Victims in the Auto Repair Shop: Are You the One Holding the Keys?

Victimhood shows up in places you’d never expect—like your own auto repair shop.

In a recent episode of the Just ONE Thing podcast, industry coach Rick White laid down a tough-love truth bomb: the biggest victim in your shop might be you. Not your customers. Not your techs. You. And it's not because bad things happen—but because of how you respond when they do.

This post isn’t about blame. It’s about awareness. It’s about getting honest, spotting the signs of victim mentality, and doing something about it before it kills your momentum, your leadership, and your growth.

Let’s get into it.

Every Shop Owner Is Writing a Story—Which Role Are You Playing?

Running a shop is like writing a book. Every day is a new page. Every year is a new chapter. And in every story, you only ever play one of four roles:

1. Victim

This is where most people get stuck. The victim believes life is happening to them. Things go wrong, and they feel powerless to change it. It’s not their fault. It’s just the way it is. They wait for someone or something else to fix it.

Key belief: “There’s nothing I can do.”

2. Villain

The villain is the blamer. They lash out, control, and create conflict—usually out of fear or frustration. Instead of looking inward, they attack outward. If they’re hurting, someone else will pay for it.

Key belief: “This is your fault.”

3. Hero

The hero takes action. They face the challenge, own their part, and push through. They don’t wait to be rescued—they find the lesson, do the work, and get back up when they fall.

Key belief: “I can grow through this.”

4. Guide

The guide is the leader. They’ve already fought their battles and now help others rise. They support, coach, and build others up without needing the spotlight.

Key belief: “This isn’t about me—it’s about helping others win.”

The danger isn’t in stepping into one of these roles. That’s human.
The danger is living in the wrong one too long.

You’re allowed to feel like a victim. You’re not allowed to stay one.

Victim Mentality Sounds Like This:

• “I can’t find any good help.”
• “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
• “This always happens to me.”
• “No one wants to work anymore.”
• “It’s just the way it is.”
  
  

These phrases feel true, but they aren’t helpful. In fact, they’re building something dangerous: a prison.

• Your words are the bars.
• Your story is the locked door.
  
  

And every time you repeat one of these lines, you reinforce the idea that your situation is permanent—that there’s no way out.

That’s the lie. And it’s costing you more than you realize.

Break the Cycle: 3 Moves That Will Set You Free

Feeling like a victim isn’t weakness. It’s human. But staying there? That’s where the damage starts. If you want to lead your shop forward, you’ve got to take your power back.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Catch the Language

Start listening to yourself. Pay attention to the words you say when things go wrong. “I can’t,” “always,” “never,” “they”—these are victim signals. Once you spot them, reframe them.

❌ “I can’t find good help.”
✅ “What can I do differently to attract the right people?”

❌ “It’s just the way things are.”
✅ “How do I grow through this?”

Words matter. They shape what you see—and what you believe is possible.

2. Change the Story

The story you tell yourself will either trap you or transform you. Same facts, different lens.

An exercise: write your life or business journey as a tragedy. Then write it again as a triumph—with the same exact events.

What changed? Just the way you framed it.

Your current challenge doesn’t have to be the end of the story. It can be the plot twist that leads to your biggest win. But only if you choose to flip the narrative.

3. Own It Fully

Here are 10 words that will change your business if you let them:

If it is to be, it is up to me.

Responsibility is freedom. When you recognize that you have the power to change, you stop waiting. You start doing. You stop reacting. You start leading.

If you're the cause, you're also the cure.

Final Thought for Auto Repair Shop Owners

There’s no shortage of challenges in this industry. But how you respond? That’s everything.

Victim thinking shrinks your world. It closes off options. It keeps you staring at the problem instead of searching for solutions.

Your words are the bars. Your story is the lock.
But you’re the one holding the key.

Change the words. Change the story. Watch your shop—and your life—transform.

Want to Go Deeper?
Need help spotting victim language in your team or yourself? There’s a free document that breaks it down and gives you tools to fix it. Shoot a quick email to [email protected] and ask for the Victim Language PDF. No pitch. Just value.