Life is busy. Sometimes, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish even the fundamentals, both at home and at work. Things like eating with your family (home), or checking your email (work), can become surprisingly difficult. So when it comes to making improvements—making real changes in order to take a significant step forward—it can seem impossible to find the time.
Shop operators know this well. Many battle this feeling of just barely staying above water every day. If that’s you, the concept of setting goals might sound nice, but not realistic. The reality is, however, that nothing about the daily grind is going to change unless you can let the chaos go for a moment and think critically about why it’s there in the first place, and consider what could be done differently to improve the way you work (and ultimately, live).
It’s cliché, but this is the time of year when setting goals should be top of mind. It’s time to evaluate past accomplishments and missteps, to take a hard look at 2014 and use it as a lesson before tackling what lies ahead. This year, in particular, should bring a sense of urgency to shop operators everywhere—it’s one rife with both challenges and opportunities. Read our cover story, “The Road to a Better 2015,” to see a few reasons for that, along with strategies to consider.
David Rogers, a successful Colorado shop operator and business coach, is blunt in assessment of this year’s importance.
“I don’t care if you’re looking to retire this year or in 20 years, with all the changes in the industry, 2015 will be the year your business either sinks or swims,” he says.
I hope you’ll find inspiration and real business value in the advice Rogers and the other industry professionals in this issue have to offer. At Ratchet+Wrench, we resolve to improve upon all that we have offered you during the last couple of years, and be a real force in helping you achieve your own goals.
I encourage you to let us know how we’re doing, and to suggest what could make this magazine even more of an asset to your business this year. I’m looking forward to hearing from you, and maybe sharing your story.
Jake Weyer
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