside. [image]It was a concept we discussed often; often enough for him to be certain I understood… often enough for me to realize he was talking about more than just gift wrapping: often enough to realize he was really talking about people and human nature. Looking back, I believe he was trying to teach me that what’s inside the package is what’s important and that anything else is either decoration or a distraction. We’ve got a problem with ‘packaging’ in our industry and I’m not sure what, if anything, can be done about it. An argument can be made that we shouldn’t have to do anything about it, but I’m not sure how realistic that kind of an answer really is. You see we have always been a safe haven for outliers and eccentrics, outlaws and non-conformists: the lunatic fringe abandoned by conventional education because we failed to accommodate ourselves to their perception of ‘normal.’ Consequently, it isn’t all that difficult to find a pierced and/or sleeved ASE certified Master Tech (Or, two…) successfully working their way through the industry. It isn’t that hard to find brilliant technicians whose social skills are less than 'elegant' or whose ability to interact with members of the ‘greater society’ is as rough as their ‘packaging’ might imply. Being successful: being effective, despite our appearance, despite the fact we didn’t necessarily do well in class or on an academic track, despite the fact we choose to set ourselves apart from the more polite elements of our culture is a badge some wear proudly; too proudly at times, perhaps. The problem is obvious. Because, we depend upon the patronage of ‘the more polite elements’ of our society for our livelihood, it behooves all of us to demonstrate our professionalism in every way we can and that includes appearance, communication skills, demeanor and technical ability. That doesn’t mean we have to hide who we are. But, it does mean we have to overcome the public perception many of us are still held captive by: especially, when there are those of us who still revel in the impact their appearance or demeanor may have on those who would be shocked by it! Unfortunately, the sad truth is not everyone understands packaging the way my father did. Not everyone sees the difference between content and decoration as clearly, either. And, that means elevating the industry is a shared responsibility: a journey we must all take together.[image] I think it starts with an understanding of what it means to be a professional: what the perception is, what the expectations are. Then, we need to deliver on the promises implied by the title. We need to understand that no one will ever know who we are, how good we are at what we do or the contribution we make to the culture we serve unless or until we have the opportunity to demonstrate any of the above. That’s right, no one will care about the content – the quality of the product – unless the package it comes in is considered attractive or desirable enough to open. In a way, I guess that means we all have to think out of the box in order to have anyone even consider what’s inside that box… No matter how exceptional that hidden treasure might be.   NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2013, you'll find me at: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com... If you make the effort to visit I promise to make it time well spent! [image] Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:06:53 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Out-Of-The-Box/blog/6493271/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-12-24T06:06:53Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop My father would talk about a lot of things when I was ‘little’ and rode with him to work. The drive from the South Shore of Long Island to Bensonhurst was formidable enough at five-thirty or six o’clock in the morning, but it was downright brutal heading home regardless of the day or time. It didn’t matter which route you chose either: whether you found yourself sitting in traffic on the Belt Parkway or “parked” on the Long Island Expressway – the ride was one part long: two parts boring. Either way, the radio would eventually be switched off and the first or second long silence would be broken by an equally long period of conversation. One of my Father’s favorite topics was ‘packaging.’[image] I know, it sounded strange to me too at first. But, that didn’t stop him. We would talk about how the packaging was too often a distraction: how an incredibly beautiful package, complete with gift-wrapping and a big bow, might be empty or contain junk, while a plain brown cardboard box might conceal a hidden treasure inside. [image]It was a concept we discussed often; often enough for him to be certain I understood… often enough for me to realize he was talking about more than just gift wrapping: often enough to realize he was really talking about people and human nature. Looking back, I believe he was trying to teach me that what’s inside the package is what’s important and that anything else is either decoration or a distraction. We’ve got a problem with ‘packaging’ in our industry and I’m not sure what, if anything, can be done about it. An argument can be made that we shouldn’t have to do anything about it, but I’m not sure how realistic that kind of an answer really is. You see we have always been a safe haven for outliers and eccentrics, outlaws and non-conformists: the lunatic fringe abandoned by conventional education because we failed to accommodate ourselves to their perception of ‘normal.’ Consequently, it isn’t all that difficult to find a pierced and/or sleeved ASE certified Master Tech (Or, two…) successfully working their way through the industry. It isn’t that hard to find brilliant technicians whose social skills are less than 'elegant' or whose ability to interact with members of the ‘greater society’ is as rough as their ‘packaging’ might imply. Being successful: being effective, despite our appearance, despite the fact we didn’t necessarily do well in class or on an academic track, despite the fact we choose to set ourselves apart from the more polite elements of our culture is a badge some wear proudly; too proudly at times, perhaps. The problem is obvious. Because, we depend upon the patronage of ‘the more polite elements’ of our society for our livelihood, it behooves all of us to demonstrate our professionalism in every way we can and that includes appearance, communication skills, demeanor and technical ability. That doesn’t mean we have to hide who we are. But, it does mean we have to overcome the public perception many of us are still held captive by: especially, when there are those of us who still revel in the impact their appearance or demeanor may have on those who would be shocked by it! Unfortunately, the sad truth is not everyone understands packaging the way my father did. Not everyone sees the difference between content and decoration as clearly, either. And, that means elevating the industry is a shared responsibility: a journey we must all take together.[image] I think it starts with an understanding of what it means to be a professional: what the perception is, what the expectations are. Then, we need to deliver on the promises implied by the title. We need to understand that no one will ever know who we are, how good we are at what we do or the contribution we make to the culture we serve unless or until we have the opportunity to demonstrate any of the above. That’s right, no one will care about the content – the quality of the product – unless the package it comes in is considered attractive or desirable enough to open. In a way, I guess that means we all have to think out of the box in order to have anyone even consider what’s inside that box… No matter how exceptional that hidden treasure might be.   NOTE: Beginning January 1, 2013, you'll find me at: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com... If you make the effort to visit I promise to make it time well spent! [image] box, content, expectations, impressions, mitch, motor age, of, out, packaging, perception, schneider's, stereotype, stygma, the, value, world nonadult false Out Of The Box... text blog box,content,expectations,impressions,mitch,motor age,of,out,packaging,perception,schneider's,stereotype,stygma,the,value,world 382 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6493271 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Regrets/blog/6485449/31710.html I just finished posting this piece on my new personal blog site [image]: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com. It was written a while ago and I buried it. I purposely put it in a folder that doesn't have anything to do with anything even remotely related to the writing I do. I think my subconscious was working hard to ensure my conscious mind wouldn't share publically, something so personal and private. You can see who won... I think that win or loss, depending on how you look at it, was predicated on the belief that as human beings there are things we actually need to share: must share, no matter how dark, no matter how deep. I believe we need to do this for two reasons (Probably, more...). The first is to see if there is anyone out there who has stood on the same coals and walked through the same fire. The second is to share the pain: to help make your burden somehow lighter or to help someone else manage theirs. In this case, it may be a little of both. What strikes me as odd is the fact it demanded to be shared on the anniversary of my Mother's passing. What seem inexorably strange is that it came after a particularly moving religious service that I wasn't even supposed to attend. It has to do with coming to the end of a life realizing that while you could have done things differently, it's unlikely that you could have done them better. And, it was yet another lesson I learned while sitting at my Father's feet. I don’t know if it makes any sense to say, “Hope you enjoy it…” because “enjoy” is not a word you would expect to use in connection with a piece like this. I guess it would make more sense to say, “I hope you find this meaningful…” or, something like that. However it might be better said, I do hope you will find it useful in some way. If you do, consider it a gift: a gift from my father. In the meantime, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what the reason is! I just finished posting this piece on my new personal blog site [image]: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com. It was written a while ago and I buried it. I purposely put it in a folder that doesn't have anything to do with anything even remotely related to the writing I do. I think my subconscious was working hard to ensure my conscious mind wouldn't share publically, something so personal and private. You can see who won... I think that win or loss, depending on how you look at it, was predicated on the belief that as human beings there are things we actually need to share: must share, no matter how dark, no matter how deep. I believe we need to do this for two reasons (Probably, more...). The first is to see if there is anyone out there who has stood on the same coals and walked through the same fire. The second is to share the pain: to help make your burden somehow lighter or to help someone else manage theirs. In this case, it may be a little of both. What strikes me as odd is the fact it demanded to be shared on the anniversary of my Mother's passing. What seem inexorably strange is that it came after a particularly moving religious service that I wasn't even supposed to attend. It has to do with coming to the end of a life realizing that while you could have done things differently, it's unlikely that you could have done them better. And, it was yet another lesson I learned while sitting at my Father's feet. I don’t know if it makes any sense to say, “Hope you enjoy it…” because “enjoy” is not a word you would expect to use in connection with a piece like this. I guess it would make more sense to say, “I hope you find this meaningful…” or, something like that. However it might be better said, I do hope you will find it useful in some way. If you do, consider it a gift: a gift from my father. In the meantime, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what the reason is! Sun, 09 Dec 2012 06:58:10 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Regrets/blog/6485449/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-12-09T06:58:10Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I just finished posting this piece on my new personal blog site [image]: http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com. It was written a while ago and I buried it. I purposely put it in a folder that doesn't have anything to do with anything even remotely related to the writing I do. I think my subconscious was working hard to ensure my conscious mind wouldn't share publically, something so personal and private. You can see who won... I think that win or loss, depending on how you look at it, was predicated on the belief that as human beings there are things we actually need to share: must share, no matter how dark, no matter how deep. I believe we need to do this for two reasons (Probably, more...). The first is to see if there is anyone out there who has stood on the same coals and walked through the same fire. The second is to share the pain: to help make your burden somehow lighter or to help someone else manage theirs. In this case, it may be a little of both. What strikes me as odd is the fact it demanded to be shared on the anniversary of my Mother's passing. What seem inexorably strange is that it came after a particularly moving religious service that I wasn't even supposed to attend. It has to do with coming to the end of a life realizing that while you could have done things differently, it's unlikely that you could have done them better. And, it was yet another lesson I learned while sitting at my Father's feet. I don’t know if it makes any sense to say, “Hope you enjoy it…” because “enjoy” is not a word you would expect to use in connection with a piece like this. I guess it would make more sense to say, “I hope you find this meaningful…” or, something like that. However it might be better said, I do hope you will find it useful in some way. If you do, consider it a gift: a gift from my father. In the meantime, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what the reason is! compassion, contentment, courage, generosity, mitc schneider, mitch schneiders world, motor age, no regrets, regret, satisfaction nonadult false No Regrets... text blog compassion,contentment,courage,generosity,mitc schneider,mitch schneiders world,motor age,no regrets,regret,satisfaction 459 1 5.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6485449 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_First-Choice/blog/6483689/31710.html The idea that we can actually have an impact on our own destiny is foreign to most shop owners. I fear the majority really believe they are helpless, the victim of forces beyond and outside their immediate control. It's no wonder... The forces that toss most of us around in the course of a lifetime spent toiling in this industry are formidable: seemingly beyond our ability to comprehend. But, I don't believe for a moment that is because we are unable to understand them or incapable of that level of awareness. I believe this lack of understanding and/or awareness is the result of two powerful factors, distraction and exhaustion. The facts would suggest we're too busy trying to survive to consider what's going on in the world outside the asylum and if we do find the time to consider such things, we're almost always pulled back into the chaos before we've a chance to actually process any of the information we've been exposed to. Having your professional, emotional or psychological growth stunted by forces that at least appear to be outside the limits of your own control are frustrating enough. But, ultimately realizing that you are complicit in allowing the torture to continue is maddening: a scene straight out of "The Matrix!" The most painful part of all this is the realization that we are the dog continually being whipped around by the tail! The problem is self-denial: our failure to recognize that things can change - that we can change them. Growing that awareness has been the central focus of just about everything I've done throughout my career, both as an automotive service professional and as a trade journalist. Recently, I've been writing about the responsibility that we share as automotive service professionals, business owners and as Americans - for those of you reading this who are Americans. I've suggested that we can have a direct impact on the nation's economy and at the same time practice those small steps necessary to grow confidence, a powerful and positive self-image and a sense of our own power and influence. Sounds impressive, but it isn't. What it is, is long over-due! As a community, we complain about the way things are... But, things are the way they are because we allow them to remain that way. Well, here is something every one of us can do... Something the entire nation will benefit from if we have the courage, the disciple and the determination to make it happen. Some of us are committed to ensuring our tomorrows are not filled with the same struggles as our yesterdays. Some of will take the opportunity to try something: to do something different. If you'd like an opportunity to look at at least one of those "something's," look here... http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com/?p=842. You might have to cut and paste that address into your browser. But, please know that I've tried to make what's waiting for you there worthwhile. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don't do business with anyone you don't like. There is probably a good reason you don't like 'em, and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   The idea that we can actually have an impact on our own destiny is foreign to most shop owners. I fear the majority really believe they are helpless, the victim of forces beyond and outside their immediate control. It's no wonder... The forces that toss most of us around in the course of a lifetime spent toiling in this industry are formidable: seemingly beyond our ability to comprehend. But, I don't believe for a moment that is because we are unable to understand them or incapable of that level of awareness. I believe this lack of understanding and/or awareness is the result of two powerful factors, distraction and exhaustion. The facts would suggest we're too busy trying to survive to consider what's going on in the world outside the asylum and if we do find the time to consider such things, we're almost always pulled back into the chaos before we've a chance to actually process any of the information we've been exposed to. Having your professional, emotional or psychological growth stunted by forces that at least appear to be outside the limits of your own control are frustrating enough. But, ultimately realizing that you are complicit in allowing the torture to continue is maddening: a scene straight out of "The Matrix!" The most painful part of all this is the realization that we are the dog continually being whipped around by the tail! The problem is self-denial: our failure to recognize that things can change - that we can change them. Growing that awareness has been the central focus of just about everything I've done throughout my career, both as an automotive service professional and as a trade journalist. Recently, I've been writing about the responsibility that we share as automotive service professionals, business owners and as Americans - for those of you reading this who are Americans. I've suggested that we can have a direct impact on the nation's economy and at the same time practice those small steps necessary to grow confidence, a powerful and positive self-image and a sense of our own power and influence. Sounds impressive, but it isn't. What it is, is long over-due! As a community, we complain about the way things are... But, things are the way they are because we allow them to remain that way. Well, here is something every one of us can do... Something the entire nation will benefit from if we have the courage, the disciple and the determination to make it happen. Some of us are committed to ensuring our tomorrows are not filled with the same struggles as our yesterdays. Some of will take the opportunity to try something: to do something different. If you'd like an opportunity to look at at least one of those "something's," look here... http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com/?p=842. You might have to cut and paste that address into your browser. But, please know that I've tried to make what's waiting for you there worthwhile. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don't do business with anyone you don't like. There is probably a good reason you don't like 'em, and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:04:47 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_First-Choice/blog/6483689/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-12-05T01:04:47Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop The idea that we can actually have an impact on our own destiny is foreign to most shop owners. I fear the majority really believe they are helpless, the victim of forces beyond and outside their immediate control. It's no wonder... The forces that toss most of us around in the course of a lifetime spent toiling in this industry are formidable: seemingly beyond our ability to comprehend. But, I don't believe for a moment that is because we are unable to understand them or incapable of that level of awareness. I believe this lack of understanding and/or awareness is the result of two powerful factors, distraction and exhaustion. The facts would suggest we're too busy trying to survive to consider what's going on in the world outside the asylum and if we do find the time to consider such things, we're almost always pulled back into the chaos before we've a chance to actually process any of the information we've been exposed to. Having your professional, emotional or psychological growth stunted by forces that at least appear to be outside the limits of your own control are frustrating enough. But, ultimately realizing that you are complicit in allowing the torture to continue is maddening: a scene straight out of "The Matrix!" The most painful part of all this is the realization that we are the dog continually being whipped around by the tail! The problem is self-denial: our failure to recognize that things can change - that we can change them. Growing that awareness has been the central focus of just about everything I've done throughout my career, both as an automotive service professional and as a trade journalist. Recently, I've been writing about the responsibility that we share as automotive service professionals, business owners and as Americans - for those of you reading this who are Americans. I've suggested that we can have a direct impact on the nation's economy and at the same time practice those small steps necessary to grow confidence, a powerful and positive self-image and a sense of our own power and influence. Sounds impressive, but it isn't. What it is, is long over-due! As a community, we complain about the way things are... But, things are the way they are because we allow them to remain that way. Well, here is something every one of us can do... Something the entire nation will benefit from if we have the courage, the disciple and the determination to make it happen. Some of us are committed to ensuring our tomorrows are not filled with the same struggles as our yesterdays. Some of will take the opportunity to try something: to do something different. If you'd like an opportunity to look at at least one of those "something's," look here... http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com/?p=842. You might have to cut and paste that address into your browser. But, please know that I've tried to make what's waiting for you there worthwhile. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don't do business with anyone you don't like. There is probably a good reason you don't like 'em, and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   destiny, determination, discipline, independence, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, power, schneider's world nonadult false First Choice... text blog destiny,determination,discipline,independence,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,power,schneider's world 492 2 5.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6483689 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_An-Idea-On-Fire/blog/6478715/31710.html I’ve been really focused on the notion that we – all of us – could actually make a difference if we chose to: that if successful we could actually bring some of the manufacturing jobs that have left the country back to our shores. It isn’t something I just thought of. I didn’t come up with this notion yesterday or the day before. It’s something I’ve been working on since early September, maybe even longer: something I’ve been talking with industry leaders about for some time. But, as clear as this may sometimes seem to me, there are other times it’s felt as if something is missing. It’s felt as if I forgot something… something important… something I just couldn’t put my finger on. I figured out what that something was this evening a few minutes after I walked through the front door, turned on the lights and laid my computer bag down on the floor in my office. I figured it out a few seconds after I turned the television on and sat down to wait for my wife so we could get dinner started. That something was the reason these manufactured goods are so much less expensive than the majority of products manufactured here. [image]It came to me in a flash – a flash of fire as images of the garment factory fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, filled the screen. It came to me as I saw the bodies wrapped in white sheets lined up on the curb: one hundred and twelve witnesses to greed, avarice and exploitation.     [image]   These manufactured goods are less expensive because women and children are being paid twenty-one cents a day to work in conditions we outlawed over a hundred years ago: dangerous, overcrowded and unsafe conditions we would no longer tolerate. It came to me through images that were seared into my brain when I read Upton Sinclair’s, “The Jungle,” for the first time; and, from the stories my Grandmother told me about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire – a fire that took so many of her friends and would have taken her had she been at work that day. [image]You see what we appear to have forgotten is that only one of the players in this game of “Price & Cost” is inhibited by any rules at all or constrained by conscience. What we seem to have forgotten is that our products are more expensive because we no longer allow children to make them: we no longer allow dangerous, unsanitary or unhealthy working conditions, nor do we allow our workers to be exploited, at least not at that level. And, while I’m sure there are those among us who would love to see these regulations “relaxed,” relaxing regulations like the ones we’ve put in place to protect our workers: our wives, mothers, sisters, brothers and children, is not what civilized people do! Certainly, bringing American manufacturing jobs home to America is something we can all aspire to: something compelling to believe in. But, there is a more powerful reason to buy American and bring American manufacturing home and that reason is morality. Allowing other people, other human beings, to be exploited – to suffer and sometimes to die, so that someone, somewhere can make a few dollars more buying cheap and selling dear or so that you or I can save a buck on a shirt or a pair of pants, a pair of tennis shoes, a motor mount or a bearing is unconscionable: it's just plain wrong, especially because we would never allow it to happen here again. Sure, you can make the argument that twenty-one cents a day is the difference between living and dying in Bangladesh, and more than a handful of other countries. But, I wonder if those individuals who have lost children or parents, brothers or sisters, in this tragedy and all the tragedies we never hear of would approve or agree.[image] There are lots of reasons to bring American manufacturing and American manufacturing jobs home and not all of them are selfish or self-serving. And, if we can’t bring these jobs home let’s at least ensure the same rules apply to everyone: rules that ensure the same kind of safeguards we fought for and insist upon for ourselves. Let’s bring these jobs home at least until the playing field is a little more even and working conditions there are at least a little closer to the conditions we enjoy here. And, if are able to do that I’ll bet the difference in cost and quality between what we build here and what’s built just about anywhere else will shrink if not evaporate altogether… And, until that happens let’s do whatever we can to work with our suppliers and their manufacturers to support the companies and the communities that have supported us. Let’s ask our suppliers and their manufacturers to help us lower the cost and make goods that are manufactured here a bit more competitive and let’s you and I increase their value by increasing the length of time and mileage we’re willing to guarantee them. I hope you’ll take a moment to at least consider this idea. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like… There’s probably a really good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! Thanks, Mitch I’ve been really focused on the notion that we – all of us – could actually make a difference if we chose to: that if successful we could actually bring some of the manufacturing jobs that have left the country back to our shores. It isn’t something I just thought of. I didn’t come up with this notion yesterday or the day before. It’s something I’ve been working on since early September, maybe even longer: something I’ve been talking with industry leaders about for some time. But, as clear as this may sometimes seem to me, there are other times it’s felt as if something is missing. It’s felt as if I forgot something… something important… something I just couldn’t put my finger on. I figured out what that something was this evening a few minutes after I walked through the front door, turned on the lights and laid my computer bag down on the floor in my office. I figured it out a few seconds after I turned the television on and sat down to wait for my wife so we could get dinner started. That something was the reason these manufactured goods are so much less expensive than the majority of products manufactured here. [image]It came to me in a flash – a flash of fire as images of the garment factory fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, filled the screen. It came to me as I saw the bodies wrapped in white sheets lined up on the curb: one hundred and twelve witnesses to greed, avarice and exploitation.     [image]   These manufactured goods are less expensive because women and children are being paid twenty-one cents a day to work in conditions we outlawed over a hundred years ago: dangerous, overcrowded and unsafe conditions we would no longer tolerate. It came to me through images that were seared into my brain when I read Upton Sinclair’s, “The Jungle,” for the first time; and, from the stories my Grandmother told me about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire – a fire that took so many of her friends and would have taken her had she been at work that day. [image]You see what we appear to have forgotten is that only one of the players in this game of “Price & Cost” is inhibited by any rules at all or constrained by conscience. What we seem to have forgotten is that our products are more expensive because we no longer allow children to make them: we no longer allow dangerous, unsanitary or unhealthy working conditions, nor do we allow our workers to be exploited, at least not at that level. And, while I’m sure there are those among us who would love to see these regulations “relaxed,” relaxing regulations like the ones we’ve put in place to protect our workers: our wives, mothers, sisters, brothers and children, is not what civilized people do! Certainly, bringing American manufacturing jobs home to America is something we can all aspire to: something compelling to believe in. But, there is a more powerful reason to buy American and bring American manufacturing home and that reason is morality. Allowing other people, other human beings, to be exploited – to suffer and sometimes to die, so that someone, somewhere can make a few dollars more buying cheap and selling dear or so that you or I can save a buck on a shirt or a pair of pants, a pair of tennis shoes, a motor mount or a bearing is unconscionable: it's just plain wrong, especially because we would never allow it to happen here again. Sure, you can make the argument that twenty-one cents a day is the difference between living and dying in Bangladesh, and more than a handful of other countries. But, I wonder if those individuals who have lost children or parents, brothers or sisters, in this tragedy and all the tragedies we never hear of would approve or agree.[image] There are lots of reasons to bring American manufacturing and American manufacturing jobs home and not all of them are selfish or self-serving. And, if we can’t bring these jobs home let’s at least ensure the same rules apply to everyone: rules that ensure the same kind of safeguards we fought for and insist upon for ourselves. Let’s bring these jobs home at least until the playing field is a little more even and working conditions there are at least a little closer to the conditions we enjoy here. And, if are able to do that I’ll bet the difference in cost and quality between what we build here and what’s built just about anywhere else will shrink if not evaporate altogether… And, until that happens let’s do whatever we can to work with our suppliers and their manufacturers to support the companies and the communities that have supported us. Let’s ask our suppliers and their manufacturers to help us lower the cost and make goods that are manufactured here a bit more competitive and let’s you and I increase their value by increasing the length of time and mileage we’re willing to guarantee them. I hope you’ll take a moment to at least consider this idea. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like… There’s probably a really good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! Thanks, Mitch Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:25:34 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_An-Idea-On-Fire/blog/6478715/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-11-27T06:25:34Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I’ve been really focused on the notion that we – all of us – could actually make a difference if we chose to: that if successful we could actually bring some of the manufacturing jobs that have left the country back to our shores. It isn’t something I just thought of. I didn’t come up with this notion yesterday or the day before. It’s something I’ve been working on since early September, maybe even longer: something I’ve been talking with industry leaders about for some time. But, as clear as this may sometimes seem to me, there are other times it’s felt as if something is missing. It’s felt as if I forgot something… something important… something I just couldn’t put my finger on. I figured out what that something was this evening a few minutes after I walked through the front door, turned on the lights and laid my computer bag down on the floor in my office. I figured it out a few seconds after I turned the television on and sat down to wait for my wife so we could get dinner started. That something was the reason these manufactured goods are so much less expensive than the majority of products manufactured here. [image]It came to me in a flash – a flash of fire as images of the garment factory fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, filled the screen. It came to me as I saw the bodies wrapped in white sheets lined up on the curb: one hundred and twelve witnesses to greed, avarice and exploitation.     [image]   These manufactured goods are less expensive because women and children are being paid twenty-one cents a day to work in conditions we outlawed over a hundred years ago: dangerous, overcrowded and unsafe conditions we would no longer tolerate. It came to me through images that were seared into my brain when I read Upton Sinclair’s, “The Jungle,” for the first time; and, from the stories my Grandmother told me about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire – a fire that took so many of her friends and would have taken her had she been at work that day. [image]You see what we appear to have forgotten is that only one of the players in this game of “Price & Cost” is inhibited by any rules at all or constrained by conscience. What we seem to have forgotten is that our products are more expensive because we no longer allow children to make them: we no longer allow dangerous, unsanitary or unhealthy working conditions, nor do we allow our workers to be exploited, at least not at that level. And, while I’m sure there are those among us who would love to see these regulations “relaxed,” relaxing regulations like the ones we’ve put in place to protect our workers: our wives, mothers, sisters, brothers and children, is not what civilized people do! Certainly, bringing American manufacturing jobs home to America is something we can all aspire to: something compelling to believe in. But, there is a more powerful reason to buy American and bring American manufacturing home and that reason is morality. Allowing other people, other human beings, to be exploited – to suffer and sometimes to die, so that someone, somewhere can make a few dollars more buying cheap and selling dear or so that you or I can save a buck on a shirt or a pair of pants, a pair of tennis shoes, a motor mount or a bearing is unconscionable: it's just plain wrong, especially because we would never allow it to happen here again. Sure, you can make the argument that twenty-one cents a day is the difference between living and dying in Bangladesh, and more than a handful of other countries. But, I wonder if those individuals who have lost children or parents, brothers or sisters, in this tragedy and all the tragedies we never hear of would approve or agree.[image] There are lots of reasons to bring American manufacturing and American manufacturing jobs home and not all of them are selfish or self-serving. And, if we can’t bring these jobs home let’s at least ensure the same rules apply to everyone: rules that ensure the same kind of safeguards we fought for and insist upon for ourselves. Let’s bring these jobs home at least until the playing field is a little more even and working conditions there are at least a little closer to the conditions we enjoy here. And, if are able to do that I’ll bet the difference in cost and quality between what we build here and what’s built just about anywhere else will shrink if not evaporate altogether… And, until that happens let’s do whatever we can to work with our suppliers and their manufacturers to support the companies and the communities that have supported us. Let’s ask our suppliers and their manufacturers to help us lower the cost and make goods that are manufactured here a bit more competitive and let’s you and I increase their value by increasing the length of time and mileage we’re willing to guarantee them. I hope you’ll take a moment to at least consider this idea. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like… There’s probably a really good reason you don’t like ‘em and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! Thanks, Mitch cheap, compelling, courage, dramatic, exploitation, fear, fire, manufacturer, mitch schneider, mitch schneiders world, morality, motor age, purpose, responsibility, vision nonadult false An Idea On Fire... text blog cheap,compelling,courage,dramatic,exploitation,fear,fire,manufacturer,mitch schneider,mitch schneiders world,morality,motor age,purpose,responsibility,vision 547 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6478715 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Made-Where/blog/6474405/31710.html  [image]       I don’t know about you, but I’m long past ‘weary’ when it comes to all this talk about the economy we’re forced to endure as our leaders – and, would-be leaders – drone on about what it’s going to take to ‘fix it.’ If anyone really had an answer the economy would be fixed by now. Instead, it’s all starting to sound like the teacher in the old Charlie Brown specials: the "whaw, whaw, whaw..."  Instead of substance and success, it’s all posturing and pontificating. It is especially trying in the middle of the long recovery we are experiencing and just plain painful as we work our way through another election cycle. If you’re anything like I am, you’ve already made the decision to turn it off and tune it out. The only problem is… I can’t. I can’t just turn “it” off. My brain won’t let me. Not without substituting something in its place and once these clowns started talking about how broken the economy is my convoluted mind began working on “the fix.” A bit presumptuous because I’m no world-class economist, I’ll agree. But, I’m not an automotive engineer either and I’ve still managed a long and relatively successful career built around the service, maintenance and repair of a host of vehicles I didn’t have the background or education to design. If it was broken and found its way to me it almost always left in better shape than when it arrived. It had to because I refused to quit until I had a solution! Now, the economy is broken and here’s the connection: Fixing stuff is what we do! So, is taking a shot at fixing the economy really as much of a stretch as it may seem? Somewhere in the back of my mind it isn’t. In fact, it’s obvious… Apply the same skills and abilities that helped make us relatively good problem solvers and then get out there and do something! So, here it is… “The Solution…” or at least a solution, according to Mitch! It bubbled to the surface while listening to a short podcast by Robert Reich, entitled: “Whose Got The Right Plan To Boost The Economy?” (Number 16,  recorded 9-12-12) Actually, it was something I’ve been thinking about since American manufacturing first started migrating overseas. [image]Interestingly enough, both Reich and I have come to the same conclusion. Both of us believe the key to our economic future is the return of American manufacturing jobs with salaries high enough to allow American workers to purchase the products they are ultimately and intimately involved in creating. According to Reich, the purchasing power of our middle class has been shrinking for the past thirty years – a period of time that spans the leadership of both parties – and stagnant for the past eight. Consequently, the problem our economy is facing isn’t a “Supply Side” problem, according to Reich. It’s a “Demand Side” problem, with the return of a strong manufacturing base as its solution. I agree… But, just agreeing doesn’t necessarily provide a workable solution and here is where you, me and the Automotive Aftermarket all come together to provide a solution I not only believe can work, but one that will work if presented intelligently, supported properly and promoted aggressively! It all came together when our search for a new and more powerful marketing tool at the shop collided with Robert Reich's podcast... As some of you may have already discovered, finding and executing that “killer” marketing tool isn’t always that easy. So, I started by re-examining everything we do and when I got to warranty, I paused for a moment. After all, what more can you do when you already offer a 2-year/24,000 mile warrant: would a longer warranty really be the marketing edge I was looking for? And, then it came to me – an opportunity far more compelling than something ‘just’ for us and here it is. It starts with two questions: First, when it comes to quality of workmanship, productivity or the ability to innovate, is there anyone out there who really believes anyone in the world can compete a trained, educated, involved and highly motivated American factory worker when that factory worker is given the opportunity to compete? [image]I don’t… Second, is there anyone out there who really believes we can’t compete when it comes to quality of product, workmanship, innovation or design: especially, in a Global Economy? Is there anyone who really believes that our manufacturing capability is somehow less than world-class if or when our workers are allowed the opportunity to compete? So, where is the disconnect? The disconnect is price. Or, at least, that’s what everyone keeps telling us. American workers are just too expensive: expensive enough to make American products too expensive. That’s why everything has moved overseas and that’s why the purchasing power of the American middle-class – the only economic engine capable of restoring or sustaining the economy we once knew – has moved with it! Well, here’s a way… a way our segment of the aftermarket can help bring it back! We can demand products that are made here: manufactured or at least assembled in the United States. Quality products made in America by American workers! [image]Will those parts cost a few bucks more? I’m pretty sure they will, but the only way things are going to change is if we change them and the only way we can change them is by getting directly involved! A number of aftermarket companies have moved at least some of their production capacity overseas for what must what seem like obvious reasons. I want them to bring at least a portion of that capacity home! I don’t know about you, but my experience with a number of ‘off-shore’ products has been less than stellar anyway. Realistically, the choice is clear: How many of you would choose a part made outside the United States over one made in Texas or Minnesota, Wisconsin or Wyoming, California or Colorado, New York or New Jersey, Alabama or Tennessee? Not many, I’ll bet. So, here is what I propose: If you are a manufacturer, give me a break! No, really, give me a break on the parts that are “Made in the USA.”[image] Give me a break on the parts that are made here and let me know what that break is: how much you are willing to sacrifice. It doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a point or two… Just enough to let me know you’d like to see manufacturing return to our shores as much as I would! Let me know and I’ll do whatever I can to see that every serious and responsible shop owner in the country is willing to sacrifice with you: willing to help bring those jobs home as well! If you are a Jobber or Warehouse Distributor, don’t just pass that discount through… Match it! Match it or at least contribute to it and I’ll contribute with you. I’ll match that discount and offer a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty on ANY part manufactured or assembled within our borders and I will promote a program like this actively and aggressively anywhere and everywhere I can. Why? Because, I believe Americans would pay a couple of dollars more for a part that was made here in the United States by a company employing workers who live here in the United States, spending their paychecks and paying taxes on other things made here that will grow the economy and ultimately benefit us all! Unemployment is high: American factory workers want to get back to work and our factories are under capacity! Shipping costs continue to rise causing the difference in cost that exists between foreign products brought here and those Made in America to become less and less of a competitive factor. American consumers would rather buy American products: or, at least, that’s what they say and I think now is as good a time as any to put them to the test! We all want the economy to recover and the recession to end and here is something we can all do to move that process forward. It’s pretty simple really… If you’re an Aftermarket Manufacturer, give me parts that are made in the United States by American workers. Help make those parts at least a little more affordable by removing as much cost as you can. If you are involved in the distribution industry, help make those parts more attractive by matching what the manufacturer has done. If you do, I’ll buy them, contribute to those allowances and then make those parts available to my clients along with a longer warranty and the very special story that goes along with them… In fact, I’ll do more than that. I will promote it all proudly and aggressively and encourage every member of the repair community to join us. I’ll help you create the kind of “Demand Side Economics” Robert Reich is talking about, the kind that will put Americans back to work, the kind that will result in a re-birth of American manufacturing, the kind of re-birth that can and will end the recession. Give me Aftermarket parts that are Made In America: For Americans and I’ll Buy (And, sell more) American! It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you are in our industry: manufacturing, distribution or repair. All that matters is whether or not you care: whether or not you’re willing to do more than nothing! Help me get this train rolling! This is your chance to make a difference, to do more than just listen or complain. If you’re interested… contact me at: mitch@mitchschneidersworld.com and lets see what we can do...  [image]       I don’t know about you, but I’m long past ‘weary’ when it comes to all this talk about the economy we’re forced to endure as our leaders – and, would-be leaders – drone on about what it’s going to take to ‘fix it.’ If anyone really had an answer the economy would be fixed by now. Instead, it’s all starting to sound like the teacher in the old Charlie Brown specials: the "whaw, whaw, whaw..."  Instead of substance and success, it’s all posturing and pontificating. It is especially trying in the middle of the long recovery we are experiencing and just plain painful as we work our way through another election cycle. If you’re anything like I am, you’ve already made the decision to turn it off and tune it out. The only problem is… I can’t. I can’t just turn “it” off. My brain won’t let me. Not without substituting something in its place and once these clowns started talking about how broken the economy is my convoluted mind began working on “the fix.” A bit presumptuous because I’m no world-class economist, I’ll agree. But, I’m not an automotive engineer either and I’ve still managed a long and relatively successful career built around the service, maintenance and repair of a host of vehicles I didn’t have the background or education to design. If it was broken and found its way to me it almost always left in better shape than when it arrived. It had to because I refused to quit until I had a solution! Now, the economy is broken and here’s the connection: Fixing stuff is what we do! So, is taking a shot at fixing the economy really as much of a stretch as it may seem? Somewhere in the back of my mind it isn’t. In fact, it’s obvious… Apply the same skills and abilities that helped make us relatively good problem solvers and then get out there and do something! So, here it is… “The Solution…” or at least a solution, according to Mitch! It bubbled to the surface while listening to a short podcast by Robert Reich, entitled: “Whose Got The Right Plan To Boost The Economy?” (Number 16,  recorded 9-12-12) Actually, it was something I’ve been thinking about since American manufacturing first started migrating overseas. [image]Interestingly enough, both Reich and I have come to the same conclusion. Both of us believe the key to our economic future is the return of American manufacturing jobs with salaries high enough to allow American workers to purchase the products they are ultimately and intimately involved in creating. According to Reich, the purchasing power of our middle class has been shrinking for the past thirty years – a period of time that spans the leadership of both parties – and stagnant for the past eight. Consequently, the problem our economy is facing isn’t a “Supply Side” problem, according to Reich. It’s a “Demand Side” problem, with the return of a strong manufacturing base as its solution. I agree… But, just agreeing doesn’t necessarily provide a workable solution and here is where you, me and the Automotive Aftermarket all come together to provide a solution I not only believe can work, but one that will work if presented intelligently, supported properly and promoted aggressively! It all came together when our search for a new and more powerful marketing tool at the shop collided with Robert Reich's podcast... As some of you may have already discovered, finding and executing that “killer” marketing tool isn’t always that easy. So, I started by re-examining everything we do and when I got to warranty, I paused for a moment. After all, what more can you do when you already offer a 2-year/24,000 mile warrant: would a longer warranty really be the marketing edge I was looking for? And, then it came to me – an opportunity far more compelling than something ‘just’ for us and here it is. It starts with two questions: First, when it comes to quality of workmanship, productivity or the ability to innovate, is there anyone out there who really believes anyone in the world can compete a trained, educated, involved and highly motivated American factory worker when that factory worker is given the opportunity to compete? [image]I don’t… Second, is there anyone out there who really believes we can’t compete when it comes to quality of product, workmanship, innovation or design: especially, in a Global Economy? Is there anyone who really believes that our manufacturing capability is somehow less than world-class if or when our workers are allowed the opportunity to compete? So, where is the disconnect? The disconnect is price. Or, at least, that’s what everyone keeps telling us. American workers are just too expensive: expensive enough to make American products too expensive. That’s why everything has moved overseas and that’s why the purchasing power of the American middle-class – the only economic engine capable of restoring or sustaining the economy we once knew – has moved with it! Well, here’s a way… a way our segment of the aftermarket can help bring it back! We can demand products that are made here: manufactured or at least assembled in the United States. Quality products made in America by American workers! [image]Will those parts cost a few bucks more? I’m pretty sure they will, but the only way things are going to change is if we change them and the only way we can change them is by getting directly involved! A number of aftermarket companies have moved at least some of their production capacity overseas for what must what seem like obvious reasons. I want them to bring at least a portion of that capacity home! I don’t know about you, but my experience with a number of ‘off-shore’ products has been less than stellar anyway. Realistically, the choice is clear: How many of you would choose a part made outside the United States over one made in Texas or Minnesota, Wisconsin or Wyoming, California or Colorado, New York or New Jersey, Alabama or Tennessee? Not many, I’ll bet. So, here is what I propose: If you are a manufacturer, give me a break! No, really, give me a break on the parts that are “Made in the USA.”[image] Give me a break on the parts that are made here and let me know what that break is: how much you are willing to sacrifice. It doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a point or two… Just enough to let me know you’d like to see manufacturing return to our shores as much as I would! Let me know and I’ll do whatever I can to see that every serious and responsible shop owner in the country is willing to sacrifice with you: willing to help bring those jobs home as well! If you are a Jobber or Warehouse Distributor, don’t just pass that discount through… Match it! Match it or at least contribute to it and I’ll contribute with you. I’ll match that discount and offer a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty on ANY part manufactured or assembled within our borders and I will promote a program like this actively and aggressively anywhere and everywhere I can. Why? Because, I believe Americans would pay a couple of dollars more for a part that was made here in the United States by a company employing workers who live here in the United States, spending their paychecks and paying taxes on other things made here that will grow the economy and ultimately benefit us all! Unemployment is high: American factory workers want to get back to work and our factories are under capacity! Shipping costs continue to rise causing the difference in cost that exists between foreign products brought here and those Made in America to become less and less of a competitive factor. American consumers would rather buy American products: or, at least, that’s what they say and I think now is as good a time as any to put them to the test! We all want the economy to recover and the recession to end and here is something we can all do to move that process forward. It’s pretty simple really… If you’re an Aftermarket Manufacturer, give me parts that are made in the United States by American workers. Help make those parts at least a little more affordable by removing as much cost as you can. If you are involved in the distribution industry, help make those parts more attractive by matching what the manufacturer has done. If you do, I’ll buy them, contribute to those allowances and then make those parts available to my clients along with a longer warranty and the very special story that goes along with them… In fact, I’ll do more than that. I will promote it all proudly and aggressively and encourage every member of the repair community to join us. I’ll help you create the kind of “Demand Side Economics” Robert Reich is talking about, the kind that will put Americans back to work, the kind that will result in a re-birth of American manufacturing, the kind of re-birth that can and will end the recession. Give me Aftermarket parts that are Made In America: For Americans and I’ll Buy (And, sell more) American! It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you are in our industry: manufacturing, distribution or repair. All that matters is whether or not you care: whether or not you’re willing to do more than nothing! Help me get this train rolling! This is your chance to make a difference, to do more than just listen or complain. If you’re interested… contact me at: mitch@mitchschneidersworld.com and lets see what we can do... Thu, 22 Nov 2012 22:43:55 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Made-Where/blog/6474405/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-11-22T22:43:55Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop  [image]       I don’t know about you, but I’m long past ‘weary’ when it comes to all this talk about the economy we’re forced to endure as our leaders – and, would-be leaders – drone on about what it’s going to take to ‘fix it.’ If anyone really had an answer the economy would be fixed by now. Instead, it’s all starting to sound like the teacher in the old Charlie Brown specials: the "whaw, whaw, whaw..."  Instead of substance and success, it’s all posturing and pontificating. It is especially trying in the middle of the long recovery we are experiencing and just plain painful as we work our way through another election cycle. If you’re anything like I am, you’ve already made the decision to turn it off and tune it out. The only problem is… I can’t. I can’t just turn “it” off. My brain won’t let me. Not without substituting something in its place and once these clowns started talking about how broken the economy is my convoluted mind began working on “the fix.” A bit presumptuous because I’m no world-class economist, I’ll agree. But, I’m not an automotive engineer either and I’ve still managed a long and relatively successful career built around the service, maintenance and repair of a host of vehicles I didn’t have the background or education to design. If it was broken and found its way to me it almost always left in better shape than when it arrived. It had to because I refused to quit until I had a solution! Now, the economy is broken and here’s the connection: Fixing stuff is what we do! So, is taking a shot at fixing the economy really as much of a stretch as it may seem? Somewhere in the back of my mind it isn’t. In fact, it’s obvious… Apply the same skills and abilities that helped make us relatively good problem solvers and then get out there and do something! So, here it is… “The Solution…” or at least a solution, according to Mitch! It bubbled to the surface while listening to a short podcast by Robert Reich, entitled: “Whose Got The Right Plan To Boost The Economy?” (Number 16,  recorded 9-12-12) Actually, it was something I’ve been thinking about since American manufacturing first started migrating overseas. [image]Interestingly enough, both Reich and I have come to the same conclusion. Both of us believe the key to our economic future is the return of American manufacturing jobs with salaries high enough to allow American workers to purchase the products they are ultimately and intimately involved in creating. According to Reich, the purchasing power of our middle class has been shrinking for the past thirty years – a period of time that spans the leadership of both parties – and stagnant for the past eight. Consequently, the problem our economy is facing isn’t a “Supply Side” problem, according to Reich. It’s a “Demand Side” problem, with the return of a strong manufacturing base as its solution. I agree… But, just agreeing doesn’t necessarily provide a workable solution and here is where you, me and the Automotive Aftermarket all come together to provide a solution I not only believe can work, but one that will work if presented intelligently, supported properly and promoted aggressively! It all came together when our search for a new and more powerful marketing tool at the shop collided with Robert Reich's podcast... As some of you may have already discovered, finding and executing that “killer” marketing tool isn’t always that easy. So, I started by re-examining everything we do and when I got to warranty, I paused for a moment. After all, what more can you do when you already offer a 2-year/24,000 mile warrant: would a longer warranty really be the marketing edge I was looking for? And, then it came to me – an opportunity far more compelling than something ‘just’ for us and here it is. It starts with two questions: First, when it comes to quality of workmanship, productivity or the ability to innovate, is there anyone out there who really believes anyone in the world can compete a trained, educated, involved and highly motivated American factory worker when that factory worker is given the opportunity to compete? [image]I don’t… Second, is there anyone out there who really believes we can’t compete when it comes to quality of product, workmanship, innovation or design: especially, in a Global Economy? Is there anyone who really believes that our manufacturing capability is somehow less than world-class if or when our workers are allowed the opportunity to compete? So, where is the disconnect? The disconnect is price. Or, at least, that’s what everyone keeps telling us. American workers are just too expensive: expensive enough to make American products too expensive. That’s why everything has moved overseas and that’s why the purchasing power of the American middle-class – the only economic engine capable of restoring or sustaining the economy we once knew – has moved with it! Well, here’s a way… a way our segment of the aftermarket can help bring it back! We can demand products that are made here: manufactured or at least assembled in the United States. Quality products made in America by American workers! [image]Will those parts cost a few bucks more? I’m pretty sure they will, but the only way things are going to change is if we change them and the only way we can change them is by getting directly involved! A number of aftermarket companies have moved at least some of their production capacity overseas for what must what seem like obvious reasons. I want them to bring at least a portion of that capacity home! I don’t know about you, but my experience with a number of ‘off-shore’ products has been less than stellar anyway. Realistically, the choice is clear: How many of you would choose a part made outside the United States over one made in Texas or Minnesota, Wisconsin or Wyoming, California or Colorado, New York or New Jersey, Alabama or Tennessee? Not many, I’ll bet. So, here is what I propose: If you are a manufacturer, give me a break! No, really, give me a break on the parts that are “Made in the USA.”[image] Give me a break on the parts that are made here and let me know what that break is: how much you are willing to sacrifice. It doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a point or two… Just enough to let me know you’d like to see manufacturing return to our shores as much as I would! Let me know and I’ll do whatever I can to see that every serious and responsible shop owner in the country is willing to sacrifice with you: willing to help bring those jobs home as well! If you are a Jobber or Warehouse Distributor, don’t just pass that discount through… Match it! Match it or at least contribute to it and I’ll contribute with you. I’ll match that discount and offer a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty on ANY part manufactured or assembled within our borders and I will promote a program like this actively and aggressively anywhere and everywhere I can. Why? Because, I believe Americans would pay a couple of dollars more for a part that was made here in the United States by a company employing workers who live here in the United States, spending their paychecks and paying taxes on other things made here that will grow the economy and ultimately benefit us all! Unemployment is high: American factory workers want to get back to work and our factories are under capacity! Shipping costs continue to rise causing the difference in cost that exists between foreign products brought here and those Made in America to become less and less of a competitive factor. American consumers would rather buy American products: or, at least, that’s what they say and I think now is as good a time as any to put them to the test! We all want the economy to recover and the recession to end and here is something we can all do to move that process forward. It’s pretty simple really… If you’re an Aftermarket Manufacturer, give me parts that are made in the United States by American workers. Help make those parts at least a little more affordable by removing as much cost as you can. If you are involved in the distribution industry, help make those parts more attractive by matching what the manufacturer has done. If you do, I’ll buy them, contribute to those allowances and then make those parts available to my clients along with a longer warranty and the very special story that goes along with them… In fact, I’ll do more than that. I will promote it all proudly and aggressively and encourage every member of the repair community to join us. I’ll help you create the kind of “Demand Side Economics” Robert Reich is talking about, the kind that will put Americans back to work, the kind that will result in a re-birth of American manufacturing, the kind of re-birth that can and will end the recession. Give me Aftermarket parts that are Made In America: For Americans and I’ll Buy (And, sell more) American! It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you are in our industry: manufacturing, distribution or repair. All that matters is whether or not you care: whether or not you’re willing to do more than nothing! Help me get this train rolling! This is your chance to make a difference, to do more than just listen or complain. If you’re interested… contact me at: mitch@mitchschneidersworld.com and lets see what we can do... capacity, compelling, courage, demand side, dramatic, factory, fear, manufacturing, mitch schneider, mitch schneiders world, motor age, purpose, responsibility, supply side, vision, warranty nonadult false Made Where? text blog capacity,compelling,courage,demand side,dramatic,factory,fear,manufacturing,mitch schneider,mitch schneiders world,motor age,purpose,responsibility,supply side,vision,warranty 868 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 4 Motor Age 0 6474405 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_On-PURPOSE/blog/6469587/31710.html [image]               “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…”   George Bernard Shaw   Have you ever been so captured by an idea it grabs you by the belt and just won’t let you go? Have you ever had a concept so completely take over your consciousness it bars the door allowing nothing else in: no room for anything else large or small? Something so profound everything you see, everything you do, everything you think about falls into its orbit and is shrouded in its shadow? I have, and more than once…[image] In fact, I have a history of ‘big’ ideas, monumental concepts, and epic projects: some I’ve acted upon and others, sadly, I have not. I started an association of qualified automotive repair technicians in the mid-eighties; a group of consummate professionals who believed in this industry and the craft they had been called to. It was one of the most profoundly satisfying things I’ve ever done. It preceded the emergence of the Internet, as we now know it by just a few years: just enough to allow the costs involved in communicating with our members to cripple our growth. Whatever else it was or could have been it paved the way for others to follow and made the idea of an international network of automotive technicians seem attainable: almost reasonable. I’ve written about change and growth, respect and pride to an industry in dire need of confidence and reassurance and tried hard to uphold the highest standards of professional performance as an example of what we could achieve if we were willing to do whatever was necessary to stand at the top of that mountain. I served as the Director of what was at the time the largest network of professional technicians and shop owners in the country and I continue to write, guide, cajole, coerce and lead perhaps the most talented group of entrepreneurs and craftsmen on the planet – too many of whom take the term “independent” far too seriously, at the cost of ignoring the critical importance of the notion of “interdependence.” I keep throwing myself against the Temple wall trying hard to elevate an industry and all those who struggle to succeed within it to become somehow more and better because they deserve nothing less – you deserve nothing less – and, because I know no other way. You see I can’t help myself. I think too much and then find myself compelled to act on the continual stream of ideas that flows through my mind. I do it because I can’t help myself. I do it because it needs to be done. I do it on purpose because it appears that making a difference is my purpose![image] I’ve just had another such idea… another epic concept: something new, something else that will allow me no peace, no rest, no respite until I share it. Something I believe – something I know – can and will change not only the industry I serve, but nation I love as well. It is elegant in its simplicity… So basic, so elemental, it should have been obvious to almost everyone and yet it has chosen me to torment. I will be sharing it with within the next couple of days, hoping we can build the support success will require from across the Aftermarket: capital “A.” Please watch and listen for the explanation and updates that will follow. Until then, remember this is our nation. It doesn’t belong to the politicians, political hacks or pundits. Its course isn’t charted by ‘talking heads,’ commentators or comedians. The circumstances we presently endure may not be of our making, but the future is ours to chart, ours to write, if we have the vision to see it and can find the courage to turn that vision into reality. Don’t abdicate that responsibility. People have died to ensure that sacred privilege. Don’t trust our leaders to place our Nation’s best interest above their own. Too many have already demonstrated they are unable or unwilling. By failing to accept the responsibilities that walk hand-in-hand with citizenship: by failing to do the hard work necessary to ensure a better future, others have moved into the vacuum that was left and ensured their selfish interests would be served first. What is best for the individual isn’t necessarily what is best for the Nation. But, when executed properly, responsibly and with justice for all people: what is best for this Nation is almost always best for everyone. Thank you for stopping by… and, remember, I’ll be moving to my new home (still under construction) at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com where I’ll be doing my best to provide you with the same humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns I’ve been writing to and for you for almost thirty years! So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’m doing with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! [image]               “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…”   George Bernard Shaw   Have you ever been so captured by an idea it grabs you by the belt and just won’t let you go? Have you ever had a concept so completely take over your consciousness it bars the door allowing nothing else in: no room for anything else large or small? Something so profound everything you see, everything you do, everything you think about falls into its orbit and is shrouded in its shadow? I have, and more than once…[image] In fact, I have a history of ‘big’ ideas, monumental concepts, and epic projects: some I’ve acted upon and others, sadly, I have not. I started an association of qualified automotive repair technicians in the mid-eighties; a group of consummate professionals who believed in this industry and the craft they had been called to. It was one of the most profoundly satisfying things I’ve ever done. It preceded the emergence of the Internet, as we now know it by just a few years: just enough to allow the costs involved in communicating with our members to cripple our growth. Whatever else it was or could have been it paved the way for others to follow and made the idea of an international network of automotive technicians seem attainable: almost reasonable. I’ve written about change and growth, respect and pride to an industry in dire need of confidence and reassurance and tried hard to uphold the highest standards of professional performance as an example of what we could achieve if we were willing to do whatever was necessary to stand at the top of that mountain. I served as the Director of what was at the time the largest network of professional technicians and shop owners in the country and I continue to write, guide, cajole, coerce and lead perhaps the most talented group of entrepreneurs and craftsmen on the planet – too many of whom take the term “independent” far too seriously, at the cost of ignoring the critical importance of the notion of “interdependence.” I keep throwing myself against the Temple wall trying hard to elevate an industry and all those who struggle to succeed within it to become somehow more and better because they deserve nothing less – you deserve nothing less – and, because I know no other way. You see I can’t help myself. I think too much and then find myself compelled to act on the continual stream of ideas that flows through my mind. I do it because I can’t help myself. I do it because it needs to be done. I do it on purpose because it appears that making a difference is my purpose![image] I’ve just had another such idea… another epic concept: something new, something else that will allow me no peace, no rest, no respite until I share it. Something I believe – something I know – can and will change not only the industry I serve, but nation I love as well. It is elegant in its simplicity… So basic, so elemental, it should have been obvious to almost everyone and yet it has chosen me to torment. I will be sharing it with within the next couple of days, hoping we can build the support success will require from across the Aftermarket: capital “A.” Please watch and listen for the explanation and updates that will follow. Until then, remember this is our nation. It doesn’t belong to the politicians, political hacks or pundits. Its course isn’t charted by ‘talking heads,’ commentators or comedians. The circumstances we presently endure may not be of our making, but the future is ours to chart, ours to write, if we have the vision to see it and can find the courage to turn that vision into reality. Don’t abdicate that responsibility. People have died to ensure that sacred privilege. Don’t trust our leaders to place our Nation’s best interest above their own. Too many have already demonstrated they are unable or unwilling. By failing to accept the responsibilities that walk hand-in-hand with citizenship: by failing to do the hard work necessary to ensure a better future, others have moved into the vacuum that was left and ensured their selfish interests would be served first. What is best for the individual isn’t necessarily what is best for the Nation. But, when executed properly, responsibly and with justice for all people: what is best for this Nation is almost always best for everyone. Thank you for stopping by… and, remember, I’ll be moving to my new home (still under construction) at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com where I’ll be doing my best to provide you with the same humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns I’ve been writing to and for you for almost thirty years! So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’m doing with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:29:22 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_On-PURPOSE/blog/6469587/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-11-19T11:29:22Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image]               “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…”   George Bernard Shaw   Have you ever been so captured by an idea it grabs you by the belt and just won’t let you go? Have you ever had a concept so completely take over your consciousness it bars the door allowing nothing else in: no room for anything else large or small? Something so profound everything you see, everything you do, everything you think about falls into its orbit and is shrouded in its shadow? I have, and more than once…[image] In fact, I have a history of ‘big’ ideas, monumental concepts, and epic projects: some I’ve acted upon and others, sadly, I have not. I started an association of qualified automotive repair technicians in the mid-eighties; a group of consummate professionals who believed in this industry and the craft they had been called to. It was one of the most profoundly satisfying things I’ve ever done. It preceded the emergence of the Internet, as we now know it by just a few years: just enough to allow the costs involved in communicating with our members to cripple our growth. Whatever else it was or could have been it paved the way for others to follow and made the idea of an international network of automotive technicians seem attainable: almost reasonable. I’ve written about change and growth, respect and pride to an industry in dire need of confidence and reassurance and tried hard to uphold the highest standards of professional performance as an example of what we could achieve if we were willing to do whatever was necessary to stand at the top of that mountain. I served as the Director of what was at the time the largest network of professional technicians and shop owners in the country and I continue to write, guide, cajole, coerce and lead perhaps the most talented group of entrepreneurs and craftsmen on the planet – too many of whom take the term “independent” far too seriously, at the cost of ignoring the critical importance of the notion of “interdependence.” I keep throwing myself against the Temple wall trying hard to elevate an industry and all those who struggle to succeed within it to become somehow more and better because they deserve nothing less – you deserve nothing less – and, because I know no other way. You see I can’t help myself. I think too much and then find myself compelled to act on the continual stream of ideas that flows through my mind. I do it because I can’t help myself. I do it because it needs to be done. I do it on purpose because it appears that making a difference is my purpose![image] I’ve just had another such idea… another epic concept: something new, something else that will allow me no peace, no rest, no respite until I share it. Something I believe – something I know – can and will change not only the industry I serve, but nation I love as well. It is elegant in its simplicity… So basic, so elemental, it should have been obvious to almost everyone and yet it has chosen me to torment. I will be sharing it with within the next couple of days, hoping we can build the support success will require from across the Aftermarket: capital “A.” Please watch and listen for the explanation and updates that will follow. Until then, remember this is our nation. It doesn’t belong to the politicians, political hacks or pundits. Its course isn’t charted by ‘talking heads,’ commentators or comedians. The circumstances we presently endure may not be of our making, but the future is ours to chart, ours to write, if we have the vision to see it and can find the courage to turn that vision into reality. Don’t abdicate that responsibility. People have died to ensure that sacred privilege. Don’t trust our leaders to place our Nation’s best interest above their own. Too many have already demonstrated they are unable or unwilling. By failing to accept the responsibilities that walk hand-in-hand with citizenship: by failing to do the hard work necessary to ensure a better future, others have moved into the vacuum that was left and ensured their selfish interests would be served first. What is best for the individual isn’t necessarily what is best for the Nation. But, when executed properly, responsibly and with justice for all people: what is best for this Nation is almost always best for everyone. Thank you for stopping by… and, remember, I’ll be moving to my new home (still under construction) at: http://mitchschneidersworld.com where I’ll be doing my best to provide you with the same humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns I’ve been writing to and for you for almost thirty years! So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’m doing with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! compelling, courage, dramatic, fear, mitch schneider, mitch schneiders world, motor age, purpose, responsibility, vision nonadult false On PURPOSE... text blog compelling,courage,dramatic,fear,mitch schneider,mitch schneiders world,motor age,purpose,responsibility,vision 556 1 1.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6469587 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Free-Fall/blog/6468587/31710.html I’m not afraid of heights. I should be, but I’m not…   That doesn’t mean I enjoy finding myself perched up above the world so high: feet pressed tightly together, back against the wall, fingers desperately searching for something to grab hold of – anything to grab hold off – on the ledge of an unenclosed aerie somewhere. Nothing could be further from the truth. It isn’t that I have no fear of heights or the dangers inherent in falling that precipitates that anxiety… Everyone should experience at least some apprehension when they are getting ready to climb over the railing or step off the ledge. Anything less should be a healthy reason for concern. I understand that rush of anxiety because I’ve felt it before, more than once. It isn’t the fear of falling I have to overcome that inhibits me from crawling to the edge of the abyss… It is the overwhelming belief that I can step off the edge and actually fly that scares the hell out of me! [image] You see whenever I find myself standing on that ledge, looking down with my toes curled tightly over the edge, I not only know I can fly… I can’t wait to prove it! Realistically, this is not the healthiest of neuroses.  But, rather than allow it to cripple me: to prevent me from ever looking out over some of the incredible panoramas I’ve been privileged to experience; I recognize and embrace my fears, take a deep breath, approach the edge, confront the desire to jump, white-knuckle the railing, and hold on to whatever I can find with every ounce of strength I can muster! Don’t worry. I’m not crazy enough to step off the ledge, at least not yet. I know I can’t really fly and perhaps more important, I know what would happen if I was delusional enough to try! I also recognize how important it is to overcome the fear, apprehension and anxiety associated with finding yourself on the edge. More than that, I finally understand just how important it is to put yourself there in order to test yourself: in order to overcome. If you’re a shop owner you may understand what that really means: to you, your family, your employees, your clients and your community. When you find yourself standing in the driveway, ready to unlock the door and swing the gate open, you’ve already reached the mouth of the cave and walked out on to the ledge. You’re already poised at the precipice. And, when you step inside, across that threshold, you’ve essentially climbed over the railing and allowed gravity to take its course. You’ve already stepped off the observation deck or the side of the mountain. Unless you’re expecting the call, you don’t know who is calling when the phone rings. And, unless that client has called, you have no idea what’s wrong with that ’08 Camry that just pulled down the driveway.   The minute you engage you’re in free-fall and unless you are a B.A.S.E.-Jumper and your chute is packed properly, you’re pretty much on your own. [image] But, that isn’t the real issue, is it? We’re all forced to step off the cliff… Or, that bridge… Or, the antennae or ledge from time to time, aren’t we? We’re all forced to deal with the unknown: the incomprehensible. If we are reluctant to call it “Life,” we should feel comfortable simply calling it entrepreneurship; or, maybe even just business. The truth is we can’t move forward without leaning forward, and we cannot lean forward without the risk of falling. The risk is just as real as the fear and both must be conquered before movement of any kind can or will occur. I’m not altogether comfortable with that, but I am unwilling to forgo the possible wonder and beauty that surrounds us all by surrendering myself to the natural fear of falling or the desire to fly. Being out there on the edge is more than worth it. [image]Besides, Free Falling is only uncomfortable if you are continually looking down at the rapidly approaching terrain. It isn’t nearly as bad if you choose to look out and around! And, who knows, if you’re clever enough to have a parachute: one that works, there is no end to the beauty and wonder that’s out there… No limit to what you might see! I’m packing my parachute and stepping out off that ledge yet again. As of January 1, 2013, I will no longer be writing for Motor Age, Aftermarket Business and Advanstar. But, that doesn’t mean I will no longer be writing. You will find me busily at work in my new home (still under construction): http://mitchschneidersworld.com. I’m going to do my best to furnish MitchSchneidersWorld.com with humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns written to and for you. So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’ve done with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! I’m not afraid of heights. I should be, but I’m not…   That doesn’t mean I enjoy finding myself perched up above the world so high: feet pressed tightly together, back against the wall, fingers desperately searching for something to grab hold of – anything to grab hold off – on the ledge of an unenclosed aerie somewhere. Nothing could be further from the truth. It isn’t that I have no fear of heights or the dangers inherent in falling that precipitates that anxiety… Everyone should experience at least some apprehension when they are getting ready to climb over the railing or step off the ledge. Anything less should be a healthy reason for concern. I understand that rush of anxiety because I’ve felt it before, more than once. It isn’t the fear of falling I have to overcome that inhibits me from crawling to the edge of the abyss… It is the overwhelming belief that I can step off the edge and actually fly that scares the hell out of me! [image] You see whenever I find myself standing on that ledge, looking down with my toes curled tightly over the edge, I not only know I can fly… I can’t wait to prove it! Realistically, this is not the healthiest of neuroses.  But, rather than allow it to cripple me: to prevent me from ever looking out over some of the incredible panoramas I’ve been privileged to experience; I recognize and embrace my fears, take a deep breath, approach the edge, confront the desire to jump, white-knuckle the railing, and hold on to whatever I can find with every ounce of strength I can muster! Don’t worry. I’m not crazy enough to step off the ledge, at least not yet. I know I can’t really fly and perhaps more important, I know what would happen if I was delusional enough to try! I also recognize how important it is to overcome the fear, apprehension and anxiety associated with finding yourself on the edge. More than that, I finally understand just how important it is to put yourself there in order to test yourself: in order to overcome. If you’re a shop owner you may understand what that really means: to you, your family, your employees, your clients and your community. When you find yourself standing in the driveway, ready to unlock the door and swing the gate open, you’ve already reached the mouth of the cave and walked out on to the ledge. You’re already poised at the precipice. And, when you step inside, across that threshold, you’ve essentially climbed over the railing and allowed gravity to take its course. You’ve already stepped off the observation deck or the side of the mountain. Unless you’re expecting the call, you don’t know who is calling when the phone rings. And, unless that client has called, you have no idea what’s wrong with that ’08 Camry that just pulled down the driveway.   The minute you engage you’re in free-fall and unless you are a B.A.S.E.-Jumper and your chute is packed properly, you’re pretty much on your own. [image] But, that isn’t the real issue, is it? We’re all forced to step off the cliff… Or, that bridge… Or, the antennae or ledge from time to time, aren’t we? We’re all forced to deal with the unknown: the incomprehensible. If we are reluctant to call it “Life,” we should feel comfortable simply calling it entrepreneurship; or, maybe even just business. The truth is we can’t move forward without leaning forward, and we cannot lean forward without the risk of falling. The risk is just as real as the fear and both must be conquered before movement of any kind can or will occur. I’m not altogether comfortable with that, but I am unwilling to forgo the possible wonder and beauty that surrounds us all by surrendering myself to the natural fear of falling or the desire to fly. Being out there on the edge is more than worth it. [image]Besides, Free Falling is only uncomfortable if you are continually looking down at the rapidly approaching terrain. It isn’t nearly as bad if you choose to look out and around! And, who knows, if you’re clever enough to have a parachute: one that works, there is no end to the beauty and wonder that’s out there… No limit to what you might see! I’m packing my parachute and stepping out off that ledge yet again. As of January 1, 2013, I will no longer be writing for Motor Age, Aftermarket Business and Advanstar. But, that doesn’t mean I will no longer be writing. You will find me busily at work in my new home (still under construction): http://mitchschneidersworld.com. I’m going to do my best to furnish MitchSchneidersWorld.com with humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns written to and for you. So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’ve done with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! Sun, 18 Nov 2012 04:20:16 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Free-Fall/blog/6468587/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-11-18T04:20:16Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I’m not afraid of heights. I should be, but I’m not…   That doesn’t mean I enjoy finding myself perched up above the world so high: feet pressed tightly together, back against the wall, fingers desperately searching for something to grab hold of – anything to grab hold off – on the ledge of an unenclosed aerie somewhere. Nothing could be further from the truth. It isn’t that I have no fear of heights or the dangers inherent in falling that precipitates that anxiety… Everyone should experience at least some apprehension when they are getting ready to climb over the railing or step off the ledge. Anything less should be a healthy reason for concern. I understand that rush of anxiety because I’ve felt it before, more than once. It isn’t the fear of falling I have to overcome that inhibits me from crawling to the edge of the abyss… It is the overwhelming belief that I can step off the edge and actually fly that scares the hell out of me! [image] You see whenever I find myself standing on that ledge, looking down with my toes curled tightly over the edge, I not only know I can fly… I can’t wait to prove it! Realistically, this is not the healthiest of neuroses.  But, rather than allow it to cripple me: to prevent me from ever looking out over some of the incredible panoramas I’ve been privileged to experience; I recognize and embrace my fears, take a deep breath, approach the edge, confront the desire to jump, white-knuckle the railing, and hold on to whatever I can find with every ounce of strength I can muster! Don’t worry. I’m not crazy enough to step off the ledge, at least not yet. I know I can’t really fly and perhaps more important, I know what would happen if I was delusional enough to try! I also recognize how important it is to overcome the fear, apprehension and anxiety associated with finding yourself on the edge. More than that, I finally understand just how important it is to put yourself there in order to test yourself: in order to overcome. If you’re a shop owner you may understand what that really means: to you, your family, your employees, your clients and your community. When you find yourself standing in the driveway, ready to unlock the door and swing the gate open, you’ve already reached the mouth of the cave and walked out on to the ledge. You’re already poised at the precipice. And, when you step inside, across that threshold, you’ve essentially climbed over the railing and allowed gravity to take its course. You’ve already stepped off the observation deck or the side of the mountain. Unless you’re expecting the call, you don’t know who is calling when the phone rings. And, unless that client has called, you have no idea what’s wrong with that ’08 Camry that just pulled down the driveway.   The minute you engage you’re in free-fall and unless you are a B.A.S.E.-Jumper and your chute is packed properly, you’re pretty much on your own. [image] But, that isn’t the real issue, is it? We’re all forced to step off the cliff… Or, that bridge… Or, the antennae or ledge from time to time, aren’t we? We’re all forced to deal with the unknown: the incomprehensible. If we are reluctant to call it “Life,” we should feel comfortable simply calling it entrepreneurship; or, maybe even just business. The truth is we can’t move forward without leaning forward, and we cannot lean forward without the risk of falling. The risk is just as real as the fear and both must be conquered before movement of any kind can or will occur. I’m not altogether comfortable with that, but I am unwilling to forgo the possible wonder and beauty that surrounds us all by surrendering myself to the natural fear of falling or the desire to fly. Being out there on the edge is more than worth it. [image]Besides, Free Falling is only uncomfortable if you are continually looking down at the rapidly approaching terrain. It isn’t nearly as bad if you choose to look out and around! And, who knows, if you’re clever enough to have a parachute: one that works, there is no end to the beauty and wonder that’s out there… No limit to what you might see! I’m packing my parachute and stepping out off that ledge yet again. As of January 1, 2013, I will no longer be writing for Motor Age, Aftermarket Business and Advanstar. But, that doesn’t mean I will no longer be writing. You will find me busily at work in my new home (still under construction): http://mitchschneidersworld.com. I’m going to do my best to furnish MitchSchneidersWorld.com with humor, insight, blogs, videos and the same great columns written to and for you. So, come by and hang out for a while… I think you’ll like I’ve done with the place. Till then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like. There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is! community, courage, curiosity, free fall, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false Free Fall... text blog community,courage,curiosity,free fall,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,schneider's world 2066 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 2 Motor Age 0 6468587 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Weapons-and-Warriors/blog/6361117/31710.html Weapons and Warriors... There are few things more compelling than having a telephone ringtone splash ice water in your face in the middle of the night or the sound you’ve associated with your IM: Instant Messaging, shatter your reverie, rest or concentration. Both alert you to the possibility of something urgent going on somewhere in the universe: something you should probably be aware of.  This time it was the IM ringtone that dragged me away from Meet The Press this morning and the political railing swirling around the latest campaign gaff (Doesn't really matter who stepped on the landline or even which landline they stepped on does it?). It was our son and daughter-in-law letting us know that Ryan had just finished the race they had flown cross-country to compete in and that for the first time he had finished first in his age group: certainly, worth the interruption. You see, Ryan is a Triathlete... A three-time IronMan, actually. And, after watching him and the the hundreds (In some cases, thousands!) of other athletes who challenge their psyche and punish their bodies every time they compete, the simple act of finding the Finish Line is nothing less than spectacular!  [image] It is especially gratifying in Ryan's case because he is not a 'natural athlete.' Sure, he played soccer and tennis and a host of other organized sports while he was growing up. But, he was one of those kids who had to really work hard to make the team and then earn time on the field at the level he relentlessly pursued. In other words, through sheer force of will. Whatever he may have lacked in genetics, skill or natural ability he made up for in courage, heart and determination. Because the desire to compete... and, then succeed - please note: I purposely substituted  'succeed' for 'win!' - was so strong, he has always managed to persevere and that kind of Warrior's Spirit has served him well over the years and made him an important part of every organization he has ever been a part of. There are a lot of parallels between what you and I do everyday and Ryan's success this morning, perhaps more then even I am aware of.  Champions - Warriors - will succeed when others fail not solely because they have the skill or the ability to win: but, because as, Harvey Mackay, so aptly put it, because “they have too much pride to lose.” Warriors will find a way because they don't stop looking when everyone else has. They will find a way because they never lose sight of what they are fighting for. They will find a way when unforeseen obstacles block the way or their tools or weapons fail them. They will find a way... Or, create a new way, because for them personal failure is not an option.  This morning's event was as "Olympic" distance triathlon: that's a one mile, open water, ocean swim followed by 24.9 miles on the bike and ending with a 10-K run (6.2 miles). Ryan competed without the quality tools he has invested in, the tools he is used to and comfortable with. He swam without a wetsuit and competed on a rented bike, not one of the three competition bikes he owns. And, yet, he somehow managed a personal best and a trip to the top of the podium. There are technicians out there who owe themselves body and soul to one or all of the tool truck driver's that visit your shop once a week, every week. There are tech's who must have: can't live without, the "latest/greatest," just released, whatever it is that just came out. I know, I was one of them... And, there are others who always seem to get the job done; at times, with far less then 'the latest' or 'the greatest' whatever it is, because they are constantly investing in themselves - in their training and education: their experience, ingenuity and imagination.  Ideally, you are surrounded by warriors - by, champions - who share their desire and their commitment with you for the benefit of your clients - our clients - the motoring public. They willingly sacrifice their time, energy, effort and resources to maintain a level of personal excellence few who are unwilling to compete at that level will ever understand and in too many cases there is no reasonable, rational reason to drive that kind of performance.  It isn’t for the honor or the accolades. It certainly isn’t for the money. It isn’t even about the competition if you believe that competition has anything to do with anyone other than yourself.  It is all about knowing that you have brought and left everything you’ve got, everything you are capable of in the arena. It’s about satisfaction and personal best.  The best bike, the most aerodynamic helmet, the newest tool or the sharpest blade aren’t the weapons that make the warrior formidable enemy or a force to be reckoned with... Courage, heart and spirit are a true warriors weapons of choice! Find them in yourself. Perfect them in any and every way you can. Learn to use the wisely and often. Find your way to the top of the podium. Weapons and Warriors... There are few things more compelling than having a telephone ringtone splash ice water in your face in the middle of the night or the sound you’ve associated with your IM: Instant Messaging, shatter your reverie, rest or concentration. Both alert you to the possibility of something urgent going on somewhere in the universe: something you should probably be aware of.  This time it was the IM ringtone that dragged me away from Meet The Press this morning and the political railing swirling around the latest campaign gaff (Doesn't really matter who stepped on the landline or even which landline they stepped on does it?). It was our son and daughter-in-law letting us know that Ryan had just finished the race they had flown cross-country to compete in and that for the first time he had finished first in his age group: certainly, worth the interruption. You see, Ryan is a Triathlete... A three-time IronMan, actually. And, after watching him and the the hundreds (In some cases, thousands!) of other athletes who challenge their psyche and punish their bodies every time they compete, the simple act of finding the Finish Line is nothing less than spectacular!  [image] It is especially gratifying in Ryan's case because he is not a 'natural athlete.' Sure, he played soccer and tennis and a host of other organized sports while he was growing up. But, he was one of those kids who had to really work hard to make the team and then earn time on the field at the level he relentlessly pursued. In other words, through sheer force of will. Whatever he may have lacked in genetics, skill or natural ability he made up for in courage, heart and determination. Because the desire to compete... and, then succeed - please note: I purposely substituted  'succeed' for 'win!' - was so strong, he has always managed to persevere and that kind of Warrior's Spirit has served him well over the years and made him an important part of every organization he has ever been a part of. There are a lot of parallels between what you and I do everyday and Ryan's success this morning, perhaps more then even I am aware of.  Champions - Warriors - will succeed when others fail not solely because they have the skill or the ability to win: but, because as, Harvey Mackay, so aptly put it, because “they have too much pride to lose.” Warriors will find a way because they don't stop looking when everyone else has. They will find a way because they never lose sight of what they are fighting for. They will find a way when unforeseen obstacles block the way or their tools or weapons fail them. They will find a way... Or, create a new way, because for them personal failure is not an option.  This morning's event was as "Olympic" distance triathlon: that's a one mile, open water, ocean swim followed by 24.9 miles on the bike and ending with a 10-K run (6.2 miles). Ryan competed without the quality tools he has invested in, the tools he is used to and comfortable with. He swam without a wetsuit and competed on a rented bike, not one of the three competition bikes he owns. And, yet, he somehow managed a personal best and a trip to the top of the podium. There are technicians out there who owe themselves body and soul to one or all of the tool truck driver's that visit your shop once a week, every week. There are tech's who must have: can't live without, the "latest/greatest," just released, whatever it is that just came out. I know, I was one of them... And, there are others who always seem to get the job done; at times, with far less then 'the latest' or 'the greatest' whatever it is, because they are constantly investing in themselves - in their training and education: their experience, ingenuity and imagination.  Ideally, you are surrounded by warriors - by, champions - who share their desire and their commitment with you for the benefit of your clients - our clients - the motoring public. They willingly sacrifice their time, energy, effort and resources to maintain a level of personal excellence few who are unwilling to compete at that level will ever understand and in too many cases there is no reasonable, rational reason to drive that kind of performance.  It isn’t for the honor or the accolades. It certainly isn’t for the money. It isn’t even about the competition if you believe that competition has anything to do with anyone other than yourself.  It is all about knowing that you have brought and left everything you’ve got, everything you are capable of in the arena. It’s about satisfaction and personal best.  The best bike, the most aerodynamic helmet, the newest tool or the sharpest blade aren’t the weapons that make the warrior formidable enemy or a force to be reckoned with... Courage, heart and spirit are a true warriors weapons of choice! Find them in yourself. Perfect them in any and every way you can. Learn to use the wisely and often. Find your way to the top of the podium. Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:53:25 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Weapons-and-Warriors/blog/6361117/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-09-23T22:53:25Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop Weapons and Warriors... There are few things more compelling than having a telephone ringtone splash ice water in your face in the middle of the night or the sound you’ve associated with your IM: Instant Messaging, shatter your reverie, rest or concentration. Both alert you to the possibility of something urgent going on somewhere in the universe: something you should probably be aware of.  This time it was the IM ringtone that dragged me away from Meet The Press this morning and the political railing swirling around the latest campaign gaff (Doesn't really matter who stepped on the landline or even which landline they stepped on does it?). It was our son and daughter-in-law letting us know that Ryan had just finished the race they had flown cross-country to compete in and that for the first time he had finished first in his age group: certainly, worth the interruption. You see, Ryan is a Triathlete... A three-time IronMan, actually. And, after watching him and the the hundreds (In some cases, thousands!) of other athletes who challenge their psyche and punish their bodies every time they compete, the simple act of finding the Finish Line is nothing less than spectacular!  [image] It is especially gratifying in Ryan's case because he is not a 'natural athlete.' Sure, he played soccer and tennis and a host of other organized sports while he was growing up. But, he was one of those kids who had to really work hard to make the team and then earn time on the field at the level he relentlessly pursued. In other words, through sheer force of will. Whatever he may have lacked in genetics, skill or natural ability he made up for in courage, heart and determination. Because the desire to compete... and, then succeed - please note: I purposely substituted  'succeed' for 'win!' - was so strong, he has always managed to persevere and that kind of Warrior's Spirit has served him well over the years and made him an important part of every organization he has ever been a part of. There are a lot of parallels between what you and I do everyday and Ryan's success this morning, perhaps more then even I am aware of.  Champions - Warriors - will succeed when others fail not solely because they have the skill or the ability to win: but, because as, Harvey Mackay, so aptly put it, because “they have too much pride to lose.” Warriors will find a way because they don't stop looking when everyone else has. They will find a way because they never lose sight of what they are fighting for. They will find a way when unforeseen obstacles block the way or their tools or weapons fail them. They will find a way... Or, create a new way, because for them personal failure is not an option.  This morning's event was as "Olympic" distance triathlon: that's a one mile, open water, ocean swim followed by 24.9 miles on the bike and ending with a 10-K run (6.2 miles). Ryan competed without the quality tools he has invested in, the tools he is used to and comfortable with. He swam without a wetsuit and competed on a rented bike, not one of the three competition bikes he owns. And, yet, he somehow managed a personal best and a trip to the top of the podium. There are technicians out there who owe themselves body and soul to one or all of the tool truck driver's that visit your shop once a week, every week. There are tech's who must have: can't live without, the "latest/greatest," just released, whatever it is that just came out. I know, I was one of them... And, there are others who always seem to get the job done; at times, with far less then 'the latest' or 'the greatest' whatever it is, because they are constantly investing in themselves - in their training and education: their experience, ingenuity and imagination.  Ideally, you are surrounded by warriors - by, champions - who share their desire and their commitment with you for the benefit of your clients - our clients - the motoring public. They willingly sacrifice their time, energy, effort and resources to maintain a level of personal excellence few who are unwilling to compete at that level will ever understand and in too many cases there is no reasonable, rational reason to drive that kind of performance.  It isn’t for the honor or the accolades. It certainly isn’t for the money. It isn’t even about the competition if you believe that competition has anything to do with anyone other than yourself.  It is all about knowing that you have brought and left everything you’ve got, everything you are capable of in the arena. It’s about satisfaction and personal best.  The best bike, the most aerodynamic helmet, the newest tool or the sharpest blade aren’t the weapons that make the warrior formidable enemy or a force to be reckoned with... Courage, heart and spirit are a true warriors weapons of choice! Find them in yourself. Perfect them in any and every way you can. Learn to use the wisely and often. Find your way to the top of the podium. courage, determination, heart, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, perseverance, schneider's world, tools, warriors, weapons, will to win nonadult false Weapons and Warriors... text blog courage,determination,heart,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,perseverance,schneider's world,tools,warriors,weapons,will to win 887 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6361117 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Fun-In-The-Fun-House/blog/6350417/31710.html When I grow up I want to be the guy who runs the “Fun House!” [image] You know, the guy who gets to decide what is going to happen next: the guy who decides exactly what kind of gleefully unknown horror awaits you when you walk through the door. I want to be that guy for a host of reasons not the least of which is the fact that he actually knows what’s going to happen next and doesn’t have to creep across the next dark threshold or around the next shadowy corner without knowing! Me? I have to show up in order to find out; and, realistically, there are too many times what’s waiting for me down that dark corridor isn’t something I would have chosen to experience for myself had I the choice. After all, how many of you would actually choose to come in on a Monday morning just to learn that your personal workstation had committed suicide over the weekend: committed suicide without warning and without leaving a note! How many of you would enjoy something like that on the first Monday after a long-time employee had just left: the same Monday a new employee was first coming on board? What happens to all the work you’ve done preparing for that new employee’s arrival? What about the plan you’ve spent the last two weeks working on? What about orientation, acculturation, integration? Gone, just like your courage, the first time that bigger than life Jack-in-the-Box exploded in your face! [image] You can just see the smirk on that guy’s face… the guy in charge, the guy who runs the place; as he runs down his list: Planning: shattered! Check… Courage: evaporated! Check… Agenda: lost! Check… Resolve: the resolve to do what? While you’re trapped inside the Fun House, lost in the maze, all you really want to do is get out! All you really want is to be free! The hell with getting back on track… Being back on track just means heading for another tunnel! Nevertheless, I spent all day creating “work-a-round’s.” I went home and brought the PC notebook I keep there back to the shop to supplement the workstation that was still ‘live,’ only to find out it wouldn’t do the things I needed it to do because it didn’t have enough RAM! Creativity: insufficient! Check! I downloaded the software that allows us to send checks directly to the bank into that other machine and spent an hour crawling around under the counter as I moved power chords and USB cables from one workstation to the other. I upgraded software, downloaded programs, moved information, got the appropriate drivers installed and finally put the whole thing together… Looked up and realized the clock’s little hand had found the three and its big hand had discovered the twelve! Eight-and-a-half hours later and my ‘alternative’ workstation was finally “operational.” It was finally my turn! Workstation: up and running! Check… I don’t really know how to score a day like today: Fun House Manager: 1/Shop Owner: 1? Is it really a draw when the guy who runs the Fun House throws everything he has at you and you’re fully operational before the day is over? How could that possibly be considered a tie? Cars in the driveway when we arrived: diagnosed and completed! Check… [image] Distractions: overcome! Check… Sure… I was all over the place trying to make things work! But, as far as I can tell, those responsibilities are buried somewhere deep within the Job Description. Whether they are there or not, I guess I’m qualified because I got it done: I made it happen. And, as long as we’re on the subject of making things happen, Frank did his part in moving things along too. The techs did theirs and got the work out. So, whatever today was, it was anything but a tie. In fact, I think it was a victory and a decisive one! And, while there may not have been a whole lot of fun in the Fun House this morning, I was able to replace at least some of the fun that should or could have been there with at least a modicum of satisfaction! And, for a change, the guy who runs the House got to go home frustrated while I went home secure in the knowledge that no matter how creative that guy may get, I’ve acquired just enough courage, stamina and experience to keep the game alive just a little bit longer: long enough to have a little fun and the satisfaction of winning at least one round. When I grow up I want to be the guy who runs the “Fun House!” [image] You know, the guy who gets to decide what is going to happen next: the guy who decides exactly what kind of gleefully unknown horror awaits you when you walk through the door. I want to be that guy for a host of reasons not the least of which is the fact that he actually knows what’s going to happen next and doesn’t have to creep across the next dark threshold or around the next shadowy corner without knowing! Me? I have to show up in order to find out; and, realistically, there are too many times what’s waiting for me down that dark corridor isn’t something I would have chosen to experience for myself had I the choice. After all, how many of you would actually choose to come in on a Monday morning just to learn that your personal workstation had committed suicide over the weekend: committed suicide without warning and without leaving a note! How many of you would enjoy something like that on the first Monday after a long-time employee had just left: the same Monday a new employee was first coming on board? What happens to all the work you’ve done preparing for that new employee’s arrival? What about the plan you’ve spent the last two weeks working on? What about orientation, acculturation, integration? Gone, just like your courage, the first time that bigger than life Jack-in-the-Box exploded in your face! [image] You can just see the smirk on that guy’s face… the guy in charge, the guy who runs the place; as he runs down his list: Planning: shattered! Check… Courage: evaporated! Check… Agenda: lost! Check… Resolve: the resolve to do what? While you’re trapped inside the Fun House, lost in the maze, all you really want to do is get out! All you really want is to be free! The hell with getting back on track… Being back on track just means heading for another tunnel! Nevertheless, I spent all day creating “work-a-round’s.” I went home and brought the PC notebook I keep there back to the shop to supplement the workstation that was still ‘live,’ only to find out it wouldn’t do the things I needed it to do because it didn’t have enough RAM! Creativity: insufficient! Check! I downloaded the software that allows us to send checks directly to the bank into that other machine and spent an hour crawling around under the counter as I moved power chords and USB cables from one workstation to the other. I upgraded software, downloaded programs, moved information, got the appropriate drivers installed and finally put the whole thing together… Looked up and realized the clock’s little hand had found the three and its big hand had discovered the twelve! Eight-and-a-half hours later and my ‘alternative’ workstation was finally “operational.” It was finally my turn! Workstation: up and running! Check… I don’t really know how to score a day like today: Fun House Manager: 1/Shop Owner: 1? Is it really a draw when the guy who runs the Fun House throws everything he has at you and you’re fully operational before the day is over? How could that possibly be considered a tie? Cars in the driveway when we arrived: diagnosed and completed! Check… [image] Distractions: overcome! Check… Sure… I was all over the place trying to make things work! But, as far as I can tell, those responsibilities are buried somewhere deep within the Job Description. Whether they are there or not, I guess I’m qualified because I got it done: I made it happen. And, as long as we’re on the subject of making things happen, Frank did his part in moving things along too. The techs did theirs and got the work out. So, whatever today was, it was anything but a tie. In fact, I think it was a victory and a decisive one! And, while there may not have been a whole lot of fun in the Fun House this morning, I was able to replace at least some of the fun that should or could have been there with at least a modicum of satisfaction! And, for a change, the guy who runs the House got to go home frustrated while I went home secure in the knowledge that no matter how creative that guy may get, I’ve acquired just enough courage, stamina and experience to keep the game alive just a little bit longer: long enough to have a little fun and the satisfaction of winning at least one round. Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:26:14 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Fun-In-The-Fun-House/blog/6350417/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-09-19T04:26:14Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop When I grow up I want to be the guy who runs the “Fun House!” [image] You know, the guy who gets to decide what is going to happen next: the guy who decides exactly what kind of gleefully unknown horror awaits you when you walk through the door. I want to be that guy for a host of reasons not the least of which is the fact that he actually knows what’s going to happen next and doesn’t have to creep across the next dark threshold or around the next shadowy corner without knowing! Me? I have to show up in order to find out; and, realistically, there are too many times what’s waiting for me down that dark corridor isn’t something I would have chosen to experience for myself had I the choice. After all, how many of you would actually choose to come in on a Monday morning just to learn that your personal workstation had committed suicide over the weekend: committed suicide without warning and without leaving a note! How many of you would enjoy something like that on the first Monday after a long-time employee had just left: the same Monday a new employee was first coming on board? What happens to all the work you’ve done preparing for that new employee’s arrival? What about the plan you’ve spent the last two weeks working on? What about orientation, acculturation, integration? Gone, just like your courage, the first time that bigger than life Jack-in-the-Box exploded in your face! [image] You can just see the smirk on that guy’s face… the guy in charge, the guy who runs the place; as he runs down his list: Planning: shattered! Check… Courage: evaporated! Check… Agenda: lost! Check… Resolve: the resolve to do what? While you’re trapped inside the Fun House, lost in the maze, all you really want to do is get out! All you really want is to be free! The hell with getting back on track… Being back on track just means heading for another tunnel! Nevertheless, I spent all day creating “work-a-round’s.” I went home and brought the PC notebook I keep there back to the shop to supplement the workstation that was still ‘live,’ only to find out it wouldn’t do the things I needed it to do because it didn’t have enough RAM! Creativity: insufficient! Check! I downloaded the software that allows us to send checks directly to the bank into that other machine and spent an hour crawling around under the counter as I moved power chords and USB cables from one workstation to the other. I upgraded software, downloaded programs, moved information, got the appropriate drivers installed and finally put the whole thing together… Looked up and realized the clock’s little hand had found the three and its big hand had discovered the twelve! Eight-and-a-half hours later and my ‘alternative’ workstation was finally “operational.” It was finally my turn! Workstation: up and running! Check… I don’t really know how to score a day like today: Fun House Manager: 1/Shop Owner: 1? Is it really a draw when the guy who runs the Fun House throws everything he has at you and you’re fully operational before the day is over? How could that possibly be considered a tie? Cars in the driveway when we arrived: diagnosed and completed! Check… [image] Distractions: overcome! Check… Sure… I was all over the place trying to make things work! But, as far as I can tell, those responsibilities are buried somewhere deep within the Job Description. Whether they are there or not, I guess I’m qualified because I got it done: I made it happen. And, as long as we’re on the subject of making things happen, Frank did his part in moving things along too. The techs did theirs and got the work out. So, whatever today was, it was anything but a tie. In fact, I think it was a victory and a decisive one! And, while there may not have been a whole lot of fun in the Fun House this morning, I was able to replace at least some of the fun that should or could have been there with at least a modicum of satisfaction! And, for a change, the guy who runs the House got to go home frustrated while I went home secure in the knowledge that no matter how creative that guy may get, I’ve acquired just enough courage, stamina and experience to keep the game alive just a little bit longer: long enough to have a little fun and the satisfaction of winning at least one round. challenges, contest, destruction, funhouse, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, schneider's world, success nonadult false No Fun In The Fun House... text blog challenges,contest,destruction,funhouse,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,schneider's world,success 545 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6350417 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Action-is-The-Wrong-Kind-of-Action/blog/6298561/31710.html I rarely if ever immerse myself in the cesspool of California politics... It's like wrestling with a pig: you're going to get dirty and the pig really enjoys it!  However, there are times when there are no alternatives. There is a bill pending before the California legislature that may come up for a vote today: California SB750, that will limit free choice and restrict fair trade by driving our clients and customers back to the dealer. If you are a member of the repair community it would behoove you to take a minute this morning, find out who your State Senator is and then call to let him know that you are watching him and that you expect him to vote NO on this Bill! If you are a motorist, it is in your best interest to see this Bill defeated so I would urge you to do the same thing. Find out who your State Senator is if you don't already know and then call expressing your concern. This is really more critical than it might sound so please don't hesitate!!! This is really more important... and, URGENT than you may realize. If you are in Tony Strickland's district the phone number is: 916.651.4019. Light up his life with your calls! Or, you can fax him a love note at: 916.324.7544 Thank you, Mitch Schneider [image] I rarely if ever immerse myself in the cesspool of California politics... It's like wrestling with a pig: you're going to get dirty and the pig really enjoys it!  However, there are times when there are no alternatives. There is a bill pending before the California legislature that may come up for a vote today: California SB750, that will limit free choice and restrict fair trade by driving our clients and customers back to the dealer. If you are a member of the repair community it would behoove you to take a minute this morning, find out who your State Senator is and then call to let him know that you are watching him and that you expect him to vote NO on this Bill! If you are a motorist, it is in your best interest to see this Bill defeated so I would urge you to do the same thing. Find out who your State Senator is if you don't already know and then call expressing your concern. This is really more critical than it might sound so please don't hesitate!!! This is really more important... and, URGENT than you may realize. If you are in Tony Strickland's district the phone number is: 916.651.4019. Light up his life with your calls! Or, you can fax him a love note at: 916.324.7544 Thank you, Mitch Schneider [image] Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:39:45 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_No-Action-is-The-Wrong-Kind-of-Action/blog/6298561/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-08-25T00:48:33Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I rarely if ever immerse myself in the cesspool of California politics... It's like wrestling with a pig: you're going to get dirty and the pig really enjoys it!  However, there are times when there are no alternatives. There is a bill pending before the California legislature that may come up for a vote today: California SB750, that will limit free choice and restrict fair trade by driving our clients and customers back to the dealer. If you are a member of the repair community it would behoove you to take a minute this morning, find out who your State Senator is and then call to let him know that you are watching him and that you expect him to vote NO on this Bill! If you are a motorist, it is in your best interest to see this Bill defeated so I would urge you to do the same thing. Find out who your State Senator is if you don't already know and then call expressing your concern. This is really more critical than it might sound so please don't hesitate!!! This is really more important... and, URGENT than you may realize. If you are in Tony Strickland's district the phone number is: 916.651.4019. Light up his life with your calls! Or, you can fax him a love note at: 916.324.7544 Thank you, Mitch Schneider [image] action, california, mitch schneider, motor age, politics, responsibility, sb750, schneider's world nonadult false No Action is The Wrong Kind of Action!! text blog action,california,mitch schneider,motor age,politics,responsibility,sb750,schneider's world 664 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6298561 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Value-Added/blog/6292389/31710.html I've never really felt all that comfortable about "sharing" my innermost feelings in public places like Twitter or Facebook. Maybe, it's a generational thing. I'm not sure whether or not that kind of sharing qualifies as a "guy thing," or not. It certainly doesn't qualify as a "Mitch thing..." But, every once in a while something happens that just leaves you scratching your head and this is definitely one of those moments. We have a reputation for being "Good, but expensive..." I can live with that. But, frankly, I don't really agree. I believe we are "Good, and present superlative value..." But, that's just me. You see expensive conjures up images of unrealistically high prices that may or may not bring with them the kind of value we strive to associate with everything we do. I guess that's why the hair on the back of my neck - one of the few remaining places I have hair! - stands at attention when someone stands at the counter and says, "I've heard you guys are good, but expensive..." It happened again just a few minutes ago when one of our newest clients shared something that more than validates my general beliefs about the kind of value we can represent and the lack of awareness most members of the motoring public have of automotive service in general and automotive service when it comes to their particular vehicles in particular. During the casual conversation that almost always accompanies vehicle drop-off - at least, at our place - our client mentioned that he had just come from dropping off his wife's vehicle: a Toyota Sequoia, at the local dealer. Naturally, we took the opportunity to point a finger out into the shop and at the three Toyotas up in the air and let him know that "we work on Toyotas too." He said it was in for a Recall item and that while in, he was having the vehicle serviced: a kind of a "two-fer." The cost? About $118 for the oil change... Wow! Frank requested a copy of the finished invoice when the vehicle was returned to the client. After all, it would be good to know what was getting done for that $118! Especially, since we were just about to do a service on the husband's Mini Cooper which included a complimentary 30-point Courtesy Check and synthetic oil for less than the oil change on his Toyota... Value?  All that came to mind at that particular moment was that if the client has to ask or you have to explain you haven't done a very good job of communicating how and why you really are the dealership alternative! Either way, it should be more than a little interesting to see where the Sequoia goes for it's next service... [image] I've never really felt all that comfortable about "sharing" my innermost feelings in public places like Twitter or Facebook. Maybe, it's a generational thing. I'm not sure whether or not that kind of sharing qualifies as a "guy thing," or not. It certainly doesn't qualify as a "Mitch thing..." But, every once in a while something happens that just leaves you scratching your head and this is definitely one of those moments. We have a reputation for being "Good, but expensive..." I can live with that. But, frankly, I don't really agree. I believe we are "Good, and present superlative value..." But, that's just me. You see expensive conjures up images of unrealistically high prices that may or may not bring with them the kind of value we strive to associate with everything we do. I guess that's why the hair on the back of my neck - one of the few remaining places I have hair! - stands at attention when someone stands at the counter and says, "I've heard you guys are good, but expensive..." It happened again just a few minutes ago when one of our newest clients shared something that more than validates my general beliefs about the kind of value we can represent and the lack of awareness most members of the motoring public have of automotive service in general and automotive service when it comes to their particular vehicles in particular. During the casual conversation that almost always accompanies vehicle drop-off - at least, at our place - our client mentioned that he had just come from dropping off his wife's vehicle: a Toyota Sequoia, at the local dealer. Naturally, we took the opportunity to point a finger out into the shop and at the three Toyotas up in the air and let him know that "we work on Toyotas too." He said it was in for a Recall item and that while in, he was having the vehicle serviced: a kind of a "two-fer." The cost? About $118 for the oil change... Wow! Frank requested a copy of the finished invoice when the vehicle was returned to the client. After all, it would be good to know what was getting done for that $118! Especially, since we were just about to do a service on the husband's Mini Cooper which included a complimentary 30-point Courtesy Check and synthetic oil for less than the oil change on his Toyota... Value?  All that came to mind at that particular moment was that if the client has to ask or you have to explain you haven't done a very good job of communicating how and why you really are the dealership alternative! Either way, it should be more than a little interesting to see where the Sequoia goes for it's next service... [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:40:07 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Value-Added/blog/6292389/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-08-21T22:30:19Z Motor Age Blogs AutoPro Workshop I've never really felt all that comfortable about "sharing" my innermost feelings in public places like Twitter or Facebook. Maybe, it's a generational thing. I'm not sure whether or not that kind of sharing qualifies as a "guy thing," or not. It certainly doesn't qualify as a "Mitch thing..." But, every once in a while something happens that just leaves you scratching your head and this is definitely one of those moments. We have a reputation for being "Good, but expensive..." I can live with that. But, frankly, I don't really agree. I believe we are "Good, and present superlative value..." But, that's just me. You see expensive conjures up images of unrealistically high prices that may or may not bring with them the kind of value we strive to associate with everything we do. I guess that's why the hair on the back of my neck - one of the few remaining places I have hair! - stands at attention when someone stands at the counter and says, "I've heard you guys are good, but expensive..." It happened again just a few minutes ago when one of our newest clients shared something that more than validates my general beliefs about the kind of value we can represent and the lack of awareness most members of the motoring public have of automotive service in general and automotive service when it comes to their particular vehicles in particular. During the casual conversation that almost always accompanies vehicle drop-off - at least, at our place - our client mentioned that he had just come from dropping off his wife's vehicle: a Toyota Sequoia, at the local dealer. Naturally, we took the opportunity to point a finger out into the shop and at the three Toyotas up in the air and let him know that "we work on Toyotas too." He said it was in for a Recall item and that while in, he was having the vehicle serviced: a kind of a "two-fer." The cost? About $118 for the oil change... Wow! Frank requested a copy of the finished invoice when the vehicle was returned to the client. After all, it would be good to know what was getting done for that $118! Especially, since we were just about to do a service on the husband's Mini Cooper which included a complimentary 30-point Courtesy Check and synthetic oil for less than the oil change on his Toyota... Value?  All that came to mind at that particular moment was that if the client has to ask or you have to explain you haven't done a very good job of communicating how and why you really are the dealership alternative! Either way, it should be more than a little interesting to see where the Sequoia goes for it's next service... [image] alternative, blogs, cost, dealer alternative, mitch schneider, motor age, schneider's world, value nonadult false Value-Added? text blog alternative,blogs,cost,dealer alternative,mitch schneider,motor age,schneider's world,value 5795 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 6 Motor Age / Blogs 0 6292389 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Death-by-Drowning/blog/6269489/31710.html [image]WATER TORTURE… The Repair Order started off with:             Drivability                         Customer Concern: Vehicle will crank, but will not start… Note: Customer installed a new battery because the vehicle would not start, would not crank. Also, customer informed us the electric cooling fan runs after the vehicle is shut down and the key removed and that he has to disconnect the battery in order to power down the fan… Another day in paradise filled with anomalies, paradox and mysteries starting with what appeared to be a pristine, yet inanimate, 2006 Audi A4 sadly waiting for attention. Bob drew the short straw – Bob always seems to draw the short straw when it comes to anything that might even remotely be considered an anomaly, paradox or mystery – and headed out to the Audi, scan tool in hand. [image] He connected the scanner and was able to retrieve multiple Diagnostic Trouble Codes for a number of systems other than Engine Management, but was unable to communicate with the vehicle’s Engine Control Module. Bob’s roots go deep into the deep, rich soil of a South Dakota farm just off the Interstate about a hundred miles west of East Elbow, Nowhere. It was far enough away from anything to ensure that everyone who lived there had better know how to fix just about anything. Survival, especially survival during the long, cold winters, demanded nothing less. Those survival skills coupled with his ‘farmer’s’ intuition and common sense have earned him the nickname of MacGiver. Something told Bob to go to the ECM first, even before checking for missing or blown fuses. I’m not sure about anyone else here, but one thing I’ve learned over the more than twenty years Bob and I have been “hanging out” is that attempting to distract him from his chosen path is futile. You have about as much chance of getting Bob to do or stopping doing what he feels he must do in order to figure out what is wrong with a vehicle as you would have of changing the weather or influencing the rotation of the Earth. The only problem was inspecting the ECM would mean removing the rubber strip that seals the plenum cover, the cover itself, removing the windshield wiper arms and then removing the screws that retain the ECM housing cover and then the cover itself. The first thing Bob noticed after he accessed the ECM cover was that the most inaccessible portion of the housing: the part that lives in the deepest recesses under the cowl was damaged, broken away and missing both the boss and bolt that goes through the top of the cover and the boss and retaining nut that fastens the top of the cover to the bottom. You could almost close your eyes and ‘see’ someone trying to remove the cover without removing the cowl and wiper arms by unscrewing the retaining screws you could see and then trying to either snake or muscle the cover off, not knowing there was another hidden screw. You could almost feel the plastic stretch and bend and then almost hear that sickening ‘snap’ as it finally gave up and gave out. There was only one problem with that cover being broken and that was the loss of integrity that occurred as its result: the housing was no longer watertight. In fact, the housing made a pretty good reservoir! [image] A place to store water can be a good thing, especially if you’re traveling through the desert. However, it isn’t such a good thing if the receptacle is designed to house an electronic component such as the Electronic Control Module and its accompanying relays. As you can see for yourself, the result can be ugly!  Bob cleaned out the housing, removed one of the relays – the one pictured here – and substituted a ‘known good’ relay in its place. [image] After recharging the battery and installing that ‘known good’ relay, the electric cooling fan no longer ran after the vehicle was powered down, but the vehicle still refused to start. Bob checked the fuses to find all the fuses good with the exception of the fuse for the cigarette lighter and replaced the two, twenty-amp fuses. Then he started looking for empty spaces: someplace that had the electrical contacts for a fuse, but no fuse in place. He found a slot for a fuse at the number forty-three position and I’ll bet you’ll never guess what that number forty-three fuse is for – Actually, I’m willing to bet that you have already guessed what it’s for: Engine Management!  He installed the correct fuse and the vehicle started immediately: first try and every time thereafter. Bob reinstalled all the parts that had to be removed to access the ECM, cleared the Codes, rechecked the vehicle two or three more times and then took a deep sigh of relief… Done! Another vehicle saved from an otherwise ignominious, albeit watery death. I wonder if that makes Bob a Lifeguard as well as a farmer, Master Tech, L1 and Mac Gyver? [image]WATER TORTURE… The Repair Order started off with:             Drivability                         Customer Concern: Vehicle will crank, but will not start… Note: Customer installed a new battery because the vehicle would not start, would not crank. Also, customer informed us the electric cooling fan runs after the vehicle is shut down and the key removed and that he has to disconnect the battery in order to power down the fan… Another day in paradise filled with anomalies, paradox and mysteries starting with what appeared to be a pristine, yet inanimate, 2006 Audi A4 sadly waiting for attention. Bob drew the short straw – Bob always seems to draw the short straw when it comes to anything that might even remotely be considered an anomaly, paradox or mystery – and headed out to the Audi, scan tool in hand. [image] He connected the scanner and was able to retrieve multiple Diagnostic Trouble Codes for a number of systems other than Engine Management, but was unable to communicate with the vehicle’s Engine Control Module. Bob’s roots go deep into the deep, rich soil of a South Dakota farm just off the Interstate about a hundred miles west of East Elbow, Nowhere. It was far enough away from anything to ensure that everyone who lived there had better know how to fix just about anything. Survival, especially survival during the long, cold winters, demanded nothing less. Those survival skills coupled with his ‘farmer’s’ intuition and common sense have earned him the nickname of MacGiver. Something told Bob to go to the ECM first, even before checking for missing or blown fuses. I’m not sure about anyone else here, but one thing I’ve learned over the more than twenty years Bob and I have been “hanging out” is that attempting to distract him from his chosen path is futile. You have about as much chance of getting Bob to do or stopping doing what he feels he must do in order to figure out what is wrong with a vehicle as you would have of changing the weather or influencing the rotation of the Earth. The only problem was inspecting the ECM would mean removing the rubber strip that seals the plenum cover, the cover itself, removing the windshield wiper arms and then removing the screws that retain the ECM housing cover and then the cover itself. The first thing Bob noticed after he accessed the ECM cover was that the most inaccessible portion of the housing: the part that lives in the deepest recesses under the cowl was damaged, broken away and missing both the boss and bolt that goes through the top of the cover and the boss and retaining nut that fastens the top of the cover to the bottom. You could almost close your eyes and ‘see’ someone trying to remove the cover without removing the cowl and wiper arms by unscrewing the retaining screws you could see and then trying to either snake or muscle the cover off, not knowing there was another hidden screw. You could almost feel the plastic stretch and bend and then almost hear that sickening ‘snap’ as it finally gave up and gave out. There was only one problem with that cover being broken and that was the loss of integrity that occurred as its result: the housing was no longer watertight. In fact, the housing made a pretty good reservoir! [image] A place to store water can be a good thing, especially if you’re traveling through the desert. However, it isn’t such a good thing if the receptacle is designed to house an electronic component such as the Electronic Control Module and its accompanying relays. As you can see for yourself, the result can be ugly!  Bob cleaned out the housing, removed one of the relays – the one pictured here – and substituted a ‘known good’ relay in its place. [image] After recharging the battery and installing that ‘known good’ relay, the electric cooling fan no longer ran after the vehicle was powered down, but the vehicle still refused to start. Bob checked the fuses to find all the fuses good with the exception of the fuse for the cigarette lighter and replaced the two, twenty-amp fuses. Then he started looking for empty spaces: someplace that had the electrical contacts for a fuse, but no fuse in place. He found a slot for a fuse at the number forty-three position and I’ll bet you’ll never guess what that number forty-three fuse is for – Actually, I’m willing to bet that you have already guessed what it’s for: Engine Management!  He installed the correct fuse and the vehicle started immediately: first try and every time thereafter. Bob reinstalled all the parts that had to be removed to access the ECM, cleared the Codes, rechecked the vehicle two or three more times and then took a deep sigh of relief… Done! Another vehicle saved from an otherwise ignominious, albeit watery death. I wonder if that makes Bob a Lifeguard as well as a farmer, Master Tech, L1 and Mac Gyver? Fri, 10 Aug 2012 05:16:10 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Death-by-Drowning/blog/6269489/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-08-10T05:16:10Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image]WATER TORTURE… The Repair Order started off with:             Drivability                         Customer Concern: Vehicle will crank, but will not start… Note: Customer installed a new battery because the vehicle would not start, would not crank. Also, customer informed us the electric cooling fan runs after the vehicle is shut down and the key removed and that he has to disconnect the battery in order to power down the fan… Another day in paradise filled with anomalies, paradox and mysteries starting with what appeared to be a pristine, yet inanimate, 2006 Audi A4 sadly waiting for attention. Bob drew the short straw – Bob always seems to draw the short straw when it comes to anything that might even remotely be considered an anomaly, paradox or mystery – and headed out to the Audi, scan tool in hand. [image] He connected the scanner and was able to retrieve multiple Diagnostic Trouble Codes for a number of systems other than Engine Management, but was unable to communicate with the vehicle’s Engine Control Module. Bob’s roots go deep into the deep, rich soil of a South Dakota farm just off the Interstate about a hundred miles west of East Elbow, Nowhere. It was far enough away from anything to ensure that everyone who lived there had better know how to fix just about anything. Survival, especially survival during the long, cold winters, demanded nothing less. Those survival skills coupled with his ‘farmer’s’ intuition and common sense have earned him the nickname of MacGiver. Something told Bob to go to the ECM first, even before checking for missing or blown fuses. I’m not sure about anyone else here, but one thing I’ve learned over the more than twenty years Bob and I have been “hanging out” is that attempting to distract him from his chosen path is futile. You have about as much chance of getting Bob to do or stopping doing what he feels he must do in order to figure out what is wrong with a vehicle as you would have of changing the weather or influencing the rotation of the Earth. The only problem was inspecting the ECM would mean removing the rubber strip that seals the plenum cover, the cover itself, removing the windshield wiper arms and then removing the screws that retain the ECM housing cover and then the cover itself. The first thing Bob noticed after he accessed the ECM cover was that the most inaccessible portion of the housing: the part that lives in the deepest recesses under the cowl was damaged, broken away and missing both the boss and bolt that goes through the top of the cover and the boss and retaining nut that fastens the top of the cover to the bottom. You could almost close your eyes and ‘see’ someone trying to remove the cover without removing the cowl and wiper arms by unscrewing the retaining screws you could see and then trying to either snake or muscle the cover off, not knowing there was another hidden screw. You could almost feel the plastic stretch and bend and then almost hear that sickening ‘snap’ as it finally gave up and gave out. There was only one problem with that cover being broken and that was the loss of integrity that occurred as its result: the housing was no longer watertight. In fact, the housing made a pretty good reservoir! [image] A place to store water can be a good thing, especially if you’re traveling through the desert. However, it isn’t such a good thing if the receptacle is designed to house an electronic component such as the Electronic Control Module and its accompanying relays. As you can see for yourself, the result can be ugly!  Bob cleaned out the housing, removed one of the relays – the one pictured here – and substituted a ‘known good’ relay in its place. [image] After recharging the battery and installing that ‘known good’ relay, the electric cooling fan no longer ran after the vehicle was powered down, but the vehicle still refused to start. Bob checked the fuses to find all the fuses good with the exception of the fuse for the cigarette lighter and replaced the two, twenty-amp fuses. Then he started looking for empty spaces: someplace that had the electrical contacts for a fuse, but no fuse in place. He found a slot for a fuse at the number forty-three position and I’ll bet you’ll never guess what that number forty-three fuse is for – Actually, I’m willing to bet that you have already guessed what it’s for: Engine Management!  He installed the correct fuse and the vehicle started immediately: first try and every time thereafter. Bob reinstalled all the parts that had to be removed to access the ECM, cleared the Codes, rechecked the vehicle two or three more times and then took a deep sigh of relief… Done! Another vehicle saved from an otherwise ignominious, albeit watery death. I wonder if that makes Bob a Lifeguard as well as a farmer, Master Tech, L1 and Mac Gyver? determination, diagnostic trouble codes, discipline, drowning, dtc, motor age nonadult false Death by Drowning... text blog determination,diagnostic trouble codes,discipline,drowning,dtc,motor age 1462 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6269489 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_IN-IT-ON-IT-THROUGH-IT/blog/6226867/31710.html [image] There is an entire univers of things I should be doing right now not the least of which is sleeping... Yes, Sleeping! You see I didn’t get quite enough sleep last week. It seemed like I moved directly from my chair at the service counter to my chair in my home office with just a few minutes spent eating and in quiet conversation with my wife at my chair at the dining room table. That’s a lot of sitting. But, more that that, it was a lot of working: especially, when there is a lot more Have To than Want To involved. It was busy the week before and for that I am truly grateful. It’s the summer and ‘busy’ in a weak economy is a blessing. However, ‘busy’ is always better when it is manageable. Unfortunately, the problem with ‘busy’ is that it isn’t always manageable and it was anything but manageable last week. When the dominoes begin to fall and things feel like they spiraling out of control it’s hard to do much more than default to what you know will work. I say that like it’s a conscious decision. It’s not… It may as well be an autonomic nervous system response: something you don’t think about, something that occurs without conscious thought or control. Your days are filled with crisis management and damage control and your evenings with all the paperwork that didn’t get processed while you were busy doing everything else it takes to keep three technicians engaged, involved and productive. Running a quality shop with a real commitment to “High Touch:” intimate communication with your clients throughout the process, is a contact sport. Anyone who has done this successfully knows that: anyone who doesn’t know or realize it, hasn’t done it or hasn’t done it successfully. Trying to achieve that level of performance when you are short-staffed and while you are breaking in a new office support person is self-destructive if not just plain suicidal, and that was my week last week. When you are fully engaged working in your business it’s all but impossible to work on it. When you aren’t working on it the only thing you can be sure of is that no one else is working on it either. Long range planning grinds to a halt and the “Crisis Du Jour” is all there is. Where are the parts you ordered for Infiniti? They should have been here thirty minutes ago! What do you mean you can’t get a new dual mass flywheel for that ’01 Lincoln LS? How can that be possible? And, where in the world are we going to get it resurfaced if we can’t replace it? Oh, my God! The automotive literacy clinic you’ve been planning, promoting and talking about for the past six months is this Saturday! How can that be? Are we ready? [image]The tapestry we weave every day is incredibly intricate. The pattern more complex than any of us realizes because we stand too close to recognize the detail.  I see it only because I’ve trained myself to see it. As a writer, it’s a big part of what I do. And, as a writer it’s my job to reflect on what I see. The problem is, we – any or all of us – can only process so much information at any given moment. That means we either disengage and back away or let the chaos wash over us hoping somehow we won’t drown in it. I’ve learned to back away in order to at least try and gain perspective, attempt to recognize any discernable patterns and then formulate what seems like an appropriate response. The problem is when I do that, I detach almost completely: from just about everyone and everything. That’s one of the reasons that with the exception of the deadlines for my July columns for Motor Age and Aftermarket Business, I’ve been off the grid for the past couple of weeks. That’s the bad news… The good news is that as a result of all that contemplation and reflection, I’m back and there lots to write about: lots to share, not the least of which is what has to feel like a dysfunctional process (Any process that allows the weight of all the responsibility to fall on the shoulders of just one person in a business that employs many people is dysfunctional in my opinion!). Any process that leaves you drowning In It: wrestling with ten or twelve or thirteen hours of To Do’s and Have To’s in a ten hour day, instead of working On It, which as the Chief Executive Office of Chaos, Inc., is your job, is a problem. And, anything that leaves you hoping for little more than getting Through It is certainly a lot less than any of us should find ourselves looking forward to. [image] There is an entire univers of things I should be doing right now not the least of which is sleeping... Yes, Sleeping! You see I didn’t get quite enough sleep last week. It seemed like I moved directly from my chair at the service counter to my chair in my home office with just a few minutes spent eating and in quiet conversation with my wife at my chair at the dining room table. That’s a lot of sitting. But, more that that, it was a lot of working: especially, when there is a lot more Have To than Want To involved. It was busy the week before and for that I am truly grateful. It’s the summer and ‘busy’ in a weak economy is a blessing. However, ‘busy’ is always better when it is manageable. Unfortunately, the problem with ‘busy’ is that it isn’t always manageable and it was anything but manageable last week. When the dominoes begin to fall and things feel like they spiraling out of control it’s hard to do much more than default to what you know will work. I say that like it’s a conscious decision. It’s not… It may as well be an autonomic nervous system response: something you don’t think about, something that occurs without conscious thought or control. Your days are filled with crisis management and damage control and your evenings with all the paperwork that didn’t get processed while you were busy doing everything else it takes to keep three technicians engaged, involved and productive. Running a quality shop with a real commitment to “High Touch:” intimate communication with your clients throughout the process, is a contact sport. Anyone who has done this successfully knows that: anyone who doesn’t know or realize it, hasn’t done it or hasn’t done it successfully. Trying to achieve that level of performance when you are short-staffed and while you are breaking in a new office support person is self-destructive if not just plain suicidal, and that was my week last week. When you are fully engaged working in your business it’s all but impossible to work on it. When you aren’t working on it the only thing you can be sure of is that no one else is working on it either. Long range planning grinds to a halt and the “Crisis Du Jour” is all there is. Where are the parts you ordered for Infiniti? They should have been here thirty minutes ago! What do you mean you can’t get a new dual mass flywheel for that ’01 Lincoln LS? How can that be possible? And, where in the world are we going to get it resurfaced if we can’t replace it? Oh, my God! The automotive literacy clinic you’ve been planning, promoting and talking about for the past six months is this Saturday! How can that be? Are we ready? [image]The tapestry we weave every day is incredibly intricate. The pattern more complex than any of us realizes because we stand too close to recognize the detail.  I see it only because I’ve trained myself to see it. As a writer, it’s a big part of what I do. And, as a writer it’s my job to reflect on what I see. The problem is, we – any or all of us – can only process so much information at any given moment. That means we either disengage and back away or let the chaos wash over us hoping somehow we won’t drown in it. I’ve learned to back away in order to at least try and gain perspective, attempt to recognize any discernable patterns and then formulate what seems like an appropriate response. The problem is when I do that, I detach almost completely: from just about everyone and everything. That’s one of the reasons that with the exception of the deadlines for my July columns for Motor Age and Aftermarket Business, I’ve been off the grid for the past couple of weeks. That’s the bad news… The good news is that as a result of all that contemplation and reflection, I’m back and there lots to write about: lots to share, not the least of which is what has to feel like a dysfunctional process (Any process that allows the weight of all the responsibility to fall on the shoulders of just one person in a business that employs many people is dysfunctional in my opinion!). Any process that leaves you drowning In It: wrestling with ten or twelve or thirteen hours of To Do’s and Have To’s in a ten hour day, instead of working On It, which as the Chief Executive Office of Chaos, Inc., is your job, is a problem. And, anything that leaves you hoping for little more than getting Through It is certainly a lot less than any of us should find ourselves looking forward to. Sun, 15 Jul 2012 17:47:01 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_IN-IT-ON-IT-THROUGH-IT/blog/6226867/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-07-15T17:47:01Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop [image] There is an entire univers of things I should be doing right now not the least of which is sleeping... Yes, Sleeping! You see I didn’t get quite enough sleep last week. It seemed like I moved directly from my chair at the service counter to my chair in my home office with just a few minutes spent eating and in quiet conversation with my wife at my chair at the dining room table. That’s a lot of sitting. But, more that that, it was a lot of working: especially, when there is a lot more Have To than Want To involved. It was busy the week before and for that I am truly grateful. It’s the summer and ‘busy’ in a weak economy is a blessing. However, ‘busy’ is always better when it is manageable. Unfortunately, the problem with ‘busy’ is that it isn’t always manageable and it was anything but manageable last week. When the dominoes begin to fall and things feel like they spiraling out of control it’s hard to do much more than default to what you know will work. I say that like it’s a conscious decision. It’s not… It may as well be an autonomic nervous system response: something you don’t think about, something that occurs without conscious thought or control. Your days are filled with crisis management and damage control and your evenings with all the paperwork that didn’t get processed while you were busy doing everything else it takes to keep three technicians engaged, involved and productive. Running a quality shop with a real commitment to “High Touch:” intimate communication with your clients throughout the process, is a contact sport. Anyone who has done this successfully knows that: anyone who doesn’t know or realize it, hasn’t done it or hasn’t done it successfully. Trying to achieve that level of performance when you are short-staffed and while you are breaking in a new office support person is self-destructive if not just plain suicidal, and that was my week last week. When you are fully engaged working in your business it’s all but impossible to work on it. When you aren’t working on it the only thing you can be sure of is that no one else is working on it either. Long range planning grinds to a halt and the “Crisis Du Jour” is all there is. Where are the parts you ordered for Infiniti? They should have been here thirty minutes ago! What do you mean you can’t get a new dual mass flywheel for that ’01 Lincoln LS? How can that be possible? And, where in the world are we going to get it resurfaced if we can’t replace it? Oh, my God! The automotive literacy clinic you’ve been planning, promoting and talking about for the past six months is this Saturday! How can that be? Are we ready? [image]The tapestry we weave every day is incredibly intricate. The pattern more complex than any of us realizes because we stand too close to recognize the detail.  I see it only because I’ve trained myself to see it. As a writer, it’s a big part of what I do. And, as a writer it’s my job to reflect on what I see. The problem is, we – any or all of us – can only process so much information at any given moment. That means we either disengage and back away or let the chaos wash over us hoping somehow we won’t drown in it. I’ve learned to back away in order to at least try and gain perspective, attempt to recognize any discernable patterns and then formulate what seems like an appropriate response. The problem is when I do that, I detach almost completely: from just about everyone and everything. That’s one of the reasons that with the exception of the deadlines for my July columns for Motor Age and Aftermarket Business, I’ve been off the grid for the past couple of weeks. That’s the bad news… The good news is that as a result of all that contemplation and reflection, I’m back and there lots to write about: lots to share, not the least of which is what has to feel like a dysfunctional process (Any process that allows the weight of all the responsibility to fall on the shoulders of just one person in a business that employs many people is dysfunctional in my opinion!). Any process that leaves you drowning In It: wrestling with ten or twelve or thirteen hours of To Do’s and Have To’s in a ten hour day, instead of working On It, which as the Chief Executive Office of Chaos, Inc., is your job, is a problem. And, anything that leaves you hoping for little more than getting Through It is certainly a lot less than any of us should find ourselves looking forward to. dysfunctional, have to, motor age nonadult false IN IT… ON IT… THROUGH IT… text blog dysfunctional,have to,motor age 881 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6226867 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Adopt-A-Shop-Paying-Success-Forward/blog/6207621/31710.html Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the 2012 ASCCA Summer Meeting, June 22, in Orange County, where I brought up a concept I’ve talked and written about in the past. That concept is: Adopt-a-Shop which is all about paying your success forward.  Gene Morrill, Owner of Certified Automotive Specialties in Glendora and a member of ASCCA Chapter 5 came up to me after the presentation and asked if I would put something together explaining this idea in a little more detail, either for the members of his Chapter of for the Board of ASCCA.  In thinking about what to do and how to do it, I decided create a short video first so I could see what I had to say about this idea of Adopting-a-Shop, before   attempting to write it all down.The video is available here and on the YouTube Channel I'mbuilding. If you have a moment, actually about sixteen moments, take a look and let me know what you think. I think it’s an idea worth sharing.   The first thing you need to know is that this is not a new idea… And, second, it isn’t really just mine. I was first exposed to the concept of reaching out to another shop owner in a very intimate and personal way by Ben Caswell, owner of Ben’s Transmission, in Santa Barbara, California, more years ago than either Ben or I would like to remember.  It started shortly after Ben attended a Terry Greenhut seminar and was exposed to Terry’s philosophy of automotive shop management: his concept of successfully running an automotive service business, and it had a profound impact on both his life and his business… Ben took those concepts to heart and made them work and in so doing turned his business around. In what was perhaps one of the first demonstrations of “Paying it Forward” I was ever exposed to, he chose to share what he’d learned with other shop owners in order to ensure they had the same opportunities he’d been given. In other words, he became an evangelist. But, unlike a lot of other evangelists, Ben chose to put his money where his mouth was! The way he chose to practice his special brand of ‘paying it forward” was by personally choosing a shop owner he believed could or would benefit from being exposed to Terry’s message, and then paying for that shop owner to attend a subsequent seminar with a “You can pay me back from the additional profits you generate after you’ve implemented what you’ve learned and you can do it whenever you can….” In many ways, this was the ultimate “Unconditional, No Risk, Money-Back Guarantee!” All the other shop owner had to do was show up with an open mind, which in many cases was asking a lot more than that statement might imply, and then just execute. I know… It sounds a lot easier than it is, but difficult doesn’t necessarily mean impossible either! The ultimate goal here is to elevate the repair community and build a stronger, more resilient, more profitable and successful service industry for us all. The goal is to increase association involvement and, perhaps, more important, commitment. Having shop owners – especially, successful shop owners who are also active members of our associations- adopt another shop: a shop whose owner might be struggling, just might be the shortest and most direct way to accomplish both goals. It certainly seems like the easiest way to accomplish them simultaneously. And, that’s pretty much it… There are really very few among us who have not struggled: who have not left a lot of their own skin in the game while working their way toward success. There are few among who have not paid a significant price for those lessons in dollars, time and effort. And, there are few among us who would not or could not benefit if that experience was shared openly and willingly. There are shops in our industry desperately in need of help. Shops and shop owners, struggling to survive every day. There are shops within our association that have an incredible amount of experience, wisdom and knowledge to share: enough experience, wisdom and knowledge to all but eliminate that struggling. Our job is to connect the dots It sounds simple enough, but let’s not kid ourselves. This will not be a simple or easy fix. We have to overcome a number of issues, not the least of which are our own insecurities, the insecurities of those we hope to help, our natural resistance to change – any kind of change: positive or negative, issues of trust on both sides of this inter-personal equation, the false notion of somehow losing your “competitive edge” – whatever that means, and a stubborn unwillingness to accept help from anyone – least of all someone who might be perceived as a competitor. But, nothing will ever change for any of us unless or until we overcome any and all of these obstacles and muster the courage to do something different, something bold, something decisive. We have the knowledge base. We have members within our associations, within our industry, who have the knowledge and ability to change the lives of those marginal shop owners out there who are interested and willing to accept help. If successful, we can effectively double the size of our associations if we can get past the natural reluctance to share what we’ve learned. We can double the size of our institutions if we can just get past the kind of ‘Scarcity Mentality’ that suggests there is only one pie with a finite number of slices which are getting smaller and thinner all the time.  I believe there is a technology for everything… Adopting-a-Shop included. But, this isn’t the time or place to discuss the details of how best to accomplish this strategy or these goals. It is, however, the time and place to decide whether or not we are satisfied with the way things are and what we are willing to do about it if we’re not… Albert Gray, in a speech entitled “The Common Denominator of Success” delivered before the National Association of Life Insurance Underwriters in 1940, suggested that successful people are successful because they form the habit of doing those things people who are unsuccessful are unwilling to do… I might add that not all those who struggle for success are unsuccessful because they choose to remain that way. Some may be incapable due to a lack of understanding, education or experience.  Those of us who are affiliated have already done at least one of the things the majority of unsuccessful people in our industry are either unwilling or unable to do, and that is JOIN… We can double the size of our organizations by doing one more thing many people are reluctant to do and that’s reach out to another shop owner to help them reach the next level of their success.  Don’t get too excited, at least not yet. While it might double the size of our organizations, it would still leave us with the vast majority – more than seventy percent - of the shops out there, unaffiliated, isolated and, perhaps, even struggling! Whether you are an association member or you are unaffiliated, I’d like to know what you think about this concept: How it could work… Why you think it won’t.  I’m available to discuss this idea further if there is an interest… You can reach me here, at: mitchs@schneidersauto.net or very shortly, through http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com (which is under construction and not quite ready for prime time yet).  Until then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like…  There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is…  [image]   [image] Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the 2012 ASCCA Summer Meeting, June 22, in Orange County, where I brought up a concept I’ve talked and written about in the past. That concept is: Adopt-a-Shop which is all about paying your success forward.  Gene Morrill, Owner of Certified Automotive Specialties in Glendora and a member of ASCCA Chapter 5 came up to me after the presentation and asked if I would put something together explaining this idea in a little more detail, either for the members of his Chapter of for the Board of ASCCA.  In thinking about what to do and how to do it, I decided create a short video first so I could see what I had to say about this idea of Adopting-a-Shop, before   attempting to write it all down.The video is available here and on the YouTube Channel I'mbuilding. If you have a moment, actually about sixteen moments, take a look and let me know what you think. I think it’s an idea worth sharing.   The first thing you need to know is that this is not a new idea… And, second, it isn’t really just mine. I was first exposed to the concept of reaching out to another shop owner in a very intimate and personal way by Ben Caswell, owner of Ben’s Transmission, in Santa Barbara, California, more years ago than either Ben or I would like to remember.  It started shortly after Ben attended a Terry Greenhut seminar and was exposed to Terry’s philosophy of automotive shop management: his concept of successfully running an automotive service business, and it had a profound impact on both his life and his business… Ben took those concepts to heart and made them work and in so doing turned his business around. In what was perhaps one of the first demonstrations of “Paying it Forward” I was ever exposed to, he chose to share what he’d learned with other shop owners in order to ensure they had the same opportunities he’d been given. In other words, he became an evangelist. But, unlike a lot of other evangelists, Ben chose to put his money where his mouth was! The way he chose to practice his special brand of ‘paying it forward” was by personally choosing a shop owner he believed could or would benefit from being exposed to Terry’s message, and then paying for that shop owner to attend a subsequent seminar with a “You can pay me back from the additional profits you generate after you’ve implemented what you’ve learned and you can do it whenever you can….” In many ways, this was the ultimate “Unconditional, No Risk, Money-Back Guarantee!” All the other shop owner had to do was show up with an open mind, which in many cases was asking a lot more than that statement might imply, and then just execute. I know… It sounds a lot easier than it is, but difficult doesn’t necessarily mean impossible either! The ultimate goal here is to elevate the repair community and build a stronger, more resilient, more profitable and successful service industry for us all. The goal is to increase association involvement and, perhaps, more important, commitment. Having shop owners – especially, successful shop owners who are also active members of our associations- adopt another shop: a shop whose owner might be struggling, just might be the shortest and most direct way to accomplish both goals. It certainly seems like the easiest way to accomplish them simultaneously. And, that’s pretty much it… There are really very few among us who have not struggled: who have not left a lot of their own skin in the game while working their way toward success. There are few among who have not paid a significant price for those lessons in dollars, time and effort. And, there are few among us who would not or could not benefit if that experience was shared openly and willingly. There are shops in our industry desperately in need of help. Shops and shop owners, struggling to survive every day. There are shops within our association that have an incredible amount of experience, wisdom and knowledge to share: enough experience, wisdom and knowledge to all but eliminate that struggling. Our job is to connect the dots It sounds simple enough, but let’s not kid ourselves. This will not be a simple or easy fix. We have to overcome a number of issues, not the least of which are our own insecurities, the insecurities of those we hope to help, our natural resistance to change – any kind of change: positive or negative, issues of trust on both sides of this inter-personal equation, the false notion of somehow losing your “competitive edge” – whatever that means, and a stubborn unwillingness to accept help from anyone – least of all someone who might be perceived as a competitor. But, nothing will ever change for any of us unless or until we overcome any and all of these obstacles and muster the courage to do something different, something bold, something decisive. We have the knowledge base. We have members within our associations, within our industry, who have the knowledge and ability to change the lives of those marginal shop owners out there who are interested and willing to accept help. If successful, we can effectively double the size of our associations if we can get past the natural reluctance to share what we’ve learned. We can double the size of our institutions if we can just get past the kind of ‘Scarcity Mentality’ that suggests there is only one pie with a finite number of slices which are getting smaller and thinner all the time.  I believe there is a technology for everything… Adopting-a-Shop included. But, this isn’t the time or place to discuss the details of how best to accomplish this strategy or these goals. It is, however, the time and place to decide whether or not we are satisfied with the way things are and what we are willing to do about it if we’re not… Albert Gray, in a speech entitled “The Common Denominator of Success” delivered before the National Association of Life Insurance Underwriters in 1940, suggested that successful people are successful because they form the habit of doing those things people who are unsuccessful are unwilling to do… I might add that not all those who struggle for success are unsuccessful because they choose to remain that way. Some may be incapable due to a lack of understanding, education or experience.  Those of us who are affiliated have already done at least one of the things the majority of unsuccessful people in our industry are either unwilling or unable to do, and that is JOIN… We can double the size of our organizations by doing one more thing many people are reluctant to do and that’s reach out to another shop owner to help them reach the next level of their success.  Don’t get too excited, at least not yet. While it might double the size of our organizations, it would still leave us with the vast majority – more than seventy percent - of the shops out there, unaffiliated, isolated and, perhaps, even struggling! Whether you are an association member or you are unaffiliated, I’d like to know what you think about this concept: How it could work… Why you think it won’t.  I’m available to discuss this idea further if there is an interest… You can reach me here, at: mitchs@schneidersauto.net or very shortly, through http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com (which is under construction and not quite ready for prime time yet).  Until then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like…  There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is…  [image]   [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:40:30 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Adopt-A-Shop-Paying-Success-Forward/blog/6207621/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-07-03T07:30:10Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the 2012 ASCCA Summer Meeting, June 22, in Orange County, where I brought up a concept I’ve talked and written about in the past. That concept is: Adopt-a-Shop which is all about paying your success forward.  Gene Morrill, Owner of Certified Automotive Specialties in Glendora and a member of ASCCA Chapter 5 came up to me after the presentation and asked if I would put something together explaining this idea in a little more detail, either for the members of his Chapter of for the Board of ASCCA.  In thinking about what to do and how to do it, I decided create a short video first so I could see what I had to say about this idea of Adopting-a-Shop, before   attempting to write it all down.The video is available here and on the YouTube Channel I'mbuilding. If you have a moment, actually about sixteen moments, take a look and let me know what you think. I think it’s an idea worth sharing.   The first thing you need to know is that this is not a new idea… And, second, it isn’t really just mine. I was first exposed to the concept of reaching out to another shop owner in a very intimate and personal way by Ben Caswell, owner of Ben’s Transmission, in Santa Barbara, California, more years ago than either Ben or I would like to remember.  It started shortly after Ben attended a Terry Greenhut seminar and was exposed to Terry’s philosophy of automotive shop management: his concept of successfully running an automotive service business, and it had a profound impact on both his life and his business… Ben took those concepts to heart and made them work and in so doing turned his business around. In what was perhaps one of the first demonstrations of “Paying it Forward” I was ever exposed to, he chose to share what he’d learned with other shop owners in order to ensure they had the same opportunities he’d been given. In other words, he became an evangelist. But, unlike a lot of other evangelists, Ben chose to put his money where his mouth was! The way he chose to practice his special brand of ‘paying it forward” was by personally choosing a shop owner he believed could or would benefit from being exposed to Terry’s message, and then paying for that shop owner to attend a subsequent seminar with a “You can pay me back from the additional profits you generate after you’ve implemented what you’ve learned and you can do it whenever you can….” In many ways, this was the ultimate “Unconditional, No Risk, Money-Back Guarantee!” All the other shop owner had to do was show up with an open mind, which in many cases was asking a lot more than that statement might imply, and then just execute. I know… It sounds a lot easier than it is, but difficult doesn’t necessarily mean impossible either! The ultimate goal here is to elevate the repair community and build a stronger, more resilient, more profitable and successful service industry for us all. The goal is to increase association involvement and, perhaps, more important, commitment. Having shop owners – especially, successful shop owners who are also active members of our associations- adopt another shop: a shop whose owner might be struggling, just might be the shortest and most direct way to accomplish both goals. It certainly seems like the easiest way to accomplish them simultaneously. And, that’s pretty much it… There are really very few among us who have not struggled: who have not left a lot of their own skin in the game while working their way toward success. There are few among who have not paid a significant price for those lessons in dollars, time and effort. And, there are few among us who would not or could not benefit if that experience was shared openly and willingly. There are shops in our industry desperately in need of help. Shops and shop owners, struggling to survive every day. There are shops within our association that have an incredible amount of experience, wisdom and knowledge to share: enough experience, wisdom and knowledge to all but eliminate that struggling. Our job is to connect the dots It sounds simple enough, but let’s not kid ourselves. This will not be a simple or easy fix. We have to overcome a number of issues, not the least of which are our own insecurities, the insecurities of those we hope to help, our natural resistance to change – any kind of change: positive or negative, issues of trust on both sides of this inter-personal equation, the false notion of somehow losing your “competitive edge” – whatever that means, and a stubborn unwillingness to accept help from anyone – least of all someone who might be perceived as a competitor. But, nothing will ever change for any of us unless or until we overcome any and all of these obstacles and muster the courage to do something different, something bold, something decisive. We have the knowledge base. We have members within our associations, within our industry, who have the knowledge and ability to change the lives of those marginal shop owners out there who are interested and willing to accept help. If successful, we can effectively double the size of our associations if we can get past the natural reluctance to share what we’ve learned. We can double the size of our institutions if we can just get past the kind of ‘Scarcity Mentality’ that suggests there is only one pie with a finite number of slices which are getting smaller and thinner all the time.  I believe there is a technology for everything… Adopting-a-Shop included. But, this isn’t the time or place to discuss the details of how best to accomplish this strategy or these goals. It is, however, the time and place to decide whether or not we are satisfied with the way things are and what we are willing to do about it if we’re not… Albert Gray, in a speech entitled “The Common Denominator of Success” delivered before the National Association of Life Insurance Underwriters in 1940, suggested that successful people are successful because they form the habit of doing those things people who are unsuccessful are unwilling to do… I might add that not all those who struggle for success are unsuccessful because they choose to remain that way. Some may be incapable due to a lack of understanding, education or experience.  Those of us who are affiliated have already done at least one of the things the majority of unsuccessful people in our industry are either unwilling or unable to do, and that is JOIN… We can double the size of our organizations by doing one more thing many people are reluctant to do and that’s reach out to another shop owner to help them reach the next level of their success.  Don’t get too excited, at least not yet. While it might double the size of our organizations, it would still leave us with the vast majority – more than seventy percent - of the shops out there, unaffiliated, isolated and, perhaps, even struggling! Whether you are an association member or you are unaffiliated, I’d like to know what you think about this concept: How it could work… Why you think it won’t.  I’m available to discuss this idea further if there is an interest… You can reach me here, at: mitchs@schneidersauto.net or very shortly, through http://www.mitchschneidersworld.com (which is under construction and not quite ready for prime time yet).  Until then, stay well, take care, make money, have fun and don’t do business with anyone you don’t like…  There is probably a very good reason you don’t like them and you don’t really need to find out what that reason is…  [image]   [image] adopt-a-shop, affiliation, association, associations, growth, insecurity, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false Adopt-A-Shop: Paying Success Forward text blog adopt-a-shop,affiliation,association,associations,growth,insecurity,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,schneider's world 974 1 5.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6207621 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_It39s-Not-But-It-Could-Be/blog/6193307/31710.html I did something last night I rarely do. I watched television: specifically, the premier of the new HBO television series, Newsroom. It may not sound like a big deal to those of you who watch television, but television and especially serialized dramas are a luxury I refuse to allow myself. Evenings are when I read or write or research or plan or develop or sometimes just sit and think, and lately there hasn't been a lot of 'thought provoking' or even entertaining television to watch. I'm not sure the majority of so-called reality shows would or could qualify as 'thought provoking.' So far, none of the ones I've forced myself to watch have. I certainly don't have to watch the glut of reality shows currently filling the airwaves to immerse myself in drama if that's what I choose to do with my time. All I have to do is show up at the shop and I have my own 'reality show: a show I get to produce, direct, star in, and, yes, even watch! Aside from that, I don't want to get hooked on something I know I won't have the time to watch because I've dedicated that time to something else. It's too frustrating and I'm at a point in my life where frustration almost always degenerates into anger or resentment. Consequently, I aggressively avoid watching television of any kind. I've been marginally successful. That is, up until last night. Last night the fates conspired against me. I tried to write, but couldn't find the melody or the rhythm I was looking for. I tried to read, but couldn't quiet the noise in my head sufficiently to concentrate. So, I took my shower and got ready for bed just in time to watch the last twenty minutes of Newsroom. It was riveting. It was intelligently written. It was timely. It was provocative. It was, in fact, just about everything television could be. Or, more appropriately, could have been and isn't. I had a long list of things I wanted to do after dinner this evening... Important things, like finishing a column, scripting a new webcast, developing an idea for a colleague and the association we both belong to. Instead, I pulled Newsroom up on the DVR to catch what I had missed and instead watched it from beginning to end. There are lots of things I could say about it, but I think I'll stick with the two that impacted me the hardest: the two that have the most to say to us as a people, a country and a culture. The first spins off what I think may have been the first episode's title: "We just decided to..." And, the second, has to do with a message the female lead had for Jeff Daniels, the male lead: "It's Not... But, It Could Be." You're going to have to watch the pilot on HBO or search for it on YouTube or someplace else to see how Aaron Sorkin, the writer, managed to weave those two ideas into the story line. I'll just tell you that it's worth the effort. Then, I'll let you know what they had to say to me. "It's Not... But, It Could Be!" spoke to a realistic assessment of where we are as a nation: as a people. You and I could just as easily use that phrase to assess where we are as an industry. It's not the best industry or the most satisfying. It's not the most profitable or the most rewarding. At least, not for the majority of those who struggle just to get by day-to-day. But, it could be... It could be if we put aside our differences and instead focused on the things that  we have in common: that we can all agree on. It could if we found a way to celebrate our shared values instead of focusing on the issues that divide us. How do you do that? I think it's probably clear that we have the knowledge: the understanding. We just need to decide to do something with that knowledge. The fact of the matter is, we just need to DO SOMETHING! The same can be said of or for our Nation. We aren't what we once were... One nation indivisible. We may be better than most, but we seem to have lost sight of what we could be. The fact of the matter is, we could be better: in many ways, for many of our people. But, to regain that greatness we need huge, virtually unattainable goals: goals so big our differences become inconsequential in their shadow. Then, all we would have to do is decide: decide to move forward... as individuals, as an industry, as a Nation, as a People. It's risky to suggest we aren't what we could be, that we have not realized our potential: that we've somehow become lost along the way. I'm sure there are many who would disagree. But, as a diagnostician: a pragmatist, I look at the possibilities each set of beliefs drags along with it before making a decision. Continually striving to achieve: to reach unattainable heights, achieve impossible goals, provide unparalleled freedoms has brought us to this moment. The kind of arrogance that suggests there are no more mountains to climb, no more challenges to confront: that all is left is desperately clinging to what once was leaves us all with only one direction in which move. Watch Newsroom, then tell me what you think 'isn't,' but could be. Tell me what we should  decide to do: as an industry or for our Nation. Till then... Stay well. Take Care. Make money. Have fun. And, don't do business with anyone you don't like... There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   [image] [image] I did something last night I rarely do. I watched television: specifically, the premier of the new HBO television series, Newsroom. It may not sound like a big deal to those of you who watch television, but television and especially serialized dramas are a luxury I refuse to allow myself. Evenings are when I read or write or research or plan or develop or sometimes just sit and think, and lately there hasn't been a lot of 'thought provoking' or even entertaining television to watch. I'm not sure the majority of so-called reality shows would or could qualify as 'thought provoking.' So far, none of the ones I've forced myself to watch have. I certainly don't have to watch the glut of reality shows currently filling the airwaves to immerse myself in drama if that's what I choose to do with my time. All I have to do is show up at the shop and I have my own 'reality show: a show I get to produce, direct, star in, and, yes, even watch! Aside from that, I don't want to get hooked on something I know I won't have the time to watch because I've dedicated that time to something else. It's too frustrating and I'm at a point in my life where frustration almost always degenerates into anger or resentment. Consequently, I aggressively avoid watching television of any kind. I've been marginally successful. That is, up until last night. Last night the fates conspired against me. I tried to write, but couldn't find the melody or the rhythm I was looking for. I tried to read, but couldn't quiet the noise in my head sufficiently to concentrate. So, I took my shower and got ready for bed just in time to watch the last twenty minutes of Newsroom. It was riveting. It was intelligently written. It was timely. It was provocative. It was, in fact, just about everything television could be. Or, more appropriately, could have been and isn't. I had a long list of things I wanted to do after dinner this evening... Important things, like finishing a column, scripting a new webcast, developing an idea for a colleague and the association we both belong to. Instead, I pulled Newsroom up on the DVR to catch what I had missed and instead watched it from beginning to end. There are lots of things I could say about it, but I think I'll stick with the two that impacted me the hardest: the two that have the most to say to us as a people, a country and a culture. The first spins off what I think may have been the first episode's title: "We just decided to..." And, the second, has to do with a message the female lead had for Jeff Daniels, the male lead: "It's Not... But, It Could Be." You're going to have to watch the pilot on HBO or search for it on YouTube or someplace else to see how Aaron Sorkin, the writer, managed to weave those two ideas into the story line. I'll just tell you that it's worth the effort. Then, I'll let you know what they had to say to me. "It's Not... But, It Could Be!" spoke to a realistic assessment of where we are as a nation: as a people. You and I could just as easily use that phrase to assess where we are as an industry. It's not the best industry or the most satisfying. It's not the most profitable or the most rewarding. At least, not for the majority of those who struggle just to get by day-to-day. But, it could be... It could be if we put aside our differences and instead focused on the things that  we have in common: that we can all agree on. It could if we found a way to celebrate our shared values instead of focusing on the issues that divide us. How do you do that? I think it's probably clear that we have the knowledge: the understanding. We just need to decide to do something with that knowledge. The fact of the matter is, we just need to DO SOMETHING! The same can be said of or for our Nation. We aren't what we once were... One nation indivisible. We may be better than most, but we seem to have lost sight of what we could be. The fact of the matter is, we could be better: in many ways, for many of our people. But, to regain that greatness we need huge, virtually unattainable goals: goals so big our differences become inconsequential in their shadow. Then, all we would have to do is decide: decide to move forward... as individuals, as an industry, as a Nation, as a People. It's risky to suggest we aren't what we could be, that we have not realized our potential: that we've somehow become lost along the way. I'm sure there are many who would disagree. But, as a diagnostician: a pragmatist, I look at the possibilities each set of beliefs drags along with it before making a decision. Continually striving to achieve: to reach unattainable heights, achieve impossible goals, provide unparalleled freedoms has brought us to this moment. The kind of arrogance that suggests there are no more mountains to climb, no more challenges to confront: that all is left is desperately clinging to what once was leaves us all with only one direction in which move. Watch Newsroom, then tell me what you think 'isn't,' but could be. Tell me what we should  decide to do: as an industry or for our Nation. Till then... Stay well. Take Care. Make money. Have fun. And, don't do business with anyone you don't like... There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   [image] [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:42:58 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_It39s-Not-But-It-Could-Be/blog/6193307/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-06-26T18:01:01Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I did something last night I rarely do. I watched television: specifically, the premier of the new HBO television series, Newsroom. It may not sound like a big deal to those of you who watch television, but television and especially serialized dramas are a luxury I refuse to allow myself. Evenings are when I read or write or research or plan or develop or sometimes just sit and think, and lately there hasn't been a lot of 'thought provoking' or even entertaining television to watch. I'm not sure the majority of so-called reality shows would or could qualify as 'thought provoking.' So far, none of the ones I've forced myself to watch have. I certainly don't have to watch the glut of reality shows currently filling the airwaves to immerse myself in drama if that's what I choose to do with my time. All I have to do is show up at the shop and I have my own 'reality show: a show I get to produce, direct, star in, and, yes, even watch! Aside from that, I don't want to get hooked on something I know I won't have the time to watch because I've dedicated that time to something else. It's too frustrating and I'm at a point in my life where frustration almost always degenerates into anger or resentment. Consequently, I aggressively avoid watching television of any kind. I've been marginally successful. That is, up until last night. Last night the fates conspired against me. I tried to write, but couldn't find the melody or the rhythm I was looking for. I tried to read, but couldn't quiet the noise in my head sufficiently to concentrate. So, I took my shower and got ready for bed just in time to watch the last twenty minutes of Newsroom. It was riveting. It was intelligently written. It was timely. It was provocative. It was, in fact, just about everything television could be. Or, more appropriately, could have been and isn't. I had a long list of things I wanted to do after dinner this evening... Important things, like finishing a column, scripting a new webcast, developing an idea for a colleague and the association we both belong to. Instead, I pulled Newsroom up on the DVR to catch what I had missed and instead watched it from beginning to end. There are lots of things I could say about it, but I think I'll stick with the two that impacted me the hardest: the two that have the most to say to us as a people, a country and a culture. The first spins off what I think may have been the first episode's title: "We just decided to..." And, the second, has to do with a message the female lead had for Jeff Daniels, the male lead: "It's Not... But, It Could Be." You're going to have to watch the pilot on HBO or search for it on YouTube or someplace else to see how Aaron Sorkin, the writer, managed to weave those two ideas into the story line. I'll just tell you that it's worth the effort. Then, I'll let you know what they had to say to me. "It's Not... But, It Could Be!" spoke to a realistic assessment of where we are as a nation: as a people. You and I could just as easily use that phrase to assess where we are as an industry. It's not the best industry or the most satisfying. It's not the most profitable or the most rewarding. At least, not for the majority of those who struggle just to get by day-to-day. But, it could be... It could be if we put aside our differences and instead focused on the things that  we have in common: that we can all agree on. It could if we found a way to celebrate our shared values instead of focusing on the issues that divide us. How do you do that? I think it's probably clear that we have the knowledge: the understanding. We just need to decide to do something with that knowledge. The fact of the matter is, we just need to DO SOMETHING! The same can be said of or for our Nation. We aren't what we once were... One nation indivisible. We may be better than most, but we seem to have lost sight of what we could be. The fact of the matter is, we could be better: in many ways, for many of our people. But, to regain that greatness we need huge, virtually unattainable goals: goals so big our differences become inconsequential in their shadow. Then, all we would have to do is decide: decide to move forward... as individuals, as an industry, as a Nation, as a People. It's risky to suggest we aren't what we could be, that we have not realized our potential: that we've somehow become lost along the way. I'm sure there are many who would disagree. But, as a diagnostician: a pragmatist, I look at the possibilities each set of beliefs drags along with it before making a decision. Continually striving to achieve: to reach unattainable heights, achieve impossible goals, provide unparalleled freedoms has brought us to this moment. The kind of arrogance that suggests there are no more mountains to climb, no more challenges to confront: that all is left is desperately clinging to what once was leaves us all with only one direction in which move. Watch Newsroom, then tell me what you think 'isn't,' but could be. Tell me what we should  decide to do: as an industry or for our Nation. Till then... Stay well. Take Care. Make money. Have fun. And, don't do business with anyone you don't like... There's probably a good reason you don't like 'em and you don't really need to find out what that reason is!   [image] [image] aaron sorkin, achievement, frustration, goals, greatness, indivisible, it isn't but it could be, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false It's Not... But, It Could Be text blog aaron sorkin,achievement,frustration,goals,greatness,indivisible,it isn't but it could be,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,schneider's world 553 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6193307 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_It39s-Not-Fair/blog/6185323/31710.html When our daughter was little and she didn't like something I said, the restrictions I imposed or the limits I placed on her, she would do what affectionately became known around here as the "It's Not Fair! Dance."    It was a site to behold...   This beautiful child with an angelic smile and the cutest pigtails you've ever seen, would turn red, contort that beautiful face, plant one foot firmly on the ground and then ratchet herself around in a circle, stamping one foot on the ground, pumping her fists up and down and screaming at the top of her lungs, "It's Not Fair!"   The more frustrated and angry she became the harder it was to take her admonitions seriously. There were times I actually had to look away rather than break out in what would have been a very inappropriate outburst under the circumstances. And, that sensitivity, the realization that as comical as our daughter's behavior might have been it was the result of some very serious frustration, anger and anxiety - all of which were very real to her, tempered my behavior then and now.   Well, I feel like it's my turn to do the "It's Not Fair! Dance"today. I know it won't accomplish anything. I know it's not going to change what happened. Nor, is it likely any good could come of it. But, realistically, I'll bet the exhaustion that follows such an outburst and the release of all that frustration and anger, anxiety and angst, would have to leave you in better shape than just bottling it all up and keeping it inside.   Besides, it's not like we're at a loss of things to torment us... There are days Dante's Inferno seems like a vacation spot compared to some of the things that go on in your shop or mine!   The reason I want to plant my foot and bounce around in a circle screaming "It's Not Fair!" today is the one accident our business has experienced in just about twenty years and what it just did to our Worker's Comp Insurance. One accident in twenty years, with an otherwise spotless record - Admittedly, a mildly serious laceration to one finger, something no technician wants to think about - and, our rates are about to go up 47%.    I know... That isn't very fair, is it? And, that's the rub. The prison is being run by the inmates, with more crooks and charlatans in positions of responsibility, authority and power than there are honest, thoughtful and reasonable people to fight them.   One accident: twenty years: 47% increase in premium... Well, it doesn't seem very fair to me and I'm not sure there is much I can do short of 'the Dance.'   I understand the need to protect our employees: all employees, for that matter. It's the right thing to do. I understand there are those who would brutalize the system through abuse. But, I'm not one of them. I just want to fix cars, take care of our customers, take care of the people who have cast their fate with mine when they come to work every day and live a relatively simple yet productive life. It's hard to do that in our business when your overhead is about to increase by $700 or $800 a month!    It's hard to do that when Comp is based on Payroll and the only reasonable way to control the cost is to reduce the overhead, and that means laying people off! Not exactly the way to end a Recession, is it?   So, here I am at sixty-five feeling like a five-year-old: jaw locked, teeth clenched, fingers curled into a ball and the vein in my forehead about to burst, just itching to plant that left foot in the ground, ready to start singing and dancing.    I want to be five and my daughter, and scream, "It's Not Fair!" But, I know it won't do any good. There is only one of me and one of me isn't enough to tilt against that Windmill. It would take all of us... All of us in every State... To stand up and say, "It's Not Fair! You can't get rich on our backs any more! You can charge a fair premium for the service you provide, but it will have to reflect our record and not just a random mischance of fate. And, you certainly are NOT entitled to make back your loses, no matter how large or small, in a period of time so small it constitutes an unfair burden on your insureds!"   I guess I've just had enough!    OK, ok... I know... Calm down!   But, you know something... It's hard to remain calm when the insurance companies are making more money than they have ever made in the past and the people they insure are working harder, making less and struggling more than at any time in history.   So, are you ready? Are you ready to stomp and shout and raise a little hell? If you are, all you have to do is plant that left foot, scrunch your face up a little, clench your fists and then slowly, yet methodically, take your right foot, raise it up and then set it down hard just a few inches in front of where it was when you started, and howl at the top of your lungs, "It's Not Fair!" Because, it isn't!   It may not change anything, but I'll bet you feel better when you're done!   [image] [image] When our daughter was little and she didn't like something I said, the restrictions I imposed or the limits I placed on her, she would do what affectionately became known around here as the "It's Not Fair! Dance."    It was a site to behold...   This beautiful child with an angelic smile and the cutest pigtails you've ever seen, would turn red, contort that beautiful face, plant one foot firmly on the ground and then ratchet herself around in a circle, stamping one foot on the ground, pumping her fists up and down and screaming at the top of her lungs, "It's Not Fair!"   The more frustrated and angry she became the harder it was to take her admonitions seriously. There were times I actually had to look away rather than break out in what would have been a very inappropriate outburst under the circumstances. And, that sensitivity, the realization that as comical as our daughter's behavior might have been it was the result of some very serious frustration, anger and anxiety - all of which were very real to her, tempered my behavior then and now.   Well, I feel like it's my turn to do the "It's Not Fair! Dance"today. I know it won't accomplish anything. I know it's not going to change what happened. Nor, is it likely any good could come of it. But, realistically, I'll bet the exhaustion that follows such an outburst and the release of all that frustration and anger, anxiety and angst, would have to leave you in better shape than just bottling it all up and keeping it inside.   Besides, it's not like we're at a loss of things to torment us... There are days Dante's Inferno seems like a vacation spot compared to some of the things that go on in your shop or mine!   The reason I want to plant my foot and bounce around in a circle screaming "It's Not Fair!" today is the one accident our business has experienced in just about twenty years and what it just did to our Worker's Comp Insurance. One accident in twenty years, with an otherwise spotless record - Admittedly, a mildly serious laceration to one finger, something no technician wants to think about - and, our rates are about to go up 47%.    I know... That isn't very fair, is it? And, that's the rub. The prison is being run by the inmates, with more crooks and charlatans in positions of responsibility, authority and power than there are honest, thoughtful and reasonable people to fight them.   One accident: twenty years: 47% increase in premium... Well, it doesn't seem very fair to me and I'm not sure there is much I can do short of 'the Dance.'   I understand the need to protect our employees: all employees, for that matter. It's the right thing to do. I understand there are those who would brutalize the system through abuse. But, I'm not one of them. I just want to fix cars, take care of our customers, take care of the people who have cast their fate with mine when they come to work every day and live a relatively simple yet productive life. It's hard to do that in our business when your overhead is about to increase by $700 or $800 a month!    It's hard to do that when Comp is based on Payroll and the only reasonable way to control the cost is to reduce the overhead, and that means laying people off! Not exactly the way to end a Recession, is it?   So, here I am at sixty-five feeling like a five-year-old: jaw locked, teeth clenched, fingers curled into a ball and the vein in my forehead about to burst, just itching to plant that left foot in the ground, ready to start singing and dancing.    I want to be five and my daughter, and scream, "It's Not Fair!" But, I know it won't do any good. There is only one of me and one of me isn't enough to tilt against that Windmill. It would take all of us... All of us in every State... To stand up and say, "It's Not Fair! You can't get rich on our backs any more! You can charge a fair premium for the service you provide, but it will have to reflect our record and not just a random mischance of fate. And, you certainly are NOT entitled to make back your loses, no matter how large or small, in a period of time so small it constitutes an unfair burden on your insureds!"   I guess I've just had enough!    OK, ok... I know... Calm down!   But, you know something... It's hard to remain calm when the insurance companies are making more money than they have ever made in the past and the people they insure are working harder, making less and struggling more than at any time in history.   So, are you ready? Are you ready to stomp and shout and raise a little hell? If you are, all you have to do is plant that left foot, scrunch your face up a little, clench your fists and then slowly, yet methodically, take your right foot, raise it up and then set it down hard just a few inches in front of where it was when you started, and howl at the top of your lungs, "It's Not Fair!" Because, it isn't!   It may not change anything, but I'll bet you feel better when you're done!   [image] [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:43:11 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_It39s-Not-Fair/blog/6185323/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-06-21T09:46:21Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop When our daughter was little and she didn't like something I said, the restrictions I imposed or the limits I placed on her, she would do what affectionately became known around here as the "It's Not Fair! Dance."    It was a site to behold...   This beautiful child with an angelic smile and the cutest pigtails you've ever seen, would turn red, contort that beautiful face, plant one foot firmly on the ground and then ratchet herself around in a circle, stamping one foot on the ground, pumping her fists up and down and screaming at the top of her lungs, "It's Not Fair!"   The more frustrated and angry she became the harder it was to take her admonitions seriously. There were times I actually had to look away rather than break out in what would have been a very inappropriate outburst under the circumstances. And, that sensitivity, the realization that as comical as our daughter's behavior might have been it was the result of some very serious frustration, anger and anxiety - all of which were very real to her, tempered my behavior then and now.   Well, I feel like it's my turn to do the "It's Not Fair! Dance"today. I know it won't accomplish anything. I know it's not going to change what happened. Nor, is it likely any good could come of it. But, realistically, I'll bet the exhaustion that follows such an outburst and the release of all that frustration and anger, anxiety and angst, would have to leave you in better shape than just bottling it all up and keeping it inside.   Besides, it's not like we're at a loss of things to torment us... There are days Dante's Inferno seems like a vacation spot compared to some of the things that go on in your shop or mine!   The reason I want to plant my foot and bounce around in a circle screaming "It's Not Fair!" today is the one accident our business has experienced in just about twenty years and what it just did to our Worker's Comp Insurance. One accident in twenty years, with an otherwise spotless record - Admittedly, a mildly serious laceration to one finger, something no technician wants to think about - and, our rates are about to go up 47%.    I know... That isn't very fair, is it? And, that's the rub. The prison is being run by the inmates, with more crooks and charlatans in positions of responsibility, authority and power than there are honest, thoughtful and reasonable people to fight them.   One accident: twenty years: 47% increase in premium... Well, it doesn't seem very fair to me and I'm not sure there is much I can do short of 'the Dance.'   I understand the need to protect our employees: all employees, for that matter. It's the right thing to do. I understand there are those who would brutalize the system through abuse. But, I'm not one of them. I just want to fix cars, take care of our customers, take care of the people who have cast their fate with mine when they come to work every day and live a relatively simple yet productive life. It's hard to do that in our business when your overhead is about to increase by $700 or $800 a month!    It's hard to do that when Comp is based on Payroll and the only reasonable way to control the cost is to reduce the overhead, and that means laying people off! Not exactly the way to end a Recession, is it?   So, here I am at sixty-five feeling like a five-year-old: jaw locked, teeth clenched, fingers curled into a ball and the vein in my forehead about to burst, just itching to plant that left foot in the ground, ready to start singing and dancing.    I want to be five and my daughter, and scream, "It's Not Fair!" But, I know it won't do any good. There is only one of me and one of me isn't enough to tilt against that Windmill. It would take all of us... All of us in every State... To stand up and say, "It's Not Fair! You can't get rich on our backs any more! You can charge a fair premium for the service you provide, but it will have to reflect our record and not just a random mischance of fate. And, you certainly are NOT entitled to make back your loses, no matter how large or small, in a period of time so small it constitutes an unfair burden on your insureds!"   I guess I've just had enough!    OK, ok... I know... Calm down!   But, you know something... It's hard to remain calm when the insurance companies are making more money than they have ever made in the past and the people they insure are working harder, making less and struggling more than at any time in history.   So, are you ready? Are you ready to stomp and shout and raise a little hell? If you are, all you have to do is plant that left foot, scrunch your face up a little, clench your fists and then slowly, yet methodically, take your right foot, raise it up and then set it down hard just a few inches in front of where it was when you started, and howl at the top of your lungs, "It's Not Fair!" Because, it isn't!   It may not change anything, but I'll bet you feel better when you're done!   [image] [image] anger, angst, anxiety, dance, expense, frustration, insurance, it's not fair, mitch schneider, mitch schneider's world, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false It's Not Fair! text blog anger,angst,anxiety,dance,expense,frustration,insurance,it's not fair,mitch schneider,mitch schneider's world,motor age,schneider's world 881 1 5.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6185323 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_On-Purchasing-a-Profit/blog/6156509/31710.html I just finished reading an online article on our industry. It made no sense to me so I read it again. It didn’t help. I was still left with a strangely familiar, yet somehow very uncomfortable feeling I’ve come to expect when I’m confronted with two conflicting realities fighting for the same small piece of real estate in my head. Psychiatrists, psychologists and social scientists generally refer to this phenomenon as “Cognitive Dissonance.” If you wanted to translate that into English, conflicting ideas used to describe or explain the same concept or event would be a good start. We could steal a few lines from an old George Carlin routine to help explain Cognitive Dissonance, like: Jumbo Shrimp or Military Intelligence, but I’m not sure we have to. There are plenty of examples in our industry to draw from that are equally as provocative, but far less amusing. For instance, using Good and Cheap to describe automotive service comes to mind almost immediately. But, it is just as applicable when you try to apply Good and Cheap to Aftermarket parts or any other parts for that matter.  Fast and Good is another example of Cognitive Dissonance. What kind of experience have you had with Fast and Good when talking about the same event? They are almost mutually exclusive, aren’t they? When it comes to Fast, Good and Cheap, it almost seems as if you can have any two you choose… You just can’t have all three! You can have Fast and Good – we do it every day. But, it won’t be Cheap. You can have Fast and Cheap, but it isn’t likely to be Good. You can ev [image] en have Fast and Cheap… But, what are the chances of Fast and Cheap turning out to be Good? What about Fast and Good? Sure… we’ll put two of our best Techs on it: but, Cheap? I don’t think so. See what I mean… And, that was the problem with what I’d just read. It suggested that while today’s Do-It-For-Me consumers are still searching for a relationship: for familiarity, trust and convenience, when it comes to their automotive service needs, they are still looking for a “great deal” to take that transaction way beyond it being just a good value. The statistics were compelling as were the quotes. Consumers want the best of both worlds. “They want to know they are investing in quality service and feel like they got a bargain at the same time.”* Who doesn’t? The problem is the reality of the marketplace. The problem is an industry that never got the memo and as a result missed the lecture on Business Management and Best Practices: an industry in which a room full of independent repair shop owners is more likely to produce an Average Net Operating Profit of between -2.5% to +2.5% than not! It makes perfect sense and yet it makes no sense at all: Cognitive Dissonance, all over again! More consumers want bigger discounts or better deals – up to 35% of the DIY or DIFM purchases of automotive services or products were purchased at a below retail price according to the article I , so if you want more consumers it just stands to reason that you would have to offer more of whatever it is you are willing or able to offer. The problem is, at 2.5% NOP, anything you give away is too much! [image]The problem is a repair community that has been subsidizing automotive service for the better part of a hundred years with unrealistically low pricing for both parts and labor because most shop owners haven’t got a clue what it costs them to open their doors every morning. And, because Charlie, across the street, is giving away his family’s future by discounting and unrealistic pricing, you may find yourself drawn into that vortex of high volume, low profit repair orders. The problem is you can’t purchase a profit… You can’t read an article like this and decide the only way to succeed in a future that demands bigger discounts and lower prices is to get along by going along: to either purchase cheaper, lower quality parts and/or put extraordinary pressure on your suppliers to emasculate their margins on quality parts so you can pass those savings along to an ever more insatiable motoring public. When those savings are passed along everyone loses! The only one with any chance of winning is the vehicle owner and only then, when he or she is purchasing a quality part at bargain prices. You can’t purchase a profit any more than you can put Good, Fast and Cheap in the same basket. It just won’t work. So, my best advice is don’t try! Continue to search for clients that are still interested in quality work, done right the first time, finished on time and at a fair price. Continue to move your business toward Best Practices and the profits that will almost certainly follow. And, if you still want to give some of your hard earned money away, make sure it’s some of the money that’s left over after you’ve become profitable and achieved a 25% NOP, not the money you need to survive when that NOP is just 2.5%.    *David Portalatin, NPD Group, CSPnet.com,  June 6, 2012 [image] I just finished reading an online article on our industry. It made no sense to me so I read it again. It didn’t help. I was still left with a strangely familiar, yet somehow very uncomfortable feeling I’ve come to expect when I’m confronted with two conflicting realities fighting for the same small piece of real estate in my head. Psychiatrists, psychologists and social scientists generally refer to this phenomenon as “Cognitive Dissonance.” If you wanted to translate that into English, conflicting ideas used to describe or explain the same concept or event would be a good start. We could steal a few lines from an old George Carlin routine to help explain Cognitive Dissonance, like: Jumbo Shrimp or Military Intelligence, but I’m not sure we have to. There are plenty of examples in our industry to draw from that are equally as provocative, but far less amusing. For instance, using Good and Cheap to describe automotive service comes to mind almost immediately. But, it is just as applicable when you try to apply Good and Cheap to Aftermarket parts or any other parts for that matter.  Fast and Good is another example of Cognitive Dissonance. What kind of experience have you had with Fast and Good when talking about the same event? They are almost mutually exclusive, aren’t they? When it comes to Fast, Good and Cheap, it almost seems as if you can have any two you choose… You just can’t have all three! You can have Fast and Good – we do it every day. But, it won’t be Cheap. You can have Fast and Cheap, but it isn’t likely to be Good. You can ev [image] en have Fast and Cheap… But, what are the chances of Fast and Cheap turning out to be Good? What about Fast and Good? Sure… we’ll put two of our best Techs on it: but, Cheap? I don’t think so. See what I mean… And, that was the problem with what I’d just read. It suggested that while today’s Do-It-For-Me consumers are still searching for a relationship: for familiarity, trust and convenience, when it comes to their automotive service needs, they are still looking for a “great deal” to take that transaction way beyond it being just a good value. The statistics were compelling as were the quotes. Consumers want the best of both worlds. “They want to know they are investing in quality service and feel like they got a bargain at the same time.”* Who doesn’t? The problem is the reality of the marketplace. The problem is an industry that never got the memo and as a result missed the lecture on Business Management and Best Practices: an industry in which a room full of independent repair shop owners is more likely to produce an Average Net Operating Profit of between -2.5% to +2.5% than not! It makes perfect sense and yet it makes no sense at all: Cognitive Dissonance, all over again! More consumers want bigger discounts or better deals – up to 35% of the DIY or DIFM purchases of automotive services or products were purchased at a below retail price according to the article I , so if you want more consumers it just stands to reason that you would have to offer more of whatever it is you are willing or able to offer. The problem is, at 2.5% NOP, anything you give away is too much! [image]The problem is a repair community that has been subsidizing automotive service for the better part of a hundred years with unrealistically low pricing for both parts and labor because most shop owners haven’t got a clue what it costs them to open their doors every morning. And, because Charlie, across the street, is giving away his family’s future by discounting and unrealistic pricing, you may find yourself drawn into that vortex of high volume, low profit repair orders. The problem is you can’t purchase a profit… You can’t read an article like this and decide the only way to succeed in a future that demands bigger discounts and lower prices is to get along by going along: to either purchase cheaper, lower quality parts and/or put extraordinary pressure on your suppliers to emasculate their margins on quality parts so you can pass those savings along to an ever more insatiable motoring public. When those savings are passed along everyone loses! The only one with any chance of winning is the vehicle owner and only then, when he or she is purchasing a quality part at bargain prices. You can’t purchase a profit any more than you can put Good, Fast and Cheap in the same basket. It just won’t work. So, my best advice is don’t try! Continue to search for clients that are still interested in quality work, done right the first time, finished on time and at a fair price. Continue to move your business toward Best Practices and the profits that will almost certainly follow. And, if you still want to give some of your hard earned money away, make sure it’s some of the money that’s left over after you’ve become profitable and achieved a 25% NOP, not the money you need to survive when that NOP is just 2.5%.    *David Portalatin, NPD Group, CSPnet.com,  June 6, 2012 [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:43:21 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_On-Purchasing-a-Profit/blog/6156509/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-06-08T22:39:08Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I just finished reading an online article on our industry. It made no sense to me so I read it again. It didn’t help. I was still left with a strangely familiar, yet somehow very uncomfortable feeling I’ve come to expect when I’m confronted with two conflicting realities fighting for the same small piece of real estate in my head. Psychiatrists, psychologists and social scientists generally refer to this phenomenon as “Cognitive Dissonance.” If you wanted to translate that into English, conflicting ideas used to describe or explain the same concept or event would be a good start. We could steal a few lines from an old George Carlin routine to help explain Cognitive Dissonance, like: Jumbo Shrimp or Military Intelligence, but I’m not sure we have to. There are plenty of examples in our industry to draw from that are equally as provocative, but far less amusing. For instance, using Good and Cheap to describe automotive service comes to mind almost immediately. But, it is just as applicable when you try to apply Good and Cheap to Aftermarket parts or any other parts for that matter.  Fast and Good is another example of Cognitive Dissonance. What kind of experience have you had with Fast and Good when talking about the same event? They are almost mutually exclusive, aren’t they? When it comes to Fast, Good and Cheap, it almost seems as if you can have any two you choose… You just can’t have all three! You can have Fast and Good – we do it every day. But, it won’t be Cheap. You can have Fast and Cheap, but it isn’t likely to be Good. You can ev [image] en have Fast and Cheap… But, what are the chances of Fast and Cheap turning out to be Good? What about Fast and Good? Sure… we’ll put two of our best Techs on it: but, Cheap? I don’t think so. See what I mean… And, that was the problem with what I’d just read. It suggested that while today’s Do-It-For-Me consumers are still searching for a relationship: for familiarity, trust and convenience, when it comes to their automotive service needs, they are still looking for a “great deal” to take that transaction way beyond it being just a good value. The statistics were compelling as were the quotes. Consumers want the best of both worlds. “They want to know they are investing in quality service and feel like they got a bargain at the same time.”* Who doesn’t? The problem is the reality of the marketplace. The problem is an industry that never got the memo and as a result missed the lecture on Business Management and Best Practices: an industry in which a room full of independent repair shop owners is more likely to produce an Average Net Operating Profit of between -2.5% to +2.5% than not! It makes perfect sense and yet it makes no sense at all: Cognitive Dissonance, all over again! More consumers want bigger discounts or better deals – up to 35% of the DIY or DIFM purchases of automotive services or products were purchased at a below retail price according to the article I , so if you want more consumers it just stands to reason that you would have to offer more of whatever it is you are willing or able to offer. The problem is, at 2.5% NOP, anything you give away is too much! [image]The problem is a repair community that has been subsidizing automotive service for the better part of a hundred years with unrealistically low pricing for both parts and labor because most shop owners haven’t got a clue what it costs them to open their doors every morning. And, because Charlie, across the street, is giving away his family’s future by discounting and unrealistic pricing, you may find yourself drawn into that vortex of high volume, low profit repair orders. The problem is you can’t purchase a profit… You can’t read an article like this and decide the only way to succeed in a future that demands bigger discounts and lower prices is to get along by going along: to either purchase cheaper, lower quality parts and/or put extraordinary pressure on your suppliers to emasculate their margins on quality parts so you can pass those savings along to an ever more insatiable motoring public. When those savings are passed along everyone loses! The only one with any chance of winning is the vehicle owner and only then, when he or she is purchasing a quality part at bargain prices. You can’t purchase a profit any more than you can put Good, Fast and Cheap in the same basket. It just won’t work. So, my best advice is don’t try! Continue to search for clients that are still interested in quality work, done right the first time, finished on time and at a fair price. Continue to move your business toward Best Practices and the profits that will almost certainly follow. And, if you still want to give some of your hard earned money away, make sure it’s some of the money that’s left over after you’ve become profitable and achieved a 25% NOP, not the money you need to survive when that NOP is just 2.5%.    *David Portalatin, NPD Group, CSPnet.com,  June 6, 2012 [image] cheap, cognitive dissonance, fast, fast good cheap, good, low net operating profit, low nop, mitch schneider, motor age, pick any two, schneider's world nonadult false On Purchasing a Profit... text blog cheap,cognitive dissonance,fast,fast good cheap,good,low net operating profit,low nop,mitch schneider,motor age,pick any two,schneider's world 2045 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6156509 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Day-One/blog/6107043/31710.html I've been doing so much for so long doing too much seems almost like not enough...   If that makes sense to you, you're in too deep and in as much trouble as I generally am, trouble that probably stems from being 'Recognition Dependent' and never really being able to say, No!   If you think I'm kidding ask your analyst... No, really, I'm not going to force you schedule an appointment. Instead, I'll offer my own definition.   In its simplest form, "Recognition Dependent" just means caring too much about being recognized - how you are thought of or esteemed by others - particularly, those whose opinions are meaningful to you. Because you want people to think highly of you, because you want people to like you... You are likely to do whatever they ask you to do, whatever you think they want, need or expect from you.   My experience has taught me most 'good' shop owners are "Recognition Dependent." They care and act accordingly as the result of that caring. They bend over backwards to satisfy their clients, at least in part because they want their clients to 'like' them.   Most of us are "Recognition Dependent" to one degree or another if you think about it and that's OK. The wheels start to come off, however, when you're trying to please too many different people or groups of people, especially when there are conflicting agendas.   I'm no stranger when it comes to being over committed. I've been working at the shop, writing to the Automotive Aftermarket, presenting seminars and delivering speeches for more than twenty five years. That's a long time and a lot of balls in the air. It's a lot of conversations that end with, "Sure, I'll do it!" If you don't believe me you can ask Lesley, my wife! Our conversations generally either start or end with Lesley asking, "When were you going to tell me you were going out of town? The night before..." And, me responding with, "I'm almost sure we talked about this when it came up a few months ago..."   [image]The biggest problem with being over committed, at least for me is fighting fires: putting out the hottest and most pressing fires before they singe the door and burn everything in your front yard to the ground. You do that a lot when you have lots of fires and lots of deadlines and you're trying to juggle them all without searing your toes. Oddly enough, I've gotten pretty good at managing the chaos and frankly, I must like it because I'm stilling doing it!       The bad news is, I fall apart when the fire is out and I have to figure out where I was and what's left to do on all the other projects that were abandoned when the alarm bells began to ring and I went diving for that shiny brass pole in the center of that big hole in the middle of the floor.   I mean, where do you start?   The answer came from a blog I read yesterday morning, a blog by Chris Brogan, a web marketing expert, auther, speaker and all around good guy...   The blog was titled, What Does Day One Look Like, and it really struck a nerve. Strange how something like that can turn your world upside down...   What I got out of the blog was elegantly simple... when things fall apart and it's time to clean up and get started again, instead of looking at whatever it was you were involved in from the beginning, pick it up from where you left off as if where you left off was the beginning. In other words, as if it was Day One...   Hurt your back and quit going to the gym, but you're feeling better now: Day One...   Got distracted by a wedding and watched the Marketing Plan you were working on grind to a halt, but the wedding is over now and the kids are back from their honeymoon, so there is no reason not to start working on it all over again... No problem: Day One...   Way behind on writing assignments or the presentation looming up in your rear view mirror because you were working on everything else... Fugheddaboudit! Day One...   The coolest part about it is I have great hope it just might work! OK... So, it's early and I've only tried it twice and it is only the first day! But... so far it's two for two. In fact, I'm convinced it's going to work.   Of course, it wouldn't hurt anything if I could just learn to say, No! a little more forcefully and a little more often! [image] I've been doing so much for so long doing too much seems almost like not enough...   If that makes sense to you, you're in too deep and in as much trouble as I generally am, trouble that probably stems from being 'Recognition Dependent' and never really being able to say, No!   If you think I'm kidding ask your analyst... No, really, I'm not going to force you schedule an appointment. Instead, I'll offer my own definition.   In its simplest form, "Recognition Dependent" just means caring too much about being recognized - how you are thought of or esteemed by others - particularly, those whose opinions are meaningful to you. Because you want people to think highly of you, because you want people to like you... You are likely to do whatever they ask you to do, whatever you think they want, need or expect from you.   My experience has taught me most 'good' shop owners are "Recognition Dependent." They care and act accordingly as the result of that caring. They bend over backwards to satisfy their clients, at least in part because they want their clients to 'like' them.   Most of us are "Recognition Dependent" to one degree or another if you think about it and that's OK. The wheels start to come off, however, when you're trying to please too many different people or groups of people, especially when there are conflicting agendas.   I'm no stranger when it comes to being over committed. I've been working at the shop, writing to the Automotive Aftermarket, presenting seminars and delivering speeches for more than twenty five years. That's a long time and a lot of balls in the air. It's a lot of conversations that end with, "Sure, I'll do it!" If you don't believe me you can ask Lesley, my wife! Our conversations generally either start or end with Lesley asking, "When were you going to tell me you were going out of town? The night before..." And, me responding with, "I'm almost sure we talked about this when it came up a few months ago..."   [image]The biggest problem with being over committed, at least for me is fighting fires: putting out the hottest and most pressing fires before they singe the door and burn everything in your front yard to the ground. You do that a lot when you have lots of fires and lots of deadlines and you're trying to juggle them all without searing your toes. Oddly enough, I've gotten pretty good at managing the chaos and frankly, I must like it because I'm stilling doing it!       The bad news is, I fall apart when the fire is out and I have to figure out where I was and what's left to do on all the other projects that were abandoned when the alarm bells began to ring and I went diving for that shiny brass pole in the center of that big hole in the middle of the floor.   I mean, where do you start?   The answer came from a blog I read yesterday morning, a blog by Chris Brogan, a web marketing expert, auther, speaker and all around good guy...   The blog was titled, What Does Day One Look Like, and it really struck a nerve. Strange how something like that can turn your world upside down...   What I got out of the blog was elegantly simple... when things fall apart and it's time to clean up and get started again, instead of looking at whatever it was you were involved in from the beginning, pick it up from where you left off as if where you left off was the beginning. In other words, as if it was Day One...   Hurt your back and quit going to the gym, but you're feeling better now: Day One...   Got distracted by a wedding and watched the Marketing Plan you were working on grind to a halt, but the wedding is over now and the kids are back from their honeymoon, so there is no reason not to start working on it all over again... No problem: Day One...   Way behind on writing assignments or the presentation looming up in your rear view mirror because you were working on everything else... Fugheddaboudit! Day One...   The coolest part about it is I have great hope it just might work! OK... So, it's early and I've only tried it twice and it is only the first day! But... so far it's two for two. In fact, I'm convinced it's going to work.   Of course, it wouldn't hurt anything if I could just learn to say, No! a little more forcefully and a little more often! [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:29:01 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Day-One/blog/6107043/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-23T03:12:20Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I've been doing so much for so long doing too much seems almost like not enough...   If that makes sense to you, you're in too deep and in as much trouble as I generally am, trouble that probably stems from being 'Recognition Dependent' and never really being able to say, No!   If you think I'm kidding ask your analyst... No, really, I'm not going to force you schedule an appointment. Instead, I'll offer my own definition.   In its simplest form, "Recognition Dependent" just means caring too much about being recognized - how you are thought of or esteemed by others - particularly, those whose opinions are meaningful to you. Because you want people to think highly of you, because you want people to like you... You are likely to do whatever they ask you to do, whatever you think they want, need or expect from you.   My experience has taught me most 'good' shop owners are "Recognition Dependent." They care and act accordingly as the result of that caring. They bend over backwards to satisfy their clients, at least in part because they want their clients to 'like' them.   Most of us are "Recognition Dependent" to one degree or another if you think about it and that's OK. The wheels start to come off, however, when you're trying to please too many different people or groups of people, especially when there are conflicting agendas.   I'm no stranger when it comes to being over committed. I've been working at the shop, writing to the Automotive Aftermarket, presenting seminars and delivering speeches for more than twenty five years. That's a long time and a lot of balls in the air. It's a lot of conversations that end with, "Sure, I'll do it!" If you don't believe me you can ask Lesley, my wife! Our conversations generally either start or end with Lesley asking, "When were you going to tell me you were going out of town? The night before..." And, me responding with, "I'm almost sure we talked about this when it came up a few months ago..."   [image]The biggest problem with being over committed, at least for me is fighting fires: putting out the hottest and most pressing fires before they singe the door and burn everything in your front yard to the ground. You do that a lot when you have lots of fires and lots of deadlines and you're trying to juggle them all without searing your toes. Oddly enough, I've gotten pretty good at managing the chaos and frankly, I must like it because I'm stilling doing it!       The bad news is, I fall apart when the fire is out and I have to figure out where I was and what's left to do on all the other projects that were abandoned when the alarm bells began to ring and I went diving for that shiny brass pole in the center of that big hole in the middle of the floor.   I mean, where do you start?   The answer came from a blog I read yesterday morning, a blog by Chris Brogan, a web marketing expert, auther, speaker and all around good guy...   The blog was titled, What Does Day One Look Like, and it really struck a nerve. Strange how something like that can turn your world upside down...   What I got out of the blog was elegantly simple... when things fall apart and it's time to clean up and get started again, instead of looking at whatever it was you were involved in from the beginning, pick it up from where you left off as if where you left off was the beginning. In other words, as if it was Day One...   Hurt your back and quit going to the gym, but you're feeling better now: Day One...   Got distracted by a wedding and watched the Marketing Plan you were working on grind to a halt, but the wedding is over now and the kids are back from their honeymoon, so there is no reason not to start working on it all over again... No problem: Day One...   Way behind on writing assignments or the presentation looming up in your rear view mirror because you were working on everything else... Fugheddaboudit! Day One...   The coolest part about it is I have great hope it just might work! OK... So, it's early and I've only tried it twice and it is only the first day! But... so far it's two for two. In fact, I'm convinced it's going to work.   Of course, it wouldn't hurt anything if I could just learn to say, No! a little more forcefully and a little more often! [image] chaos, chris brogan, juggling, mitch schneider, motor age, over committed, recognition dependent, schneider's world, too many balls in the air nonadult false Day One... text blog chaos,chris brogan,juggling,mitch schneider,motor age,over committed,recognition dependent,schneider's world,too many balls in the air 1416 1 5.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6107043 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Qi-Thieves/blog/6083003/31710.html I am not a Roshi or a Tao Master. Nor, am I an Obi-Wan Kenobi “wanna be.” But, it would be hard to deny there isn't some kind of a unifying force at work in the world.    [image]It’s role may not always be altogether clear, but most of us have sensed its presence or felt it at work. It may not always be referred to as Qi, Ch’i or even, the “Force.” However, what it’s called isn’t nearly as important as what it is, how it works or the impact it can and does have on your everyday existence.   When everything in your world is ‘aligned,’ this energy flows through you as well as all around you. When things are out of alignment - something many of us know an awful lot about - things begin to fall apart rather quickly. In fact, depending upon how bad things are, it can feel like the wheels are ready to come off.   In the human body, the nexus for this energy is the Tan T’ien, located an inch or two below the navel. For all intent and purpose, it’s the body’s warehouse for Qi. Everyone has a spiritual center. Although, it’s certain not everyone is in touch with theirs. It is equally as certain the majority of people are just plain unaware it exists at all.   The more aware of this energy center you become the more you begin to realize just how important it is to remain centered and an integral part of the world surrounding you: a kind of “at one with.” You do this through situational awareness and a sensitivity to the energy of everything in your world. If you have ever folded your body onto the floor board between the front seat of the vehicle you are working on and the firewall, reached up into the wiring harness and instrument cluster between the brake and accelerator pedals like a surgeon searching for a leaky blood vessel, closed your eyes and then seen something you could not see or done something you knew you could not do, because for that fleeting moment you and the vehicle were one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.   You know with equal certainty that it’s impossible to do that unless you have achieved a minimal level of harmony, both internal and external. You know just as clearly how little it takes to destroy that moment and how quickly you can find yourself struggling with the machine, contending against self-imposed physical and mental constraints.  [image] Much of this we bring on ourselves - our minds and our lives are filled with a symphony of noise and clutter.  The chaos that surrounds all of us and fills our lives with a constant and unrealistic demand for attention loves nothing more then to draw you in: texts, cell phone calls, blog posts, tweets, four thousand friends clamoring for attention and the never ending requests to “send this to your ten closest friends” is more than enough to disturb the calm we secretly yearn for and our minds and bodies so desperately need.   But, as frustrating and distracting as the world around us is or can be, it is not the devil I fear most. The devil I fear most is the Qi Thief! He is the insidious bastard who delights in destroying the harmony you seek. He is the monster lulling you into a false sense of peace and security and then sharttering the harmony you yearn to be a part of by crashing and banging through your world like a Dragon in the middle of a Chinese New Year’s parade!   He is the master of the unkind word, the center of his own selfish world. He doesn’t care about anyone or anything else. Because of the demons that torment him, he can never be at peace, and because he will never be at peace, he will do whatever he can to ensure you will never find the peace you seek.    Where you try to tread lightly, he is likely to stomp. Where you try desperately to find that quiet place within, he works just as hard to marshal a roiling storm of chaos and contention pointing it all straight at you.   If you’ve been in this industry as long as I have, you’ve already associated a name with the portrait I’ve just painted. You know this person... Or, you knew him (Or, her...). They are energy thieves and they rob you of your center. Sadly, the worst part is they aren’t trying to steal the life out of you because they want it for themselves... All they really want is to ensure that if they can’t find peace, you will never have it either.    There is no rehabilitating a Qi Thief, at least nothing I know of that will work. You can try, but experience has taught me that it is rarely more than a game: a game created by the Qi Thief to frustrate and disappoint you. The only way to win is not to play. The only way to win is to become strong enough to ignore their efforts to disturb you and the world around you or to eliminate them from your world altogether.   [image] [image]The best way to ensure harmony and a constant flow of energy to you and through you is to create an environment that is as peaceful and calm as you can make it: as peaceful and calm as it needs to be.    The best way to ensure that constant flow of energy is to deny the Qi Thief his prize or to steal it back from him when he isn't paying attention. I am not a Roshi or a Tao Master. Nor, am I an Obi-Wan Kenobi “wanna be.” But, it would be hard to deny there isn't some kind of a unifying force at work in the world.    [image]It’s role may not always be altogether clear, but most of us have sensed its presence or felt it at work. It may not always be referred to as Qi, Ch’i or even, the “Force.” However, what it’s called isn’t nearly as important as what it is, how it works or the impact it can and does have on your everyday existence.   When everything in your world is ‘aligned,’ this energy flows through you as well as all around you. When things are out of alignment - something many of us know an awful lot about - things begin to fall apart rather quickly. In fact, depending upon how bad things are, it can feel like the wheels are ready to come off.   In the human body, the nexus for this energy is the Tan T’ien, located an inch or two below the navel. For all intent and purpose, it’s the body’s warehouse for Qi. Everyone has a spiritual center. Although, it’s certain not everyone is in touch with theirs. It is equally as certain the majority of people are just plain unaware it exists at all.   The more aware of this energy center you become the more you begin to realize just how important it is to remain centered and an integral part of the world surrounding you: a kind of “at one with.” You do this through situational awareness and a sensitivity to the energy of everything in your world. If you have ever folded your body onto the floor board between the front seat of the vehicle you are working on and the firewall, reached up into the wiring harness and instrument cluster between the brake and accelerator pedals like a surgeon searching for a leaky blood vessel, closed your eyes and then seen something you could not see or done something you knew you could not do, because for that fleeting moment you and the vehicle were one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.   You know with equal certainty that it’s impossible to do that unless you have achieved a minimal level of harmony, both internal and external. You know just as clearly how little it takes to destroy that moment and how quickly you can find yourself struggling with the machine, contending against self-imposed physical and mental constraints.  [image] Much of this we bring on ourselves - our minds and our lives are filled with a symphony of noise and clutter.  The chaos that surrounds all of us and fills our lives with a constant and unrealistic demand for attention loves nothing more then to draw you in: texts, cell phone calls, blog posts, tweets, four thousand friends clamoring for attention and the never ending requests to “send this to your ten closest friends” is more than enough to disturb the calm we secretly yearn for and our minds and bodies so desperately need.   But, as frustrating and distracting as the world around us is or can be, it is not the devil I fear most. The devil I fear most is the Qi Thief! He is the insidious bastard who delights in destroying the harmony you seek. He is the monster lulling you into a false sense of peace and security and then sharttering the harmony you yearn to be a part of by crashing and banging through your world like a Dragon in the middle of a Chinese New Year’s parade!   He is the master of the unkind word, the center of his own selfish world. He doesn’t care about anyone or anything else. Because of the demons that torment him, he can never be at peace, and because he will never be at peace, he will do whatever he can to ensure you will never find the peace you seek.    Where you try to tread lightly, he is likely to stomp. Where you try desperately to find that quiet place within, he works just as hard to marshal a roiling storm of chaos and contention pointing it all straight at you.   If you’ve been in this industry as long as I have, you’ve already associated a name with the portrait I’ve just painted. You know this person... Or, you knew him (Or, her...). They are energy thieves and they rob you of your center. Sadly, the worst part is they aren’t trying to steal the life out of you because they want it for themselves... All they really want is to ensure that if they can’t find peace, you will never have it either.    There is no rehabilitating a Qi Thief, at least nothing I know of that will work. You can try, but experience has taught me that it is rarely more than a game: a game created by the Qi Thief to frustrate and disappoint you. The only way to win is not to play. The only way to win is to become strong enough to ignore their efforts to disturb you and the world around you or to eliminate them from your world altogether.   [image] [image]The best way to ensure harmony and a constant flow of energy to you and through you is to create an environment that is as peaceful and calm as you can make it: as peaceful and calm as it needs to be.    The best way to ensure that constant flow of energy is to deny the Qi Thief his prize or to steal it back from him when he isn't paying attention. Wed, 16 May 2012 05:12:07 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Qi-Thieves/blog/6083003/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-16T05:12:07Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop I am not a Roshi or a Tao Master. Nor, am I an Obi-Wan Kenobi “wanna be.” But, it would be hard to deny there isn't some kind of a unifying force at work in the world.    [image]It’s role may not always be altogether clear, but most of us have sensed its presence or felt it at work. It may not always be referred to as Qi, Ch’i or even, the “Force.” However, what it’s called isn’t nearly as important as what it is, how it works or the impact it can and does have on your everyday existence.   When everything in your world is ‘aligned,’ this energy flows through you as well as all around you. When things are out of alignment - something many of us know an awful lot about - things begin to fall apart rather quickly. In fact, depending upon how bad things are, it can feel like the wheels are ready to come off.   In the human body, the nexus for this energy is the Tan T’ien, located an inch or two below the navel. For all intent and purpose, it’s the body’s warehouse for Qi. Everyone has a spiritual center. Although, it’s certain not everyone is in touch with theirs. It is equally as certain the majority of people are just plain unaware it exists at all.   The more aware of this energy center you become the more you begin to realize just how important it is to remain centered and an integral part of the world surrounding you: a kind of “at one with.” You do this through situational awareness and a sensitivity to the energy of everything in your world. If you have ever folded your body onto the floor board between the front seat of the vehicle you are working on and the firewall, reached up into the wiring harness and instrument cluster between the brake and accelerator pedals like a surgeon searching for a leaky blood vessel, closed your eyes and then seen something you could not see or done something you knew you could not do, because for that fleeting moment you and the vehicle were one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.   You know with equal certainty that it’s impossible to do that unless you have achieved a minimal level of harmony, both internal and external. You know just as clearly how little it takes to destroy that moment and how quickly you can find yourself struggling with the machine, contending against self-imposed physical and mental constraints.  [image] Much of this we bring on ourselves - our minds and our lives are filled with a symphony of noise and clutter.  The chaos that surrounds all of us and fills our lives with a constant and unrealistic demand for attention loves nothing more then to draw you in: texts, cell phone calls, blog posts, tweets, four thousand friends clamoring for attention and the never ending requests to “send this to your ten closest friends” is more than enough to disturb the calm we secretly yearn for and our minds and bodies so desperately need.   But, as frustrating and distracting as the world around us is or can be, it is not the devil I fear most. The devil I fear most is the Qi Thief! He is the insidious bastard who delights in destroying the harmony you seek. He is the monster lulling you into a false sense of peace and security and then sharttering the harmony you yearn to be a part of by crashing and banging through your world like a Dragon in the middle of a Chinese New Year’s parade!   He is the master of the unkind word, the center of his own selfish world. He doesn’t care about anyone or anything else. Because of the demons that torment him, he can never be at peace, and because he will never be at peace, he will do whatever he can to ensure you will never find the peace you seek.    Where you try to tread lightly, he is likely to stomp. Where you try desperately to find that quiet place within, he works just as hard to marshal a roiling storm of chaos and contention pointing it all straight at you.   If you’ve been in this industry as long as I have, you’ve already associated a name with the portrait I’ve just painted. You know this person... Or, you knew him (Or, her...). They are energy thieves and they rob you of your center. Sadly, the worst part is they aren’t trying to steal the life out of you because they want it for themselves... All they really want is to ensure that if they can’t find peace, you will never have it either.    There is no rehabilitating a Qi Thief, at least nothing I know of that will work. You can try, but experience has taught me that it is rarely more than a game: a game created by the Qi Thief to frustrate and disappoint you. The only way to win is not to play. The only way to win is to become strong enough to ignore their efforts to disturb you and the world around you or to eliminate them from your world altogether.   [image] [image]The best way to ensure harmony and a constant flow of energy to you and through you is to create an environment that is as peaceful and calm as you can make it: as peaceful and calm as it needs to be.    The best way to ensure that constant flow of energy is to deny the Qi Thief his prize or to steal it back from him when he isn't paying attention. ch'i, cost effective, expensive, extended service intervals, harmony, illusion, kinking the can down the road, maintenance, mitch scheider, motor age, peace, qi, qi thief, schneider's world nonadult false Qi Thieves text blog ch'i,cost effective,expensive,extended service intervals,harmony,illusion,kinking the can down the road,maintenance,mitch scheider,motor age,peace,qi,qi thief,schneider's world 277 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6083003 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_More-Time/blog/6069529/31710.html Everyone is always asking for more time...   "If I only had more time..." "Gee, I wish I had more time..." "There aren't enough hours in the day..."   What in the world is that all about?   [image]   [image] I don't want more time... I want more discipline! I want the courage to say No! more often! I want to be able to power on my computer and just start writing without feeling the irresistable pull of facebook or gmail tugging at my sleeve!   No! I don't want more time... Not until I'm sure I'm making the best use of the time I've got now!   Sure, I'd love to be more productive... Who wouldn't? Wouldn't you?   OK, so there are a few individuals we all know who laugh at the rest of us as we scurry around with that permanent look of constipated intensity etched into our collective portrait, people who don't give a damn about productivity: yours or their own. And, while they are laughing at us we're probably racing around feeling sorry for them, bathing in a false sense of moral superiority.   The question is: Who is right and who is wrong...   I don't want more time... I want to be happy with the time I've got! No... That isn't entirely correct. It's not happy with the time I've got that I want: it's "satisfied!" I want to be satisfied that I used the time I've got wisely, and wisely means for something other than work: something more than work!   [image] I want the willpower to ignore Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Yahoo and the four thousand, eight hundred and thirty two other browsers that are clawing for my attention every second of every minute of every day. I want to silence the constant noise!     I don't want to connect with someone half-way around the world on the Internet: not, when I can connect with another human being in the same room! [image] I don't want to watch someone else exercise either! I want to get up from my desk and move around a little myself!   I don't want to watch someone on television. I don't want to watch the story unfold on the the screen. I don't want someone to tell it for me or to me. I want to experience it for myself. I want to experience it myself!   I don't want more time until I know I can and will make the best use of the time I have and quite frankly, I'm pretty sure I'm not there yet!    Do you know how I know that? If you don't I'll tell you. I know I'm not there yet because every time I make a list of the "To Do's" I need to get done there is always one thing conspicuously absent from the list and that is the "To Do's" I need to do for me.   I'm not whining... I'm not crying the blues... I'm not bemoaning the fact I've dealt myself out of this equation. And, no, I'm not afraid of being considered selfish. I'd just like to get better at the art of living: living a full and satisfying life that recognizes that it's alright to find yourself penciled in on your own "To Do" list. That being selfish doesn't have anything to do with being on that list: Being selfish has everything to do with being the only thing thing on the list!   No... More time isn't the answer. Everyone's got the same amount of time: the same number of seconds, hours and days they are allotted. More living and more life in the time we all have is the answer!   So, until we have the wisdom to ask better questions and make more intelligent decisions, I think I'll just have to satisfy myself with the time I have... the time we all have. I'll just have to muddle through and make the best of it.    And, if someone stops me to ask if I have the time, I'll smile and rejoice in the hidden knowledge that there is a lot more to that question than a wristwatch, cell phone or a clock will ever tell you. [image] Everyone is always asking for more time...   "If I only had more time..." "Gee, I wish I had more time..." "There aren't enough hours in the day..."   What in the world is that all about?   [image]   [image] I don't want more time... I want more discipline! I want the courage to say No! more often! I want to be able to power on my computer and just start writing without feeling the irresistable pull of facebook or gmail tugging at my sleeve!   No! I don't want more time... Not until I'm sure I'm making the best use of the time I've got now!   Sure, I'd love to be more productive... Who wouldn't? Wouldn't you?   OK, so there are a few individuals we all know who laugh at the rest of us as we scurry around with that permanent look of constipated intensity etched into our collective portrait, people who don't give a damn about productivity: yours or their own. And, while they are laughing at us we're probably racing around feeling sorry for them, bathing in a false sense of moral superiority.   The question is: Who is right and who is wrong...   I don't want more time... I want to be happy with the time I've got! No... That isn't entirely correct. It's not happy with the time I've got that I want: it's "satisfied!" I want to be satisfied that I used the time I've got wisely, and wisely means for something other than work: something more than work!   [image] I want the willpower to ignore Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Yahoo and the four thousand, eight hundred and thirty two other browsers that are clawing for my attention every second of every minute of every day. I want to silence the constant noise!     I don't want to connect with someone half-way around the world on the Internet: not, when I can connect with another human being in the same room! [image] I don't want to watch someone else exercise either! I want to get up from my desk and move around a little myself!   I don't want to watch someone on television. I don't want to watch the story unfold on the the screen. I don't want someone to tell it for me or to me. I want to experience it for myself. I want to experience it myself!   I don't want more time until I know I can and will make the best use of the time I have and quite frankly, I'm pretty sure I'm not there yet!    Do you know how I know that? If you don't I'll tell you. I know I'm not there yet because every time I make a list of the "To Do's" I need to get done there is always one thing conspicuously absent from the list and that is the "To Do's" I need to do for me.   I'm not whining... I'm not crying the blues... I'm not bemoaning the fact I've dealt myself out of this equation. And, no, I'm not afraid of being considered selfish. I'd just like to get better at the art of living: living a full and satisfying life that recognizes that it's alright to find yourself penciled in on your own "To Do" list. That being selfish doesn't have anything to do with being on that list: Being selfish has everything to do with being the only thing thing on the list!   No... More time isn't the answer. Everyone's got the same amount of time: the same number of seconds, hours and days they are allotted. More living and more life in the time we all have is the answer!   So, until we have the wisdom to ask better questions and make more intelligent decisions, I think I'll just have to satisfy myself with the time I have... the time we all have. I'll just have to muddle through and make the best of it.    And, if someone stops me to ask if I have the time, I'll smile and rejoice in the hidden knowledge that there is a lot more to that question than a wristwatch, cell phone or a clock will ever tell you. [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:29:11 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_More-Time/blog/6069529/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-11T13:47:05Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop Everyone is always asking for more time...   "If I only had more time..." "Gee, I wish I had more time..." "There aren't enough hours in the day..."   What in the world is that all about?   [image]   [image] I don't want more time... I want more discipline! I want the courage to say No! more often! I want to be able to power on my computer and just start writing without feeling the irresistable pull of facebook or gmail tugging at my sleeve!   No! I don't want more time... Not until I'm sure I'm making the best use of the time I've got now!   Sure, I'd love to be more productive... Who wouldn't? Wouldn't you?   OK, so there are a few individuals we all know who laugh at the rest of us as we scurry around with that permanent look of constipated intensity etched into our collective portrait, people who don't give a damn about productivity: yours or their own. And, while they are laughing at us we're probably racing around feeling sorry for them, bathing in a false sense of moral superiority.   The question is: Who is right and who is wrong...   I don't want more time... I want to be happy with the time I've got! No... That isn't entirely correct. It's not happy with the time I've got that I want: it's "satisfied!" I want to be satisfied that I used the time I've got wisely, and wisely means for something other than work: something more than work!   [image] I want the willpower to ignore Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Yahoo and the four thousand, eight hundred and thirty two other browsers that are clawing for my attention every second of every minute of every day. I want to silence the constant noise!     I don't want to connect with someone half-way around the world on the Internet: not, when I can connect with another human being in the same room! [image] I don't want to watch someone else exercise either! I want to get up from my desk and move around a little myself!   I don't want to watch someone on television. I don't want to watch the story unfold on the the screen. I don't want someone to tell it for me or to me. I want to experience it for myself. I want to experience it myself!   I don't want more time until I know I can and will make the best use of the time I have and quite frankly, I'm pretty sure I'm not there yet!    Do you know how I know that? If you don't I'll tell you. I know I'm not there yet because every time I make a list of the "To Do's" I need to get done there is always one thing conspicuously absent from the list and that is the "To Do's" I need to do for me.   I'm not whining... I'm not crying the blues... I'm not bemoaning the fact I've dealt myself out of this equation. And, no, I'm not afraid of being considered selfish. I'd just like to get better at the art of living: living a full and satisfying life that recognizes that it's alright to find yourself penciled in on your own "To Do" list. That being selfish doesn't have anything to do with being on that list: Being selfish has everything to do with being the only thing thing on the list!   No... More time isn't the answer. Everyone's got the same amount of time: the same number of seconds, hours and days they are allotted. More living and more life in the time we all have is the answer!   So, until we have the wisdom to ask better questions and make more intelligent decisions, I think I'll just have to satisfy myself with the time I have... the time we all have. I'll just have to muddle through and make the best of it.    And, if someone stops me to ask if I have the time, I'll smile and rejoice in the hidden knowledge that there is a lot more to that question than a wristwatch, cell phone or a clock will ever tell you. [image] determination, discipline, distraction, efficiency, frustration, mitch schneider, motor age, productivity, schneider's world, time nonadult false More Time... text blog determination,discipline,distraction,efficiency,frustration,mitch schneider,motor age,productivity,schneider's world,time 281 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6069529 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Kickin39-The-Can/blog/6064549/31710.html   I just posted this on my Counter-Inuitive site. I'm re-posting it here in the hope it just might help you if you ever find yourself goaded into a discussion about extended service intervals or "unnecessary" services. Let me know if it helps... I don't know about you, but it seems like we're approaching some kind of a record for the use of lame expressions during a campaign year. The one that annoys me the most this year is, "Kickin' the can down the road..."   It isn't the metaphor itself that bothers me. Politicians have been "Kickin'" that can down the road for generations: long enough for it to finally come back and haunt them. What bothers me about this particular phrase is the way the OEM's - the Original Equipment Manufacturers: the people who build the cars and trucks you purchase and I work on, have started to kick the maintenance can down the road.    [image]In an earlier blog post, I wrote about what the OEM's consider "acceptable" oil consumption rates and the disastrous impact extended service intervals can have when it's "normal" to use a quart of oil every 800 or 900 miles and appropriate to change oil every 10,000. You don't have to be a Math scholar to realize that unless you have a twelve or thirteen quart crankcase capacity you will run out of oil before you run out of miles.   Well, the same thing is happening with other service requirements and recommendations. But, that isn't the "can" I'm talking about. The "can" I'm talking about are the normally scheduled maintenance operations that are no longer even listed in your owner's manual: services that are no less important and yet no longer there. For all intent and purpose, they've disappeared or the interval is so long the service feels unnecessary, even irrelevant.   One manufacturer recommends a transmission service: a fluid exchange, every fifteen years! The average Californian drives more than 12,000 miles a year. That's a fluid exchange every 180,000 miles! How many transmissions are you aware of that will last that long without some kind of maintenance?   It seems attractive until you stop and think about it for a moment, something we ask our clients to do just about every day when someone kicks the can into the office and onto the service counter!    Think about what? How about just one simple, but realistic question: Who gets to pay if "it," whatever "it" is, fails and the vehicle is out of warranty? The answer is just as simple: You!   You see, these services are being deferred in many cases to create an illusion of false economy. The fewer services required or the longer the interval between service, the less the overall cost of operation. Or, at least that's the way it looks on paper. And, while there is no argument that just about everything on your vehicle is being made better and to last longer, we still haven't managed to create a perpetual motion machine or even a machine that is maintenance free!   That's something you need to think about when you kick that maintenance can down the road... The fact that sooner or later the road will end and that can and lot more just like it will be there just waiting for you to show up!   I just posted this on my Counter-Inuitive site. I'm re-posting it here in the hope it just might help you if you ever find yourself goaded into a discussion about extended service intervals or "unnecessary" services. Let me know if it helps... I don't know about you, but it seems like we're approaching some kind of a record for the use of lame expressions during a campaign year. The one that annoys me the most this year is, "Kickin' the can down the road..."   It isn't the metaphor itself that bothers me. Politicians have been "Kickin'" that can down the road for generations: long enough for it to finally come back and haunt them. What bothers me about this particular phrase is the way the OEM's - the Original Equipment Manufacturers: the people who build the cars and trucks you purchase and I work on, have started to kick the maintenance can down the road.    [image]In an earlier blog post, I wrote about what the OEM's consider "acceptable" oil consumption rates and the disastrous impact extended service intervals can have when it's "normal" to use a quart of oil every 800 or 900 miles and appropriate to change oil every 10,000. You don't have to be a Math scholar to realize that unless you have a twelve or thirteen quart crankcase capacity you will run out of oil before you run out of miles.   Well, the same thing is happening with other service requirements and recommendations. But, that isn't the "can" I'm talking about. The "can" I'm talking about are the normally scheduled maintenance operations that are no longer even listed in your owner's manual: services that are no less important and yet no longer there. For all intent and purpose, they've disappeared or the interval is so long the service feels unnecessary, even irrelevant.   One manufacturer recommends a transmission service: a fluid exchange, every fifteen years! The average Californian drives more than 12,000 miles a year. That's a fluid exchange every 180,000 miles! How many transmissions are you aware of that will last that long without some kind of maintenance?   It seems attractive until you stop and think about it for a moment, something we ask our clients to do just about every day when someone kicks the can into the office and onto the service counter!    Think about what? How about just one simple, but realistic question: Who gets to pay if "it," whatever "it" is, fails and the vehicle is out of warranty? The answer is just as simple: You!   You see, these services are being deferred in many cases to create an illusion of false economy. The fewer services required or the longer the interval between service, the less the overall cost of operation. Or, at least that's the way it looks on paper. And, while there is no argument that just about everything on your vehicle is being made better and to last longer, we still haven't managed to create a perpetual motion machine or even a machine that is maintenance free!   That's something you need to think about when you kick that maintenance can down the road... The fact that sooner or later the road will end and that can and lot more just like it will be there just waiting for you to show up! Thu, 10 May 2012 05:48:47 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_Kickin39-The-Can/blog/6064549/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-10T05:48:47Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop   I just posted this on my Counter-Inuitive site. I'm re-posting it here in the hope it just might help you if you ever find yourself goaded into a discussion about extended service intervals or "unnecessary" services. Let me know if it helps... I don't know about you, but it seems like we're approaching some kind of a record for the use of lame expressions during a campaign year. The one that annoys me the most this year is, "Kickin' the can down the road..."   It isn't the metaphor itself that bothers me. Politicians have been "Kickin'" that can down the road for generations: long enough for it to finally come back and haunt them. What bothers me about this particular phrase is the way the OEM's - the Original Equipment Manufacturers: the people who build the cars and trucks you purchase and I work on, have started to kick the maintenance can down the road.    [image]In an earlier blog post, I wrote about what the OEM's consider "acceptable" oil consumption rates and the disastrous impact extended service intervals can have when it's "normal" to use a quart of oil every 800 or 900 miles and appropriate to change oil every 10,000. You don't have to be a Math scholar to realize that unless you have a twelve or thirteen quart crankcase capacity you will run out of oil before you run out of miles.   Well, the same thing is happening with other service requirements and recommendations. But, that isn't the "can" I'm talking about. The "can" I'm talking about are the normally scheduled maintenance operations that are no longer even listed in your owner's manual: services that are no less important and yet no longer there. For all intent and purpose, they've disappeared or the interval is so long the service feels unnecessary, even irrelevant.   One manufacturer recommends a transmission service: a fluid exchange, every fifteen years! The average Californian drives more than 12,000 miles a year. That's a fluid exchange every 180,000 miles! How many transmissions are you aware of that will last that long without some kind of maintenance?   It seems attractive until you stop and think about it for a moment, something we ask our clients to do just about every day when someone kicks the can into the office and onto the service counter!    Think about what? How about just one simple, but realistic question: Who gets to pay if "it," whatever "it" is, fails and the vehicle is out of warranty? The answer is just as simple: You!   You see, these services are being deferred in many cases to create an illusion of false economy. The fewer services required or the longer the interval between service, the less the overall cost of operation. Or, at least that's the way it looks on paper. And, while there is no argument that just about everything on your vehicle is being made better and to last longer, we still haven't managed to create a perpetual motion machine or even a machine that is maintenance free!   That's something you need to think about when you kick that maintenance can down the road... The fact that sooner or later the road will end and that can and lot more just like it will be there just waiting for you to show up! cost effective, expensive, extended service intervals, illusion, kinking the can down the road, maintenance, mitch scheider, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false Kickin' The Can... text blog cost effective,expensive,extended service intervals,illusion,kinking the can down the road,maintenance,mitch scheider,motor age,schneider's world 510 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6064549 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_245-AM/blog/6060589/31710.html Standing at the kitchen counter at 2:45 in the morning, staring out the window at the rain with a glass of water in your hand isn't exactly the kind of place you would think a flood of positive emotions about our industry would wash over you. I certainly didn't think it would happen to me, at least not there and not then.    [image] But, it did and for whatever its worth, there wasn't much I could do about it...   Now, at 2:45 A.M., most people would let those positive and powerful emotions wash right over them and then go back to bed. In fact, I'll bet most people might even have lied to their significant other about why they were up, what they were doing and what they were thinking but I didn't...   Lesley asked why I was up and I told her. I told her I was thinking about "the industry," our code for what you and I do, and how it had been very good to me: very good to us.    Fortunately, she was so tired she just grunted and went back to sleep, but not before she mumbled, "That's good, because you've been very good to the industry."   I wasn't that lucky. I had to analyze why there was an instant replay of a lifetime committed to the motoring public, our customers and this industry running in my head and why I was convinced I'd gotten so mu ch more from the commitment I'd made to my craft all those years ago, than I'd given. After all, it hasn't all been fun and games!   You can come up with some strange explanations for all kinds of "stuff" at 3:00 A.M., while you're watching the numbers on your digital clock change minute by minute. "Stuff" you might never have even considered during the day... Like all the incredible relationships you were privileged to experience: the wonderful people who enriched your life in more ways than you could ever articulate or explain.   You think about all you've learned: invaluable life-lessons that may not have fully registered when "class" was in session because you were too deeply involved in them to recognize everything you were internalizing.   If you were me staring out the window at 3:15, you were thinking about how your future father-in-law was so concerned about your ability to support his daughter: your wife of what has now been forty-two years, he felt compelled to warn her not to hang out with you because all you did was "pump gas and work on cars..." And, thefact that "pumping gas" and "fixing cars" has paid for a pretty good life so far: a house, more than a couple of nice cars - cars that always ran and ran well, two great kids, two four-year college degrees, some really incredible vacations, a big chunk of one wedding ten months ago... and, just about a week ago, a much bigger chunk of another. [image] [image]   You think about the fact that after more than forty-six years, it isn't over yet. And, perhaps, more important, the fact that you're still excited about getting up every morning and going to work every day!    Maybe, not in two-and-a-half hours… But, most days, anyway!   How many people do you know who can say they feel the same way about what they do... And, mean it?   I guess it's true, you do think about a lot of strange "stuff" in the middle of the night and not all of it is likely to make you smile or feel good about yourself. I was lucky this time: lucky to find myself thinking about why I decided to keep working with my father when I had more than a couple of chances to leave, lucky to understand how and why I was drawn to the same challenges and satisfaction that motivated him and lucky to realize just how privileged I am to be able to share it all with you.   Perhaps, more important, I was lucky enough to fall back to sleep before the sun finally came up. And, even though I only slept for a couple of hours, I was lucky enough to sleep soundly and to sleep well: lucky enough to realize that when it comes to this industry, it would be safe to say that we just might be good for each other. [image] Standing at the kitchen counter at 2:45 in the morning, staring out the window at the rain with a glass of water in your hand isn't exactly the kind of place you would think a flood of positive emotions about our industry would wash over you. I certainly didn't think it would happen to me, at least not there and not then.    [image] But, it did and for whatever its worth, there wasn't much I could do about it...   Now, at 2:45 A.M., most people would let those positive and powerful emotions wash right over them and then go back to bed. In fact, I'll bet most people might even have lied to their significant other about why they were up, what they were doing and what they were thinking but I didn't...   Lesley asked why I was up and I told her. I told her I was thinking about "the industry," our code for what you and I do, and how it had been very good to me: very good to us.    Fortunately, she was so tired she just grunted and went back to sleep, but not before she mumbled, "That's good, because you've been very good to the industry."   I wasn't that lucky. I had to analyze why there was an instant replay of a lifetime committed to the motoring public, our customers and this industry running in my head and why I was convinced I'd gotten so mu ch more from the commitment I'd made to my craft all those years ago, than I'd given. After all, it hasn't all been fun and games!   You can come up with some strange explanations for all kinds of "stuff" at 3:00 A.M., while you're watching the numbers on your digital clock change minute by minute. "Stuff" you might never have even considered during the day... Like all the incredible relationships you were privileged to experience: the wonderful people who enriched your life in more ways than you could ever articulate or explain.   You think about all you've learned: invaluable life-lessons that may not have fully registered when "class" was in session because you were too deeply involved in them to recognize everything you were internalizing.   If you were me staring out the window at 3:15, you were thinking about how your future father-in-law was so concerned about your ability to support his daughter: your wife of what has now been forty-two years, he felt compelled to warn her not to hang out with you because all you did was "pump gas and work on cars..." And, thefact that "pumping gas" and "fixing cars" has paid for a pretty good life so far: a house, more than a couple of nice cars - cars that always ran and ran well, two great kids, two four-year college degrees, some really incredible vacations, a big chunk of one wedding ten months ago... and, just about a week ago, a much bigger chunk of another. [image] [image]   You think about the fact that after more than forty-six years, it isn't over yet. And, perhaps, more important, the fact that you're still excited about getting up every morning and going to work every day!    Maybe, not in two-and-a-half hours… But, most days, anyway!   How many people do you know who can say they feel the same way about what they do... And, mean it?   I guess it's true, you do think about a lot of strange "stuff" in the middle of the night and not all of it is likely to make you smile or feel good about yourself. I was lucky this time: lucky to find myself thinking about why I decided to keep working with my father when I had more than a couple of chances to leave, lucky to understand how and why I was drawn to the same challenges and satisfaction that motivated him and lucky to realize just how privileged I am to be able to share it all with you.   Perhaps, more important, I was lucky enough to fall back to sleep before the sun finally came up. And, even though I only slept for a couple of hours, I was lucky enough to sleep soundly and to sleep well: lucky enough to realize that when it comes to this industry, it would be safe to say that we just might be good for each other. [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:29:30 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_245-AM/blog/6060589/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-09T04:01:54Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop Standing at the kitchen counter at 2:45 in the morning, staring out the window at the rain with a glass of water in your hand isn't exactly the kind of place you would think a flood of positive emotions about our industry would wash over you. I certainly didn't think it would happen to me, at least not there and not then.    [image] But, it did and for whatever its worth, there wasn't much I could do about it...   Now, at 2:45 A.M., most people would let those positive and powerful emotions wash right over them and then go back to bed. In fact, I'll bet most people might even have lied to their significant other about why they were up, what they were doing and what they were thinking but I didn't...   Lesley asked why I was up and I told her. I told her I was thinking about "the industry," our code for what you and I do, and how it had been very good to me: very good to us.    Fortunately, she was so tired she just grunted and went back to sleep, but not before she mumbled, "That's good, because you've been very good to the industry."   I wasn't that lucky. I had to analyze why there was an instant replay of a lifetime committed to the motoring public, our customers and this industry running in my head and why I was convinced I'd gotten so mu ch more from the commitment I'd made to my craft all those years ago, than I'd given. After all, it hasn't all been fun and games!   You can come up with some strange explanations for all kinds of "stuff" at 3:00 A.M., while you're watching the numbers on your digital clock change minute by minute. "Stuff" you might never have even considered during the day... Like all the incredible relationships you were privileged to experience: the wonderful people who enriched your life in more ways than you could ever articulate or explain.   You think about all you've learned: invaluable life-lessons that may not have fully registered when "class" was in session because you were too deeply involved in them to recognize everything you were internalizing.   If you were me staring out the window at 3:15, you were thinking about how your future father-in-law was so concerned about your ability to support his daughter: your wife of what has now been forty-two years, he felt compelled to warn her not to hang out with you because all you did was "pump gas and work on cars..." And, thefact that "pumping gas" and "fixing cars" has paid for a pretty good life so far: a house, more than a couple of nice cars - cars that always ran and ran well, two great kids, two four-year college degrees, some really incredible vacations, a big chunk of one wedding ten months ago... and, just about a week ago, a much bigger chunk of another. [image] [image]   You think about the fact that after more than forty-six years, it isn't over yet. And, perhaps, more important, the fact that you're still excited about getting up every morning and going to work every day!    Maybe, not in two-and-a-half hours… But, most days, anyway!   How many people do you know who can say they feel the same way about what they do... And, mean it?   I guess it's true, you do think about a lot of strange "stuff" in the middle of the night and not all of it is likely to make you smile or feel good about yourself. I was lucky this time: lucky to find myself thinking about why I decided to keep working with my father when I had more than a couple of chances to leave, lucky to understand how and why I was drawn to the same challenges and satisfaction that motivated him and lucky to realize just how privileged I am to be able to share it all with you.   Perhaps, more important, I was lucky enough to fall back to sleep before the sun finally came up. And, even though I only slept for a couple of hours, I was lucky enough to sleep soundly and to sleep well: lucky enough to realize that when it comes to this industry, it would be safe to say that we just might be good for each other. [image] emotion, gratitude, insomnia, mitch schneider, motor age, privilege, reflection, schneider's world, tration nonadult false 2:45 A.M. text blog emotion,gratitude,insomnia,mitch schneider,motor age,privilege,reflection,schneider's world,tration 309 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 1 Motor Age 0 6060589 28221965 Member 0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_The-Opportunity-To-Make-a-Difference/blog/6035705/31710.html As many of you may... Or, may not know, my son Ryan is an "Endurance Athlete:" an Ironman, which is kind of a Triathlete on steroids.   Normally, I would never share this, bore or burden you with tales of either of our kid's accomplishments, but this is a little different. I'm not sharing this because he will swim two-and-a-half miles, bike about 113 miles and then finish the day off with a full 26.2 mile marathon or because he has really covered more than 1,000 miles in training for Ironman, St. George - Although, you have to admit, that's worthy of at least a smile and a little fatherly pride.   I'm sharing it because his heart is as big as it is strong. I'm sharing it because I hope you just might be moved enough to follow the link to Ryan's fundraising page and contribute a buck or two to help brighten the lives at least a couple of kids coping with more than any kid should ever have to.   Just think of how good you'll feel if you can. And, if you can't, no worries... I'll still love you!   Just find something equally as noble, equally as important, and contribute what you can there. My guess is if we all do a little something for someone else, our industry we'll be a lot closer to making the world a better place: a lot closer to finishing the work of creation...    Here's the link... I'm afraid you will have to cut and paste it, but I'm thinking the feeling you get from giving will be more than worth the effort! http://www.crowdrise.com/starlightchallenge/fundraiser/Ironmadman/1/return/success/success   Mitch   Hi everyone,   As some of you may know, this Saturday I’m tackling arguably the hardest Ironman course in North America, Ironman St. George.  It’s going to be a tough day, but I’m elated because with every mile I’ve trained since March 5, I’ve donated $1 to Starlight Children’s Foundation.  I’ve swam, biked and ran more than 1,000 miles in two months.  For those of you who haven’t heard of Starlight, the organization helps seriously ill children.   Specifically, I’m raising funds to place Nintendo Fun Centers in children’s hospitals.  They feature Nintendo Wii game consoles, DVD players and a mounted TV that can be wheeled into patients’ rooms.  This links my passion for the video games industry with my passion for Ironman and especially with helping the most innocent folks of all, kids.    [image]     Oftentimes, children’s hospitals have little to no entertainment for kids as they undergo treatment.  With today’s array of budget cuts it’s understandable but unfortunate.  Still, tell that to the kids who endure mind-numbing boredom while undergoing sometimes painful treatments.  I’d like to help change that.  There’s a hospital wait list 1,000-long for these units.  I’m hoping that I can donate at least two by the time I cross the finish line this Saturday evening.  Three would be even more amazing!   We’re on our way to getting there.  As you can see with my fundraising page, we’ve made a pretty sizable dent.  What’s not included is that my employer, Insomniac Games, has matched and doubled my donation, and a few other very generous souls have matched me mile for mile.  With that in mind, we have already raised enough to donate one Nintendo Fun Center ($5,000) and are about halfway to the $10,000 mark to donate two.   Would you be so kind as to consider helping me reach this milestone?  I’ve never asked for anyone to donate anything in the past.  I’ve kept my charitable acts private.  But this is a cause I strongly believe in, and have personally seen the looks on kids’ faces when they get to play with a Nintendo Fun Center. It changes their entire outlook about a stay in the hospital.  This is worth sharing.   I hope you agree my Ironman Starlight Challenge is a worthy cause. I hope you’ll join me.   If you have any other questions, please let me know.  And please consider donating if you can.  If not, you can help by simply linking my fundraising page to your Facebook wall!  I’d greatly appreciate that.   Sincerely,   Ryan [image] As many of you may... Or, may not know, my son Ryan is an "Endurance Athlete:" an Ironman, which is kind of a Triathlete on steroids.   Normally, I would never share this, bore or burden you with tales of either of our kid's accomplishments, but this is a little different. I'm not sharing this because he will swim two-and-a-half miles, bike about 113 miles and then finish the day off with a full 26.2 mile marathon or because he has really covered more than 1,000 miles in training for Ironman, St. George - Although, you have to admit, that's worthy of at least a smile and a little fatherly pride.   I'm sharing it because his heart is as big as it is strong. I'm sharing it because I hope you just might be moved enough to follow the link to Ryan's fundraising page and contribute a buck or two to help brighten the lives at least a couple of kids coping with more than any kid should ever have to.   Just think of how good you'll feel if you can. And, if you can't, no worries... I'll still love you!   Just find something equally as noble, equally as important, and contribute what you can there. My guess is if we all do a little something for someone else, our industry we'll be a lot closer to making the world a better place: a lot closer to finishing the work of creation...    Here's the link... I'm afraid you will have to cut and paste it, but I'm thinking the feeling you get from giving will be more than worth the effort! http://www.crowdrise.com/starlightchallenge/fundraiser/Ironmadman/1/return/success/success   Mitch   Hi everyone,   As some of you may know, this Saturday I’m tackling arguably the hardest Ironman course in North America, Ironman St. George.  It’s going to be a tough day, but I’m elated because with every mile I’ve trained since March 5, I’ve donated $1 to Starlight Children’s Foundation.  I’ve swam, biked and ran more than 1,000 miles in two months.  For those of you who haven’t heard of Starlight, the organization helps seriously ill children.   Specifically, I’m raising funds to place Nintendo Fun Centers in children’s hospitals.  They feature Nintendo Wii game consoles, DVD players and a mounted TV that can be wheeled into patients’ rooms.  This links my passion for the video games industry with my passion for Ironman and especially with helping the most innocent folks of all, kids.    [image]     Oftentimes, children’s hospitals have little to no entertainment for kids as they undergo treatment.  With today’s array of budget cuts it’s understandable but unfortunate.  Still, tell that to the kids who endure mind-numbing boredom while undergoing sometimes painful treatments.  I’d like to help change that.  There’s a hospital wait list 1,000-long for these units.  I’m hoping that I can donate at least two by the time I cross the finish line this Saturday evening.  Three would be even more amazing!   We’re on our way to getting there.  As you can see with my fundraising page, we’ve made a pretty sizable dent.  What’s not included is that my employer, Insomniac Games, has matched and doubled my donation, and a few other very generous souls have matched me mile for mile.  With that in mind, we have already raised enough to donate one Nintendo Fun Center ($5,000) and are about halfway to the $10,000 mark to donate two.   Would you be so kind as to consider helping me reach this milestone?  I’ve never asked for anyone to donate anything in the past.  I’ve kept my charitable acts private.  But this is a cause I strongly believe in, and have personally seen the looks on kids’ faces when they get to play with a Nintendo Fun Center. It changes their entire outlook about a stay in the hospital.  This is worth sharing.   I hope you agree my Ironman Starlight Challenge is a worthy cause. I hope you’ll join me.   If you have any other questions, please let me know.  And please consider donating if you can.  If not, you can help by simply linking my fundraising page to your Facebook wall!  I’d greatly appreciate that.   Sincerely,   Ryan [image] Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:31:00 GMT http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/_The-Opportunity-To-Make-a-Difference/blog/6035705/31710.html Mitchelljs 2012-05-02T03:03:17Z Motor Age AutoPro Workshop As many of you may... Or, may not know, my son Ryan is an "Endurance Athlete:" an Ironman, which is kind of a Triathlete on steroids.   Normally, I would never share this, bore or burden you with tales of either of our kid's accomplishments, but this is a little different. I'm not sharing this because he will swim two-and-a-half miles, bike about 113 miles and then finish the day off with a full 26.2 mile marathon or because he has really covered more than 1,000 miles in training for Ironman, St. George - Although, you have to admit, that's worthy of at least a smile and a little fatherly pride.   I'm sharing it because his heart is as big as it is strong. I'm sharing it because I hope you just might be moved enough to follow the link to Ryan's fundraising page and contribute a buck or two to help brighten the lives at least a couple of kids coping with more than any kid should ever have to.   Just think of how good you'll feel if you can. And, if you can't, no worries... I'll still love you!   Just find something equally as noble, equally as important, and contribute what you can there. My guess is if we all do a little something for someone else, our industry we'll be a lot closer to making the world a better place: a lot closer to finishing the work of creation...    Here's the link... I'm afraid you will have to cut and paste it, but I'm thinking the feeling you get from giving will be more than worth the effort! http://www.crowdrise.com/starlightchallenge/fundraiser/Ironmadman/1/return/success/success   Mitch   Hi everyone,   As some of you may know, this Saturday I’m tackling arguably the hardest Ironman course in North America, Ironman St. George.  It’s going to be a tough day, but I’m elated because with every mile I’ve trained since March 5, I’ve donated $1 to Starlight Children’s Foundation.  I’ve swam, biked and ran more than 1,000 miles in two months.  For those of you who haven’t heard of Starlight, the organization helps seriously ill children.   Specifically, I’m raising funds to place Nintendo Fun Centers in children’s hospitals.  They feature Nintendo Wii game consoles, DVD players and a mounted TV that can be wheeled into patients’ rooms.  This links my passion for the video games industry with my passion for Ironman and especially with helping the most innocent folks of all, kids.    [image]     Oftentimes, children’s hospitals have little to no entertainment for kids as they undergo treatment.  With today’s array of budget cuts it’s understandable but unfortunate.  Still, tell that to the kids who endure mind-numbing boredom while undergoing sometimes painful treatments.  I’d like to help change that.  There’s a hospital wait list 1,000-long for these units.  I’m hoping that I can donate at least two by the time I cross the finish line this Saturday evening.  Three would be even more amazing!   We’re on our way to getting there.  As you can see with my fundraising page, we’ve made a pretty sizable dent.  What’s not included is that my employer, Insomniac Games, has matched and doubled my donation, and a few other very generous souls have matched me mile for mile.  With that in mind, we have already raised enough to donate one Nintendo Fun Center ($5,000) and are about halfway to the $10,000 mark to donate two.   Would you be so kind as to consider helping me reach this milestone?  I’ve never asked for anyone to donate anything in the past.  I’ve kept my charitable acts private.  But this is a cause I strongly believe in, and have personally seen the looks on kids’ faces when they get to play with a Nintendo Fun Center. It changes their entire outlook about a stay in the hospital.  This is worth sharing.   I hope you agree my Ironman Starlight Challenge is a worthy cause. I hope you’ll join me.   If you have any other questions, please let me know.  And please consider donating if you can.  If not, you can help by simply linking my fundraising page to your Facebook wall!  I’d greatly appreciate that.   Sincerely,   Ryan [image] charity, children, donation, ironmadman, ironman, ironman st. george, mitch schneider, motor age, schneider's world nonadult false The Opportunity To Make a Difference text blog charity,children,donation,ironmadman,ironman,ironman st. george,mitch schneider,motor age,schneider's world 557 0 0.0 http://workshop.search-autoparts.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=28221965&as=31710 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/31710/photos/PHOTO_16226023_31710_28221965_ap_160X120.jpg false United States CA Simi Valley 93065 0 Motor Age 0 6035705 28221965 Member 0