Want a More Productive Shop? Start with More Play

If your auto repair shop feels heavy lately—tension in the air, team burnout, too many cars, or too few—this is your wake-up call.

According to Rick White of 180BIZ, the fix isn’t more policies, more meetings, or more pressure. It’s more PLAY.

Yep—play.

Before you roll your eyes, think about it: Most shop owners spend more time with their crew than with their own family. Shouldn’t it at least be enjoyable? If your answer is yes, then you’re already halfway there. Because what Rick makes crystal clear is this:

Fun is a byproduct of play.
If you want more fun, you’ve got to start playing.

Why Work Needs to Be Fun Again

Every shop is full of grownups who are, deep down, still big kids. They want to be appreciated, respected, and heard. They want to matter. But when leadership gets too focused on problems, everything gets serious—and everything tightens up.

You can feel it: tension, anger, burnout.

So Rick challenges shop owners to shift focus—not ignore the problems, but reframe them through gratitude.

Too many cars? Be thankful you’re busy.
Not enough help? Appreciate the people who did show up.
Low car count? Use that time to finally implement those systems you’ve been putting off.

Changing your focus doesn’t magically fix your shop—but it does shift the energy. It opens the door for a culture where people want to show up.

And once you open that door, play is what brings them in.

Practical Ways to Build Play Into Your Shop

Here are a few of Rick’s quick-hit strategies for creating a fun, focused environment:

• Start morning huddles with dad jokes.
  Let each team member take turns. Give a prize for the worst one at the end of the week. It’s light, it’s easy, and it kicks off the day with a laugh.
  
• Reward excellence with playing cards.
  Every time someone goes above and beyond, hand them a card. At the end of the week, let people play poker with their best five. Winner gets a prize.
  
• Add fun to your team outings.
  Don’t just go out—plan something that gets people engaged and laughing. Relationships built outside the bay lead to better teamwork inside it.
  
• Start weekly meetings with “one surprising thing.”
  Ask each person to share something about themselves others might not know. It breaks down walls and builds human connection.
  
  

If you need more ideas, Rick says, “Ask ChatGPT!” Or ask your team. Invite them to co-create the fun. The point is: start.

The Two Non-Negotiables of Shop Play

Rick’s no-fluff approach comes with guardrails. If you want play to build your culture—not break it—follow these two rules:

1. Never play at someone else’s expense.
   If the joke targets a team member, it’s not funny. If you need to make fun of someone—make it yourself.
   
2. Never play around equipment or vehicles.
   Safety first. Always. No pranks near lifts, fluids, or moving cars. Fun should never turn into an injury.
   

You Don’t Need Permission—Just Intention

Too many shop owners are waiting for their shop to “get better” so they can enjoy it. Rick flips that mindset:

Stop waiting. Start creating.
You don’t need permission to have fun. You need intention.

Play changes culture. Culture changes retention. Retention changes results. It’s that simple—and that powerful.

Rick leaves it with this:

“Fun doesn’t just lift the moods of the shop—it lifts the results of the shop.”

So if your team is burned out, tense, or just going through the motions, this is your Just ONE Thing: Play more. Lead lighter. Watch what happens.

Want more insights like this?

Join Rick White and shop owners across the country for the Shop Owner’s Roundtable, held the second Thursday of every month at 7 PM Eastern.

Or check out the Pocket Business Genius webinar series for more no-nonsense leadership tools that actually work.