Success vs Time and Relativity [E201] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training and Pico Technology

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In this thought-provoking solo episode, Matt Fanslow tackles the complex and personal question: "What is success?" Drawing a fascinating parallel to Einstein's theory of relativity, Matt argues that there is no universal definition of success, just as there is no universal clock. Success, like time, is personal and relative.

He explores how a "successful" outcome for a rookie technician (simply completing a complex job correctly) is vastly different from the definition of success for a seasoned master tech (high efficiency and productivity). Matt urges listeners—whether shop owners, managers, or technicians—to define success on their own terms, celebrate personal victories, and create environments where individuals can chart their own improvement.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Physics Metaphor: How Einstein's theory of relativity—specifically, that time is not universal but personal—provides a powerful framework for thinking about success.
• No Universal Benchmark: Why comparing your success to billionaires like Elon Musk or elite athletes is a flawed and discouraging exercise.
• Success in the Shop:
• For a new tech, success might be finishing a job without help, even if it took three times the book time.
• For management, success is often tied to metrics like productivity and profit.
• The importance of acknowledging and validating these different definitions.
• The Role of Leadership: Managers must communicate clear, reasonable definitions of success and provide the systems and support for their team to achieve it. This includes mentoring on efficiency without dismissing initial accomplishments.
• Embrace the Learning Process: True growth comes from analyzing failures and missteps. Don't shortchange yourself by only focusing on the end result; take pride in the incremental wins.
• A Changing Industry: With a smaller pool of naturally experienced talent, shops must focus on building systems that allow a wider range of people to succeed, rather than expecting new hires to "succeed in spite of poor systems."

Quotable Moments:

• "There is no universal success. There's only personal success."
• "Give yourself credit where credit's due... validate their successes, even as meager as we may find them to be."
• "This profession is really, really good about pointing out to us is we don't got it."
• "The failures, the hiccups, the missteps, that's where the learning comes in."

Call to Action: How do you define success in your professional and personal life?

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Training

NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details.

Thanks to our Partner, Pico Technology

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Contact Information

• Email Matt: [e-mail]
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