Marconi: Shop Owners, What Keeps You Up at Night?

Feb. 6, 2023

Columnist Joe Marconi says confronting the fears that cost you sleep will give you immeasurable peace of mind.

It’s 6:15 p.m. on Friday night. As you lock the door to your shop, you reflect on the week and are happy it has come to an end. The events of the past few days consume your mind: Employee issues, expenses going up and every other detail about running your business. You get into your car, turn on the radio, take a breath to relax, put the car in drive and you begin your ride home. All is good. Or is it?  

While you may have locked the door to your shop, you haven’t locked out all the emotions and issues stirring around in your brain. A few hours later it’s time for bedand you’re tired and your body needs sleep, but that becomes an issue too. The hours pass and now it’s the middle of the night and you find yourself staring at the ceiling. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.  

Only a shop owner knowhow it feels to be a shop ownerThe challenges and struggles of running a business are ongoing, even after years of working on the business to get every detail dialed in just the way you want it. This can lead to a condition that plagues many shop owners; the dreaded 2:00 a.m. unplanned wakeup call. 

There are many reasons why shop owners have a tough time sleeping. Worry about their business, the feelings of being responsible for so many people’s lives, the second-guessing if they made all the right decisions, and perhaps the most harmful of all are the “What-ifs.” What if Larry, my manager, leaves? What if my lead technician decides to quit? What if we don’t hit our sales goal All these what-ifs increase brain activity, and while you are desperately in need of sleep, youconscience mind is in high gear wondering and worrying sometimes until the sun comes up. I know it’s aggravating, and while I don’t wish it on you, not being able to sleep at times means you care. 

As business owners, you are committed and responsible for not only the success of your business but for the success of others around you. The worry and fear that things make go sideways at any time can haunt you. So, your brain continues to review and relive all conditions and situations that have occurred and wonder about the things you think may occur. Your body gets stuck in fight or flight mode, a natural human response to perceived or real threats. This condition overcomes you and prevents you from getting a good night's sleep.  

What do we do about this condition?  

Firstwe need to recognize it as part of who we are and then identify the reasons why we can’t shut off our brains. It usually boils down to issues and problems we feel we are not in control of. For example, you feel something isn’t right with your staff. You feel there’s a morale issue. Then the thought of losing employees enters your mind, and that scares the hell out of you.  

The best way to approach fear is to confront issues head-onMake it a top priority to sit down with your employees. Find out if your fears are true, and if so, deal with them. Getting employees engaged and improving morale will calm your fears. However, you should also consider a recruitment plan to build a pipeline of potential future employees. The point here is to be proactive with any issue that’s bothering you and not sit on your hands hoping and praying that things don’t go downhill. 

There will always be challenges in business. Have faith that you can overcome those challenges. Build a company with a strong culture and with great people around you. Also, learn to rely on your employees to take some of the load off of your back. I know you feel that it’s your shop and that the buck stops with you, but trust me, your employees want to help, and they can help. 

One last word, make sure you have clearly defined goals. Goals give you purpose, a clear direction and provide a sense of accomplishment for you and your team when they are reachedThis will keep you in a positive mindset, which helps with getting a good night’s sleep. 

Tonight, when your mind begins to shift to business issues, remind yourself that this is normal reaction. However, it’s also important to be thankful for all the good in your life. It’s far better to focus on positive thoughts about familyfriends and accomplishments. Remember, your business should never consume your lifebut enrich it. Now get some sleep! 

Sponsored Recommendations

How one auto shop was able to order 20% more parts

Learn how one auto shop talks about the benefit of using PartsTech in their shop.

Vehicle Inspection Checklist For Auto Shops

Vehicle inspections, whether digital or on paper, are crucial for auto shops, ensuring thorough assessments and fostering trust by transparently revealing a vehicle's condition...

6 Reasons Why A Digital Vehicle Inspection Is A Must-Have

In an era of growing technology and innovation, auto repair shops must keep pace with the latest advancements to meet customers preferences and remain competitive.

How Your Auto Shop Can Now Connect To 30 Tire Suppliers For Free

Yep! We have over 50 tire suppliers in our network. And PartsTech is the only platform where you can access more than 30 of those suppliers FREE OF CHARGE.