Why Auto Repair Shop Owners Feel Burnt Out—and What Monkeys Have to Do With It

Most shop owners don’t get crushed by big problems.

They get crushed by too many small ones—ones they shouldn’t even be handling in the first place.

In this episode of Just ONE Thing, Rick White from 180BIZ reveals what’s really draining shop owners day after day—and it’s not what most people think.

It’s monkeys. And if that sounds crazy, just stick with him.

What’s a Monkey (and Why You’ve Got Too Many)?

A “monkey,” as Rick puts it, isn’t the problem itself. It’s the next move.

Every time a tech or service advisor says,

“Hey, I ran into this issue. What should I do?”
...and the shop owner takes it on, a monkey just jumped off their team member’s back and landed squarely on theirs.

Now the owner owns the problem, the follow-up, the result—all of it.

Do that ten or fifteen times a day? It’s no wonder shop owners feel overwhelmed and underproductive.

This Is Why You’re Always Working—but Nothing Gets Done

Rick sees it all the time: Shop owners who work all day, solve every problem, and still can’t make progress on their own priorities.

The problem?
They’re carrying everyone else’s monkeys.

“You think you’re helping,” Rick says, “but what you’re really doing is becoming your team’s employee.”

When a tech drops a problem on the boss, and the boss says “I’ll handle it,” the roles flip. Now the tech is managing you—waiting on you to figure it out, fix it, and follow up.

That’s not leadership. That’s a trap.

How to Stop Taking Monkeys: The 1-3-1 Rule

To stop the madness, Rick teaches shop owners a simple rule that changes everything:
1-3-1.

Here’s how it works:

• 1 problem
• 3 possible solutions
• 1 recommendation
  
  

No one’s allowed to bring Rick a problem without thinking it through first. Not to be difficult—but because it trains people to think, to lead, and to own their role.

“I’m not paying people to give me problems. I’m paying them to solve them.”

The 1-3-1 Rule keeps monkeys off the boss’s back—and puts the responsibility right where it belongs.

The Four Rules of Monkey Management

Here’s the thing: Rick isn’t saying shop owners should stop helping their team. He’s saying they need to lead better—and that starts with how they handle monkeys.

These are the four rules he teaches:

1. Define the Next Step

If no one knows what happens next, the problem stalls out. Be clear. Every monkey needs a specific action.

2. Assign Ownership

Someone has to own the next move. If it’s you, fine. But make it a choice, not a default. In most cases, it should stay with the team member who brought it up.

3. Manage the Risk

There’s a difference between a dropped exhaust bolt and a $10,000 comeback. Rick teaches shop owners to use “insurance policies”:

• Low confidence or high risk? The team member brings a recommendation first.
  
  
• High confidence? Let them act, then check in later.
  
  

4. Follow Up

Even if it’s their monkey, you still follow up. Not to micromanage—but to support.
No check-ins? No accountability. And without accountability, the monkey starves… or goes missing.

Sound Familiar?

If any of this hits home, you’re not alone. Rick works with hundreds of shop owners who are:

• Solving every problem themselves
• Running out of time and energy
• Always “busy” but never getting ahead
• Surrounded by people who depend on them for everything
  
  

It’s not a leadership flaw—it’s a habit. And it can change.

Want to Take Your Time (and Shop) Back?

Here’s how to start:

• Stop collecting monkeys
• Teach the 1-3-1 Rule
• Follow the four rules of monkey management
• Empower your team to bring solutions, not just problems

“Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about building a team that can think and act without you,” Rick says.

Join the Conversation

Rick White shares this kind of real-world, battle-tested advice every month in two powerful formats:

Shop Owners Round Table - 7 PM Eastern – a live group coaching call for shop owners who want to grow (Ask questions. Share challenges. Get answers.)

Pocket Business Genius Webinar Series -  2nd Thursday every month at 1 PM Eastern
(Quick-hit business lessons you can use right away.)

Reach out to Rick or visit 180biz.com to learn more.

And hey—go make it a fun week. Go make some money.