My Journey Pt 16

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48 GEARS September 2004 by Ray Warner Journey Journey P ART 16 My My A Journey’s End I t was at the Powertrain Expo in September of 2002. I was sitting with GEARS Managing Editor Rodger Bland, Senior Editor Paul Morton, and Technical Editor Lance Wiggins. We were talking about the possibility of me writing a series of articles for GEARS that detailed the tri- als and tribulations experienced during the first year or so of a brand-new inde- pendent transmission repair shop. I was excited about the prospect of writing for GEARS, but that excitement was tempered by an anxious feeling when Rodger said, “We’ll be true to what happens in your business; good or bad. We want you to know that you’re taking a chance in the event the busi- ness doesn’t go well, because that will be written about, also.” My stomach was in knots. The whole transmission world would know if my business venture failed. But to be honest, I was never really concerned about failure. By nature, I suppose it’s just not something I allow myself to believe is acceptable. When I look at my shop today, it’s hard to remember when I signed the lease on what was then a vacant build- ing. I do, however, remember my first job. I serviced an E4OD, and I swear it felt as though I was lost. I felt like a rookie again. At that point my shop was little more that an empty box with a hoist. Nowadays, I occasionally take a mental break from what has grown to be the fast pace of my business, and reflect back on that first year in busi- ness. Actually, these are usually not par- ticularly good memories. Talk about stress and unhappiness. I’m not sure if my writing showed just how miserable I was that first year, but believe me, it was very difficult. There were many hard, lonely hours that first year. The lack of customers and work made for some long days. I once heard a quote that went something like this: “An owner that does all the work in a small business has a fool for a manager.” In one of my early articles I said that if a job had to be done in my business, regardless of its nature, I was the one who had to do it. It often led to a great deal of frustra- tion, and it became evident I needed to change my way of thinking about my business. But to make an effective change, I needed knowledge. Fortunately for me, the ATRA Powertrain Expo in Las Vegas was about to occur, and I hoped to find the help I needed there. I wasn’t disap- pointed. It wasn’t just a particular speaker, or a software program, or any other single factor. In fact, it was a combination of factors I wouldn’t have found under one roof in any other industry event. I finally realized that my basic problem was a lack of knowledge, or understanding, in several key areas, and that I basically survived my first year out of that refusal to fail. As soon as I realized that, I was able to set my ego aside, and focus on accumulating the information I needed to work smarter and better. To do that, I started taking advantage of other people’s knowledge through seminars, and networking with other shop owners. It was just what I needed. One of the more important things I learned was that I needed to surround myself with talented people. I put that lesson into action by hiring my first technician. That led to the hiring of other key employees; not the least of which has been my manager. I also learned to back my staff up with solid business consulting on topics such as accounting and marketing, as well as business and profit develop- ment. This is when everything came together. My hope is that by reading of the struggles I experienced in starting my business, some of you in similar situa- tions may be able to avoid the same pit- falls. I am also happy to report that ATRA has asked me to speak in a sem- inar at the upcoming Powertrain Industry Expo 2004 at the Rio Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, where I hope to pass along some of the key points I learned over the last couple years. I know quite a few of you have fol- lowed my story from the beginning, and I appreciate the words of support I’m not sure if my writing showed how miserable I was that first year, but believe me, it was very difficult.

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my journey pt 16

Transcript of My Journey Pt 16

  • 48 GEARS September 2004

    by Ray Warner

    JourneyJourneyPART 16MyMy

    A Journeys End

    It was at the Powertrain Expo inSeptember of 2002. I was sittingwith GEARS Managing EditorRodger Bland, Senior Editor PaulMorton, and Technical Editor LanceWiggins. We were talking about thepossibility of me writing a series ofarticles for GEARS that detailed the tri-als and tribulations experienced duringthe first year or so of a brand-new inde-pendent transmission repair shop.

    I was excited about the prospect ofwriting for GEARS, but that excitementwas tempered by an anxious feelingwhen Rodger said, Well be true towhat happens in your business; good orbad. We want you to know that youretaking a chance in the event the busi-ness doesnt go well, because that willbe written about, also.

    My stomach was in knots. Thewhole transmission world would knowif my business venture failed. But to behonest, I was never really concernedabout failure. By nature, I suppose itsjust not something I allow myself tobelieve is acceptable.

    When I look at my shop today, itshard to remember when I signed thelease on what was then a vacant build-ing. I do, however, remember my firstjob. I serviced an E4OD, and I swear itfelt as though I was lost. I felt like arookie again. At that point my shop waslittle more that an empty box with ahoist.

    Nowadays, I occasionally take a

    mental break from what has grown tobe the fast pace of my business, andreflect back on that first year in busi-ness. Actually, these are usually not par-ticularly good memories. Talk aboutstress and unhappiness. Im not sure ifmy writing showed just how miserable Iwas that first year, but believe me, itwas very difficult. There were manyhard, lonely hours that first year. Thelack of customers and work made forsome long days.

    I once heard a quote that wentsomething like this: An owner thatdoes all the work in a small businesshas a fool for a manager. In one of myearly articles I said that if a job had tobe done in my business, regardless ofits nature, I was the one who had to doit. It often led to a great deal of frustra-tion, and it became evident I needed tochange my way of thinking about mybusiness. But to make an effectivechange, I needed knowledge.

    Fortunately for me, the ATRAPowertrain Expo in Las Vegas wasabout to occur, and I hoped to find thehelp I needed there. I wasnt disap-pointed. It wasnt just a particularspeaker, or a software program, or anyother single factor. In fact, it was acombination of factors I wouldnt havefound under one roof in any otherindustry event.

    I finally realized that my basicproblem was a lack of knowledge, orunderstanding, in several key areas, and

    that I basically survived my first yearout of that refusal to fail. As soon as Irealized that, I was able to set my egoaside, and focus on accumulating theinformation I needed to work smarterand better. To do that, I started takingadvantage of other peoples knowledgethrough seminars, and networking withother shop owners. It was just what Ineeded.

    One of the more important things Ilearned was that I needed to surroundmyself with talented people. I put thatlesson into action by hiring my firsttechnician. That led to the hiring ofother key employees; not the least ofwhich has been my manager.

    I also learned to back my staff upwith solid business consulting on topicssuch as accounting and marketing, aswell as business and profit develop-ment. This is when everything cametogether.

    My hope is that by reading of thestruggles I experienced in starting mybusiness, some of you in similar situa-tions may be able to avoid the same pit-falls. I am also happy to report thatATRA has asked me to speak in a sem-inar at the upcoming PowertrainIndustry Expo 2004 at the Rio Casinoand Resort in Las Vegas, where I hopeto pass along some of the key points Ilearned over the last couple years.

    I know quite a few of you have fol-lowed my story from the beginning, andI appreciate the words of support

    Im not sure if my writing showed how miserable I wasthat first year, but believe me, it was very difficult.

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  • youve given me along the way.If you have a chance during theExpo, please stop me and let meknow your thoughts.

    This is not a goodbye,though. GEARS has asked me towrite an occasional piece so Ican talk about any major eventsthat may occur over the nextyear or so.

    Let me wrap this up bytelling you that several peoplehave contributed to my success,but no one has made an impacton me more than my wife,Laurie. She has stood by myside throughout this often gruel-ing process. She has the won-derful ability to help me withmajor decisions, and respect mydreams. Without her, none ofthis would have been possible.See you at the Rio.

    GEARS September 2004 49

    It was nearly two years ago when GEARS Managing Editor Rodger Bland and Senior Editor PaulMorton talked about the feasibility of initiating a series of articles written by an ATRA member who wastransitioning from technician to shop owner. To them, the risk was significant. They didnt want to initi-ate a series, only to have our writer abandon the effort mid-way. They also recognized the risk involvedin detailing what could be a shop that, for any number of reasons, did not succeed. They agreed thatthe series would detail either success or failure what was important was trying to capture the infor-mation and decision-making process that led to either one.

    They were fortunate enough to meet with Ray Warner, who was in the beginning stages of break-ing away from a family-owned transmission business to one of his own. Ray definitely seemed to havethe necessary drive to succeed, but was quick to recognize he didnt have all the answers or at thatpoint, even know some of the questions. At no small risk to himself, Ray offered to write articles foreach issue of GEARS that focused on issues related to developing a new transmission business thegood as well as the bad.

    Ray also had to agree to another very important aspect of creating an article for final production:the editorial process. Editors are assigned the responsibility of making a submitted article easy to read,and conform to (most of) the rules set forth in the Kings English. This must always be balanced againstthe writers style and personality; GEARS doesnt want cookie-cutter articles that all share the samevoice.

    Much to Rays credit, he not only understood this, he never allowed the editorial process tobecome personal and stymie his effort. Another very important element in this process was that Raywas always very honest in describing the events he experienced even when it did not cast him or hisdecisions in the best light.

    The result of this endeavor, we believe, is an interesting and honest documentation of the processinvolved when a good technician decides to become a good shop owner. Heartfelt thanks go out to RayWarner for his outstanding effort and accomplishments both in his business endeavor, and in hisdebut as an author. The effort in the latter category, by the way, brought Ray international recognition:The 2003 Silver Medallion from the International Automotive Media Awards (IAMA).

    Heartfelt thanks go out to Ray for his effort and product, and our best wishes for the continuedsuccess of Diablo Transmissions. GEARS

    Keep your techs happy. Get them theirown subscription of GEARS Magazine

    TODAY!www.gearsmagazine.com

    (805) 604-2000

    My own

    subscription?

    Wow Boss!

    Youre the

    GREATEST!

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