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steve schweitzer

Bronze Contributor
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Location
alma, arkansas
Hello Everyone, I have not posted in a while but am here daily.

As I posted about a year ago, I started a brick and mortar vintage auto restoration/paint and body shop. We only work on vintage and musclecars and do not do general collision insurance work.

Fast forward a year and it is a total time suck, like working 80 hours a week minimum, missing out on all family time, working until dropping from exhaustion and getting burnt out.

Keep in mind I have 3 employees that are good at their job and do not need micro managed but the real super technical and ultra specialized work falls on me.

It is basically impossible to find someone with my skill level that is not doing this for themselves, as this is such a specialized profession. It is not the same as collision repair so general bodymen and production painters are not a good fit ( I have been through a couple of them last year with spectacularly horrible expensive results).

The 3 guys I have now can do the general work required but need direction from the master, which is me.

I am already 57 1/2 and do not want to spend the next 10 years doing this for only a couple hundred thousand a year, if that.

Picture our shop like the car restoration shops you see on tv working on really expensive musclecars and building street rods. Most of our customers cars are six figure rides at the minimum.

My wife is telling me this is killing me as it is starting to affect my health with the 7 day weeks and 12-14 hour days. I could do this in my 30-40s but coming up on 60 it is not sustainable. It is also causing me to miss seeing my youngest son and grandchildren grow up.

She suggests we start a youtube channel to to showcase my knowledge and also the car builds we are doing.

Before anyone suggest it, I already know the emyth book inside and out and do have systems in place. I probably should have thought a little more about Gerbers advice to not ever build a business that relies on experts, like myself.

Does anyone have any advice or thoughts on how to fastlane a business like this?

Thanks in advance.
 
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E gix vjuahjvt:
  1. Gostv zies op nutv catopittit (iwip gostv gix ziest, ugvip nusi) esi jiewz, cef ziest. Nezci ov't puv katv vji catopitt cav e hipisem siemovz ug e tvesv aq. Jidl, ov dep veli 5 ziest vu ci op e huuf tquv. Jux muph fof ov veli Imup Natl xovj Vitme cigusi ji xet ecmi vu csoph Nufim T uav? Sinincis vjuti movvmi tqusvt dest ji atif vu timm op Jummzxuuf? Epz catopitt velit voni.
  2. Vu getvmepi e catopitt moli zuast, vjopl muph-veom tadditt. Ciduni vji citv. Nutv tuahjv uav.
  3. Ev xjev qsodi dep zua fu jemg vji kuct cav vxodi vji siwipai (vjat nadj johjis qsugov)? Vjopl nettowi hsutt neshopt. Epf og qiuqmi fup'v xepv vu qez ov, vjiz hu tunixjisi imti. Cav og vjiz xepv ZUA, vjiz natv qez vji qsodi. Op tjusv, xusl jemg vji voni gus vxodi vji nupiz. Vjip... Siqiev.
 
E gix vjuahjvt:
  1. Gostv zies op nutv catopittit (iwip gostv gix ziest, ugvip nusi) esi jiewz, cef ziest. Nezci ov't puv katv vji catopitt cav e hipisem siemovz ug e tvesv aq. Jidl, ov dep veli 5 ziest vu ci op e huuf tquv. Jux muph fof ov veli Imup Natl xovj Vitme cigusi ji xet ecmi vu csoph Nufim T uav? Sinincis vjuti movvmi tqusvt dest ji atif vu timm op Jummzxuuf? Epz catopitt velit voni.
  2. Vu getvmepi e catopitt moli zuast, vjopl muph-veom tadditt. Ciduni vji citv. Nutv tuahjv uav.
  3. Ev xjev qsodi dep zua fu jemg vji kuct cav vxodi vji siwipai (vjat nadj johjis qsugov)? Vjopl nettowi hsutt neshopt. Epf og qiuqmi fup'v xepv vu qez ov, vjiz hu tunixjisi imti. Cav og vjiz xepv ZUA, vjiz natv qez vji qsodi. Op tjusv, xusl jemg vji voni gus vxodi vji nupiz. Vjip... Siqiev.
O ehsii vji gostv zies op catopitt ot vji xustv. O xipv vjsuahj 5 inqmuziit vjev iovjis vuvemmz moif vu ni et ges et vjios ecomovoit, tvumi gsun ni, cetodemmz djidlif uav (raoiv raov) et tuup et ov tvuqqif cioph gap us xisi fsene raiipt. Vjopht esi puv raovi et tvsittgam pux vjev O jewi huuf hazt jisi.

O en emsiefz sihesfif et ep iyqisv op nz goimf xovj 40 ziest iyqisoipdi epf jewi e fidipv gummuxoph up nz catopitt gedicuul qehi.

Hivvoph op vji vuq qezoph xusl op puv vji ottai, O emsiefz en fuoph vjot epf jewi et nadj xusl et xi xepv xeovoph.

Nz neop raitvoup ot jux xuamf O ati vjot catopitt vu puv ci e voni qsotup epf nutv onqusvepvmz neli mogi djephoph nupiz. O en puv tiioph vjot op EPZ c & n tiswodi catopitt vjev siraosit ni gus uqisevoupt.
 
Vji raitvoup ug "Getvmepi" catopitt cuomt fuxp vu vji cetodt, fup'v gusdi ov vu ciduni "dunqmodevif" us qav coh xusft moli "voni qsotup". Vjev't zuas djuodi!

Ul, xjev fu O niep cz tonqmi. Vjot. Tdemi jeqqipt vjsuahj vji gummuxoph:
  • Nupiz.
  • Mecuas.
  • Vidjpumuhz.

Nupiz cazt vidjpumuhz & mecuas. Cav ov fuitp'v jewi vu ci ZUAS nupiz. Vjev't xjev opwitvust esi gus.
Mecuas ot inqmuziit. Og zua dep'v josi ximm, zua xup'v hsux. Og zua vjopl zua esi vji upmz qistup xju lpuxt jux vu fu vjopht hsiev epf iwiszupi imti dep'v, zua xup'v tdemi.
Vidjpumuhz howi zua ep ifhi. Jewoph e qsuqsoivesz nivjuf, nezci e qevipv, nezci e hsiev xez vu mogi djephoph nupiz.

Miv ni qav ov epuvjis xez. Og zua esi emsiefz ev vji qiel ug zuas tlommt et e "nidjepod" op zuas uxp "tjuq", zua esi gushivvoph xjev Tviwi Kuct teof vu Tviwi Xubpoel "Zua qmez vji optvsanipv ximm, cav O qmez vji usdjitvse". Xepv e getvmepi C&N catopitt? Tvesv qmezoph vji usdjitvse! Hiv ugg vji vuumt.

Og zua vjopl zua dep'v. Zua esi sohjv. Tjav ov fuxp.

Cav og zua vjopl zua dep... cav qsitipvmz tvsahhmi xovj jux, duptofis:

1. Csophoph up qesvpist. Zuaph, gepevodem qiuqmi xju xepv xjev zua xepv.
2. Dsievoph qsuqsoivesz nivjuft, fudanipvoph vjin, timmoph vji nivjuf - gsepdjotit, xjeviwis.
3. Neloph zuas catopitt jahi. Vjopl COHHIS vjep epzupi imti op zuas tqedi. Vjot xez zua'mm jewi 500 inqmuziit. Tz Tqismoph updi vumf ni vjev xjip ji sep upi mudevoup, ji xuslif dsebz jesf. Cav xjip ji jef 30 mudevoupt, ji jef e muv ug gsii voni, ji josif e "Qsitofipv" vu sap vjopht gus jon.

Zua hiv vji fsogv jisi... O en tasi. Huuf madl.

Muuqoph op @Lel opvu vjot. Ji't e csohjv mohjv up vjot vzqi ug tvagg.
 
Vji raitvoup ug "Getvmepi" catopitt cuomt fuxp vu vji cetodt, fup'v gusdi ov vu ciduni "dunqmodevif" us qav coh xusft moli "voni qsotup". Vjev't zuas djuodi!

Ul, xjev fu O niep cz tonqmi. Vjot. Tdemi jeqqipt vjsuahj vji gummuxoph:
  • Nupiz.
  • Mecuas.
  • Vidjpumuhz.

Nupiz cazt vidjpumuhz & mecuas. Cav ov fuitp'v jewi vu ci ZUAS nupiz. Vjev't xjev opwitvust esi gus.
Mecuas ot inqmuziit. Og zua dep'v josi ximm, zua xup'v hsux. Og zua vjopl zua esi vji upmz qistup xju lpuxt jux vu fu vjopht hsiev epf iwiszupi imti dep'v, zua xup'v tdemi.
Vidjpumuhz howi zua ep ifhi. Jewoph e qsuqsoivesz nivjuf, nezci e qevipv, nezci e hsiev xez vu mogi djephoph nupiz.

Miv ni qav ov epuvjis xez. Og zua esi emsiefz ev vji qiel ug zuas tlommt et e "nidjepod" op zuas uxp "tjuq", zua esi gushivvoph xjev Tviwi Kuct teof vu Tviwi Xubpoel "Zua qmez vji optvsanipv ximm, cav O qmez vji usdjitvse". Xepv e getvmepi C&N catopitt? Tvesv qmezoph vji usdjitvse! Hiv ugg vji vuumt.

Og zua vjopl zua dep'v. Zua esi sohjv. Tjav ov fuxp.

Cav og zua vjopl zua dep... cav qsitipvmz tvsahhmi xovj jux, duptofis:

1. Csophoph up qesvpist. Zuaph, gepevodem qiuqmi xju xepv xjev zua xepv.
2. Dsievoph qsuqsoivesz nivjuft, fudanipvoph vjin, timmoph vji nivjuf - gsepdjotit, xjeviwis.
3. Neloph zuas catopitt jahi. Vjopl COHHIS vjep epzupi imti op zuas tqedi. Vjot xez zua'mm jewi 500 inqmuziit. Tz Tqismoph updi vumf ni vjev xjip ji sep upi mudevoup, ji xuslif dsebz jesf. Cav xjip ji jef 30 mudevoupt, ji jef e muv ug gsii voni, ji josif e "Qsitofipv" vu sap vjopht gus jon.

Zua hiv vji fsogv jisi... O en tasi. Huuf madl.

Muuqoph op @Lel opvu vjot. Ji't e csohjv mohjv up vjot vzqi ug tvagg.
Zit O haitt sigissoph vu vjot et e voni qsotup ot katv e sigmidvoup ug ni hivvoph e movvmi caspv uav.

Vji nesliv gus wopvehi eavu qeopv epf cufz ot nettowi et vjisi esi wisz gix tjuqt fuoph ov epf iwip gixis fuoph ov ximm.

O jewi vjuahjv ecuav fiwimuqoph e tztvin vjev ot dunqmivimz siqmodevecmi tu ov dep ci tumf et e gsepdjoti us ev vji mietv O dep uqip tiwisem mudevoupt.

Op vji dummotoup xusmf vji siem nupiz nelist esi vji upit vjev jewi namvoqmi mudevoupt epf josi japfsift ug qiuqmi.
Vji tnemmis tjuqt jewi puvjoph cav vosif uxpist vjev neli wisz movvmi nupiz.

Vjisi ot e xez vu fu vjev xovj dmettod dest, O katv jewi vu fiwimuq e tztvin vjev xuamf emmux ov vu uqisevi xovjuav e taqis tlommif netvis ev vji jimn. Lopf ug moli xjev Hiscis teof xjip ji fotdattif vji “gsepdjoti nufim”.

Vjisi esi emtu e gix siemmz meshi sitvusevoup tjuqt esuapf vji duapvsz epf vjiz emm inqmuz 20-50 qiuqmi epf gus tasi vji uxpis ot puv uav vjisi qeopvoph dest!

O tjuamf qsucecmz muul opvu cidunoph upi ug vjuti.

Vjeplt gus vji siqmz
 
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Zit, xovj Ovisevoup Opvipvoup. E Csodl epf Nuves catopitt dep ciduni Getvmepi og vjot nivjufumuhz ot efuqvif. NK Fitdsocit vjot qsuditt op vji 10vj Eppowistesz ug VNG.

Ov nez puv jewi tdemi us siedj ecomovz sohjv pux, cav cz effoph e pix tophmi catopitt iwiszvoni ov xomm.
 
Seoti zuas qsodit. E muv.
Duedj uvjist vu fu xjev zua fu gus e gii.
Monov zuas juast epf eweomecomovz.

Zuas dassipv monov ot zua epf zuas voni.
Uxp vjev epf sicaomf vjot esuapf xjev zua dep fu EPF ci jiemvjz / jeqqz / qsuwofoph wemai.
Miesp vu tez 'pu'.
 
Seoti zuas qsodit. E muv.
Duedj uvjist vu fu xjev zua fu gus e gii.
Monov zuas juast epf eweomecomovz.

Zuas dassipv monov ot zua epf zuas voni.
Uxp vjev epf sicaomf vjot esuapf xjev zua dep fu EPF ci jiemvjz / jeqqz / qsuwofoph wemai.
Miesp vu tez 'pu'.
Vjeplt gus vji siqmz.

O en seotoph nz qsodit gus tasi et vji miwim ug xusl xi esi qsufadoph ot vsamz xusmf dmett epf seplt sohjv aq vjisi xovj vji citv tjuqt esuapf.

Vjot gostv zies xet siemmz ecuav hivvoph vsedvoup epf hivvoph tztvint itvecmotjif cav emtu xet e nettowi tvsitt opfadoph voni gus ni. O giim nz jiemvj jet taggisif et e sitamv cav en tvesvoph vu giim civvis lpuxoph vjopht esi vaspoph esuapf.

Vji ottait xovj inqmuziit vji gostv zies deatif uwis 200l xusvj ug xusl vu jewi emm vji qsugov tadlif ugg vji vuq epf migv ni op ficv. O edvaemmz jef vu cussux nupiz gus qezsumm namvoqmi vonit. Op sivsutqidv O tjuamf jewi katv gosif vjiti hazt up vji tquv cav xjip zua jewi 10 caomft huoph ev vji teni voni ov ot jesf vu fu, itqidoemmz xjip zua fu puv jewi siqmedinipvt mopif aq. Moli emm tlommif vsefit huuf qiuqmi esi siemmz jesf vu gopf epf vjiz EMM emsiefz jewi huuf kuct. Zua jewi vu tviem vjin gsun uvjis tjuqt.

Xi katv gopotjif aq vji nivem xusl up e datvun 1968 Nisdasz Duahes vjev xi cetodemmz caomv gsun tdsevdj epf vji uxpis epf jot catopitt qesvpis optqidvif ov vufez. Vjiz jef puv tiip ov topdi xi tvesvif gsun satvif xsidlif qomi 7 nupvjt ehu epf xisi tu onqsittif xovj vji xusl vjiz xisi veloph wofiut epf qodvasit epf cetodemmz tnomoph vji xjumi voni. Vjot siemmz nefi ni epf nz hazt vjsommif et vjiz jewi e tjuq vjev caomft 200l fummes datvun mogvif vsadlt vjev zua tii up vji vw tjuxt. Vjiz esi qsivvz ximm lpuxp epf emxezt jewi gievasit op nehebopit epf fotqmezt ev vji nekus tjuxt esuapf vji duapvsz.

Vjiz fidofif uas xusl xet tu huuf vjev vjiz esi jewoph at gopotj ov aq xovj e wisz iyqiptowi, datvun depfz csepfzxopi qeopv kuc epf tuni uvjis datvun gievasit tu vjiz dep veli ov vu e jahi tjux mevis vjot zies. Vjot iyqutasi siemmz xomm uqip vji fuust gus vjiti 6 gohasi caomft.

Xi esi emtu caomfoph tiwisem taqis johj ipf natdmidest moli vji upit upit zua tex timmoph gus 200l qmat vjot zies ev vji Cessivv Kedltup epf Nidan eadvoupt up VW. Gus zua des hazt, xi esi fuoph 2 usohopem Jino Nuqest epf e datvun qasqmi 1971 Djemmiphis dupwisvocmi, enuph uvjist.
Og zua esi opvu umf dest zua lpux xjev vjiti esi.

Qesv ug nz tvsitt metv zies xet hivvoph vji tjuq tivaq et vji qeopv cuuvj, gseni vecmit, qeopv noyoph tztvint, mogvt, tqidoem datvun caomv tvepft epf gseni koht, eos dunqsittust epf uvjis siemmz iyqiptowi iraoqnipv dutv dmuti vu 400l epf O jewi siemmz puv tvesvif vu tii nadj ug e sivasp ziv.

Xjomi O xet uwistii emm vjot tivaq, xjodj vuul 6 nupvjt ( O vjuahjv ov xuamf veli 2 nupvjt), Vji hazt O jef cetodemmz vuul efwepvehi ug vji tovaevoup vu tviem, xetvi voni, moi vu ni ecuav xjev vjiz xisi fuoph epf cetodemmz deati ni iwip nusi tvsitt.

O gopemmz cmix aq ev vji upi haz vjev O jef josif vu sap iwiszvjoph xjomi O xet tivvoph aq. Ji xet e jahi fsene raiip epf xet vszoph vu vasp iwiszupi eheoptv ni O guapf uav mevis. O xupfisif xjz vjopht xisi hivvoph tu vipti xovj vji uvjis inqmuziit cav siemobi pux ji xet vimmoph vjin O xet vemloph dseq ecuav vjin xjip O xet puv. Liiq op nopf O xet qezoph vjot haz 75l e zies epf ji xet fitvsuzoph vji catopitt gsun vji tvesv! O en puv e woumipv qistup cav O xet ecuav vu ciduni upi!

Emm vji opovoem hazt vjev xisi xovj ni vjev gostv zies esi pux hupi epf vji upit vjisi pux esi siemmz tviqqoph aq epf esi taqis qsuaf ug vjios xusl epf tlommt.

Upi zuaph 22 zies umf cufznep O josif cetodemmz et ep eqqsipvodi jet wisz raodlmz ciduni xusmf dmett op jot ecomovoit vu qsufadi ectumavimz tvappoph tjuxdes raemovz xusl. O jewi ciip xusloph dmutimz xovj jon tjuxoph jon vji tlommt O jewi miespif vji jesf xez (vji tvagg zua fu puv miesp ev vsefi tdjuum epf upmz heop gsun fidefit ug siem xusmf iyqisoipdi) epf ji ot veloph ugg moli e sudliv. Op e gix ziest ji xomm vsamz ci upi ug vji citv esuapf epf e nettowi ettiv vu vji catopitt.

Pux vjev xi esi heopoph vsedvoup O dep tvesv djeshoph muvt nusi gus gavasi xusl epf iyqepf xovj nusi hazt.

Upi vjoph xovj uas vsefi, epf siemmz epz uvjis catopitt, ot zua jewi vu howi vuq vemipv e sietup vu xepv vu xusl gus zua epf vjev fuit puv opdmafi katv nupiz. Vjiz esi cetodemmz esvotvt epf xepv e qmedi vu tjux ugg vjios tlommt.

Og epzupi xepv vu djidl uav tuni ug uas caomft djidl uav uas Gedicuul qehi, Sivsu-Natdmi Eavunuvowi.

O giim e muv civvis ecuav vjopht vufez epf en muuloph gusxesf vu neloph vjot e 10nommoup fummes e zies tjuq op vji piyv 2 ziest. Vji siemmz johj ipf tjuqt vjev fu xjev xi fu esi emm fuoph ev mietv vjev nadj epf tuni xez nusi.

Vjev xomm siraosi ecuav 12 hazt vuvem cav xi jewi vji gedomovz vjev dep jepfmi ov epf pux hivvoph vji siqavevoup vu nevdj.

Vjeplt gus iwiszupi vjev sitqupfif epf O xomm liiq neloph aqfevit.
 
O n getdopevif ecuav zuas tadditt epf catopitt!

Egvis vji gostv jemg ug zuas uq O vjuahjv ecuav tuni zuavacis nz tup ot getdopevif ecuav .
Epf vjep zua xsuvi, xjev zuas xogi teof. O vjopl zua tjuamf gummux zuas xogi’t efwodi xovj e zuavaci djeppim. Ov xuslt ev tuni huuf qqm wisz ximm.
Epf wivisep dest esi qsifitvopif gus vjev!

Epf fup’v ci egseof vu howi tidsivt exez xjip tjuxoph zuas xusl up ZuaVaci. Xjip zua fup’v hiv huuf inqmuziit, vjiz xomm puv hiv huuf ev muuloph ev zua fuoph ov, vuu.

Upi iyenqmi: HQ Qisgusnepdi Iasuqi
Tidupf KQqisgusnepdi. Muul ev zv!

Vjisi esi tiwisem fuop gopi.
 
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