Just ONE Thing
Hardships in Your Auto Repair Shop Aren’t the Problem
Episode 243
with Rick White, 180BIZ
Good morning. My name is Rick White from 180BIZ, and this is my Just ONE Thing.
Today we’re talking about hardships. The reality is, if you’re running your shop right now, it’s probably feeling harder than you think it should.
Feeling hard—that’s not the issue. It’s the expectation that it’s not going to be hard. You’re not broken.
Hardships aren’t a sign of failure. They create the environment that most shop owners are operating in. That’s what’s going on right now.
Here’s what I need you to understand real quick. Let’s just get this right off the table. Hardships aren’t new.
They’re also not optional. Every one of us is going through a hardship right now. That is the truth. We all have our challenges.
There was this really cool quote that I came across from Franklin Roosevelt who said, “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” Think about that for a second. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
And the reality is, there are times when it feels like you’re in rough water. You’ve got staffing issues, no gross profit or net profit. You’re getting pushback at the front counter, and you’re just overworked and overwhelmed.
But I need you to understand that smooth seas don’t build the capabilities that you need. Rough seas do.
And I need you to understand that if it feels hard, it doesn’t mean you’re being punished. It means you’re being developed.
Hardship doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re being trained. That’s what we’ve got to do.
Here’s another quote: “Don’t wish it was easier. Wish you were better.” That was from Jim Rohn. Great guy. Listen to him sometime.
Most of you want relief, not growth. You’re waiting for fewer problems. You’re waiting for better people to just walk in and show up at the door. You’re waiting for easier conditions. They’re just not going to happen.
Problems don’t disappear. What happens is you trade your problems. You either keep the same problems, or you trade them for new ones—bigger ones—and that’s what you want to do.
If you’ve got the same problems now that you had last year, you’re stuck. What you want to be able to do is have a better problem. That means growth.
What I need you to understand is the stress that you’re feeling actually isn’t coming from the problem. It’s coming from the gap. It’s coming from the gap, and what I really want to get across is that hardship is going to stick around until your skill catches up.
Problems are the price.
Last quote: “The only people who have no problems live in a cemetery.” I love that. If it wasn’t for the tough times, we wouldn’t appreciate the good times. That’s true.
But think about it. If you went to a movie and a guy starts a company at 20 years old, builds it up, then at 21 sells it for five million dollars—would you go watch that movie?
Most people wouldn’t, because it’s not the win that we want to see. It’s what they overcame. That’s what makes the difference.
If you are dealing with the same problems, there’s no growth. The goal isn’t fewer problems. The goal is bigger and better problems.
Hardships are guaranteed.
Here’s how to move through them instead of getting stuck in them.
I’m going to give you a really simple framework for when you’re going through a hardship. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, I want you to go through this.
First, acknowledge the hardship.
Most people do one of two things. They ignore it, or they push through it—or try to anyway, and I hate the word “try.” What I want you to do instead is name it.
I don’t want you to ignore it. I don’t want you to push through it. And I don’t want you to stare at it, because that’s what a lot of people do. They just keep staring at the same problem over and over again.
You can’t grow your way out of something that you refuse to acknowledge. That’s important.
Step two is to remember where you’re going and why you’re going there.
Why do I say that? Because when you’re not clear—when you’re getting up in the morning and it’s the same stuff, different day—you’ve got a problem.
When a problem comes up, all you can see is the hardship. But when you can step back and say, “You know what? This sucks. But I know where I’m going. I know why I’m going there. This matters to me. This is just an obstacle, not my world,” everything changes.
There’s that old saying: when you’re going through hell, keep on moving. Most people don’t. They sit down, stare at the problem, and set up camp right there.
Imagine you’re driving to Disney World with your family. The kids are excited. You’re on your way. And then a sinkhole opens up in the road. You stop in time—everyone’s safe.
What do you do next? Do you sit there and stare at the sinkhole? No. You go around it. You detour. You take a different road.
Why? Because the destination matters. The sinkhole is just an obstacle.
When you know where you’re going and why, hardship stays in perspective. Hardship with purpose feels like progress.
When you don’t have a where or a why, you’re stuck.
The third step is to remove the emotion.
When hardship hits, it’s going to suck. You’re going to wish you didn’t have to go through it. That’s normal. Just don’t stay there.
Anger, fear, and frustration are terrible business advisors. Feel the emotion—but don’t let it drive the bus.
Next, identify what needs to be added, improved, or changed.
There’s a skill missing. A system missing or broken. Or maybe a habit that’s not working for you anymore.
The problem isn’t the problem. What’s missing is the problem.
Step five is to make a plan together.
Isolation intensifies hardship. If you’ve got a coach, talk to them. If you’ve got peers, talk to them. Talk to your team.
When you bring other people in, you shorten the pain cycle. Hardship handled alone lasts longer than it needs to.
Step six: do it.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for confidence. Action creates clarity.
It might not be the perfect plan, but you start, measure, adjust, and fine-tune.
So again: acknowledge it. Remember where you’re going and why. Remove the emotion. Identify what needs to be added, improved, or changed. Make a plan. Do it.
Rough seas build skill. Don’t wish for hardship to go away. I like calling them challenges.
When you understand that rough seas build skill, you realize that skill reduces pain and doubt. Challenges mean you’re alive. You’re still in the game. This is something worth fighting for.
Hardships aren’t here to stop you. They’re here to shape you—if you’re willing to do the work.
If this resonated with you, please share it. Other people need to hear this this week.
It’s all about mindset and opportunity. Win or learn, baby. Win or learn.
Everybody have a great week. If you’re listening and thinking, “I get this, but I could use some help,” reach out to me at [email protected]
and let’s set up a time to talk.
Until next week, go make some money, and have some fun.
Take care, everybody. See ya.
