My grandson just turned 16. But, unlike me, he wasn’t champing at the bit to learn to drive. By the time I’d turned 16, I’d been planning for weeks to spend the entire day driving, and I did. Even though my pals wanted to stop somewhere, all I wanted to do was drive. I love driving and I love cars!
My first car was a rescued 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe — four door, flathead six, stick shift, with rusted out floors and a big dent in the door. $50 retail. Dad and I spent weeks fixing, painting, upholstering, and customizing it. It was ugly, weak… and it was mine!
My love of cars was locked in by age 13. I had all the magazines: Hot Rod, Car Craft, Custom Car, Motor Trend, and so many more.
I could name the manufacturer, model, year, and most of the accessories on the primary cars of the day. “It’s a ’63 Chevy Impala Super Sport, with spinner hubcaps, a continental kit, lake pipes, a 327 engine with a four-barrel carb, a Hurst shifter, and the interior is tuck-and-roll Naugahyde.”
Jason is growing up in the Uber generation where rides are always available. They don’t need cars for freedom they way we did. They see them as a utility: nice to have the convenience, but not all that important for their daily existence.
Still, cars are wonderful and driving them is a very cool privilege. I offered to teach Jason to drive and he happily took me up on it, but without the sense of urgency that I felt at his age.
Driving is about two things: driving and cars. A love of both really makes for a better driver. So I set out to help Jason develop the right thought processes as well as the right driving habits.
Jason is an A+ student, an athlete, a musician, and a very thoughtful guy. He takes the time to learn what he needs to know. That made my job easier. He took an online course to learn to drive, so he understood the basics, leaving me free to focus on what makes drivers good and driving fun.
Here’s where we started:
- Understand your car.
- Realize what the threats can be.
- Understand that stopping can be more important than going.
- Learn to become a fulltime scanner.
- Let idiots be idiots; don’t feel the need to get involved.
- Never stop learning about cars, traffic, and driving.
- When driving, just drive: radio, cellphone, and nav-systems are all distractions.
Understanding your car is critical: If you don’t know where gas comes from, where it goes to, and what it does in a car, then you won’t really understand how the engine makes the car go. If you aren’t aware of how brakes work, then you won’t fully understand the details of stopping safely.
When you know what a transmission does, then you’ll have a better understanding of how to treat one. By understanding cooling, radiators, fans, belts, hoses, chains, and drivetrains, you can better understand what’s happening as you drive and what to do when you see those little lights on the dashboard light up.
Once you have a clear understanding of the machinery you’re controlling, you’ll find it easier to identify whether something is or isn’t working right. So know the car and you’ll be a better driver.
As I was reliving these lessons with Jason, it occurred to me how much those seven points could be used to define the skills it takes to operate a good, successful business:
- Understand your organization. Who are your employees, your customers, and your vendors? And what exactly is your mission?
- Realize what threatens you from attaining the business goals you hope to accomplish.
- Understand that stopping — taking time to look around and evaluate where you are — is often more important than barreling ahead, particularly if you find yourself headed down the wrong path.
- Scan consistently. Always be on the lookout for new opportunities. Watch for employees who’ve fallen off track so you can guide them back onto the path where you need them to be.
- Let idiots be idiots. Don’t let the few annoying customers, employees, or experiences dictate your life. Deal with them and move on.
- Never stop learning. There’s a reason ATRA presents a new program for Powertrain Expo every year. Education is a continuing requirement for success.
- Concentrate on what you’re doing: Avoid the distractions that can divert you from your goal. They’re all over the place; quit seeking them out.
Inattentive people can be a threat in traffic or in business. And everyone is inattentive occasionally. Angry people are a danger to themselves and others: Avoid them.
Idiots and jerks will always be among us. Let them be stupid or mean somewhere that doesn’t threaten you. Slow down and let them go. Don’t buy into their challenges or misbehavior.
Same with business: those types of people can create a massive drain on your life. Let someone else have them so you can move on to customers who’ll appreciate your services.
The mindset of a good business owner, like that of a good driver, is one of high awareness. Become a fulltime scanner. Always look around, whether you’re driving or operating your business.
Notice more to know more. The more you notice the more options you’ll see and the person with the most options usually is the safest… and the most successful.
Think of threats that might exist and watch for them. Never assume: Learn where your blind spots are and do a “life saver,” over-the-shoulder check before taking action.
We went over all these things and spent a good deal of time navigating parking lots and practicing emergency stops, quick turns, backing up, etc. It wasn’t just about how to do these things; it was more about giving him a chance to become comfortable behind the wheel.
Then I took Jason to the ATRA home office in Oxnard, CA. I showed him around the offices and introduced him to Rodger, Lance, and Aurelio. We talked about cars, and discussed what new drivers need to know and how cool cars can be.
By the way, if you haven’t talked cars with the guys on ATRA team lately, do so: You’ll really enjoy the conversation. And there’s no better time to get some face time with the ATRA gang than at Expo, this year at the Paris Hotel and Casino, Thursday, October 19 through Sunday, October 22.
In the end, Jason came away with a new respect and enjoyment for cars. And it didn’t hurt that his first driving lessons were in Grandpa’s 2003 Thunderbird convertible V8.
When was the last time you thought about your business the way you think about driving? It’s surprising how much they have in common. Learn to love your shop the way you loved your first ride: It’ll help you appreciate your business even more.
Jim Cathcart is a strategic advisor to ATRA and a long-time contributor to GEARS Magazine. As the founder of Cathcart.com, he is one of the world’s leading professional speakers and the author of 18 books. Jim’s web site offers over 700 pages of free resources on how to grow your business. Contact him at jim@cathcart.com.
