"DETAIL TECHNICIAN vs BUSINESSMAN"

B

buda

New member
Many detailers believe that technical compentency will translate into business success. No question, a level of technical competency is absolutely necessary for success in the detail business, but it seldom soley ensures long term success.



A detailer might be good at detailing cars. There is much more to running a business than simply providing a detail service.



A detail business, like any business, involves accounting and finance, marketing and sales, production, management and administration and much, much more.



Operating a business requires a broad skill set to function successfully.



Certainly you can hire people with these skills to help you. But, many, if not most small business owners end up wearing all these hats, or should be wearing them.



Regardless, the detail business owner most possess some level of knowledge regarding all these areas. They are the final decision maker, and without a reasonable level of knowledge they will be unable to make competent decision. In other words, their technical expertise in detailing is not going to help them when it comes to making decisions regarding finances or marketing.



The failure for a detail business owner to not acquire to obtain these skill sets either through getting the education or hiring someone else, is the major reason for the failure of most detail businesses and small businesses. FACT!!!!



To use a sports analogy, and since this is footbal season, FOOTBALL.



As the owner of your detail business you are the head coach. But the greatest head coach is not an expert in every aspect of the sport. Their primary job is to hire experts, delegate responsibilities and then organize the entire operation. They are responsible for the final decision making, but they do not need to micromanage every aspect of the team.



This is true of even those football coaches who were great players, that is, superb technicians. An all star football player will not necessarily make a good coach, the two roles require vastly different skill sets.



The coach must be able to organize, teach, encourage and lead. The same is true of a detail business owner.



Maybe this is why so many detailers choose not to have employees because they realize they can play the game, but have no idea how to coach. And those who have tried to be a coach have ended up with loosing record.



Regards

Bud Abraham
 
This is one very outstanding thread. Short simple and to the point. Bud, what I really like about your posts are that there here to Help people make MONEY. Alot can be learned from your history of trial and error. When I think about this post here, one thing comes to mind. Do you want to make money or do you want to make real money. A one man show can only make so much. As we own and operate a business our goal is making money. I wish you wuld have posted here more years ago!
 
So, Barry, are you saying that's the direction you want to see Autopia going in? Supporting and catering to large production shops and saying "screw the individual owner/operator" because they can only achieve "a certain level of success" that isn't good enough?



Anyone else here getting that same vibe?
 
There are a lot of variables here. I know quite a few owner/operators who have both technical and business skill which has resulted in great success. And producing more revenue doesn't necessarily translate into proportional quality results for the customer. Sometimes, in fact, it's inverse.
 
Shiny Lil Detailer



Read the lastest post on FEAR. It is FEAR that will keep you small or put you into the dumpster of failure like so many small businesses.



If you do not move forward you will go backward. That seems to be the history of small business.



Not my opinion but the facts from the Small Business Administration.



Bud Abraham
 
Bud, as I've mentioned many times I am working on a business administration degree and as such I am well aware of what you're saying.... but the point is there's nothing wrong with being a smaller operation either. Not everyone wants or needs to run a shop with a large staff doing a large volume of cars every day to find success, and to claim otherwise is ignorant to the fact that some markets won't support that type of operation, yet there are still opportunities that exist in those markets to create a profitable business.



Who are we to say that a business is not successful if they are not making a certain level of profit? As long as the business is profitable enough that the owner is happy and able to live comfortably, it is a successful business. Sure, if they are not happy with the money they're making, they should be examining what they should be doing differently, but that's not the case for everyone. Greed for the sake of greed is just as toxic as not aiming high enough with one's aspirations.
 
For many years I treated my business as a hobby but my hobby was not going pay for my retirement. I am becoming more of business man the older I get and I am having my best year, even this in recession.
 
I agree with all points. Last paragraph of the OP was belittling to those running a small business or working for themselves. Those who have the attention to detail required to do high quality work often tend to resist letting go of some of the control to ensure the quality associated with their business. Sometimes growing to a point where they must manage rather than detail may make them more money, but then they are no longer doing what they enjoy. If managing is what they want to do there are likely other businesses where they can do so for more money.



My primary income does not come from detailing, but my business is growing. I'm not sure I ever want to run a detailing business that volume. If managing people is what I want to do I would never have started detailing in the first place. I get great satisfaction from a job well done and seeing the customer's reaction when I have made their car look better than they ever could have imagined. My satisfaction does not come from the thickness of my wallet.
 
Charlie:



Thanks for the post.



shiny lil detlr said:
bud, as i've mentioned many times i am working on a business administration degree and as such i am well aware of what you're saying....



That is great getting a ba, have one myself as well as an ma.



But the point is there's nothing wrong with being a smaller operation either.



Did i saw that there was something wrong with having a small business. You are saying that. Are you paranoid because you have a small business. I am talking about having a "business," does not matter what size it is. There are many very successful auto repair shops with one person; barber shops with one barber. What we are talking about is business basics, small or large business.



Not everyone wants or needs to run a shop with a large staff doing a large volume of cars every day to find success, and to claim otherwise is ignorant to the fact that some markets won't support that type of operation, yet there are still opportunities that exist in those markets to create a profitable business.



Fully agree with you. Where did you think that i would not agree with your premise?



Who are we to say that a business is not successful if they are not making a certain level of profit?



I am not and have never said that. You are projecting into what i have stated before.



As long as the business is profitable enough that the owner is happy and able to live comfortably, it is a successful business.



Absolutely, as long as they can continue to make a comfortable living with inflation and the rise in the cost of living, etc.



Sure, if they are not happy with the money they're making, they should be examining what they should be doing differently, but that's not the case for everyone. Greed for the sake of greed is just as toxic as not aiming high enough with one's aspirations.
Click to expand...



exactly, if your business is not profitable you do not have a business you have a job, and a bad paying job. Who said that making a profit is greedy. Charlie do you have children? A man has to look to the future if he has children. Being you are in college you are aware of the cost of education. To send a child to a parochical elementary school for example in portland, is $6,000; a private high school is $11,000 and to a state college is a minimum $6,000 and private university a minimum of $16,000 if you don't live on campus.



You seem to miss the point of my statements about being a businessman and what it requires to operate a business.



In general you and i do agree.



Bud a
 
There are always differing opinions, my background has (or I should say was) bottom line management; on time on budget and therefore profitable.



[exactly, if your business is not profitable you do not have a business you have a job] and some are more than happy to make a living (however modest) by doing something they love doing.



Neither one is the "only or right way"

 
buda said:
Maybe this is why so many detailers choose not to have employees because they realize they can play the game, but have no idea how to coach. And those who have tried to be a coach have ended up with loosing record.
Click to expand...



These opinion pieces always seem to lead down a certain road - something is being sold without referring to it directly.



I do think the last comment about people who decide to work alone cannot coach is just more trying to shame someone into doing something like joining IDA or going to classes. It is classic marketing (educate, prey on some fear, then sell).



The good business view (be it a private business or the government) you can make money off others making money.
 
I agree with all points. Last paragraph of the OP was belittling to those running a small business or working for themselves. Those who have the attention to detail required to do high quality work often tend to resist letting go of some of the control to ensure the quality associated with their business. Sometimes growing to a point where they must manage rather than detail may make them more money, but then they are no longer doing what they enjoy. If managing is what they want to do there are likely other businesses where they can do so for more money.



My primary income does not come from detailing, but my business is growing. I'm not sure I ever want to run a detailing business that volume. If managing people is what I want to do I would never have started detailing in the first place. I get great satisfaction from a job well done and seeing the customer's reaction when I have made their car look better than they ever could have imagined. My satisfaction does not come from the thickness of my wallet.[/QUOTE]





Bingo Here at this site you have a gathering of "Autopians" who by definition want to move past mediocrity onto excellence, the replies by everyone all have one sentiment towards BUD..............your formula works for those who choose to do it but you telling us we suck and do not know better is exactly the mindset a "Liberal" has for his fellow citizens in this country that " I know better than you" .



Bud did you know I did the "management thing" in the Nineties and no matter what I did I could not get people who were "Not on the same page" as I was with quality delivered for everycar.........and we are not talking correction jobs either but basic washes on a account basis to do even a minimum of what was expected of them.



You have the mindset that quality is trumped by earnings, and some of us have repeated ourselves till we are "Blue in the face" that unless a certain quality standard is maintained we are not going to conduct business that way, I can wager that since you have been doing things this way for a LONGTIME you will not change but rail against us expecting us to "Change" and whine that we do not understand and should just "Consider your viewpoint"...................while your viewpoint is wrapped in a outright or subtle insult is not happening chief.



Everytime I log on now one of us(Guys who think you suck) has replied in a way so clear as to get right to the point but you are the guy that gets in a debate and when you are "Dispatched" over and over again still is so dense that you move right thru it(Especially avoiding points in my replies) while saying just the opposite.



Charlie(Shiny lil detailer) "Gets it" with the remarks of "Is this the direction we are going in?", differing viewpoints are fine..............unless you are dead wrong and say what you say with the tact of a doctor telling you that you are terminally ill and to "Get over it", on my ship when I was in the Navy things the crew needed to hear were announced over the 1MC "Now hear this................all of us are not buying what you are selling..........ever".
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Bud, as I've mentioned many times I am working on a business administration degree and as such I am well aware of what you're saying.... but the point is there's nothing wrong with being a smaller operation either. Not everyone wants or needs to run a shop with a large staff doing a large volume of cars every day to find success, and to claim otherwise is ignorant to the fact that some markets won't support that type of operation, yet there are still opportunities that exist in those markets to create a profitable business.



Who are we to say that a business is not successful if they are not making a certain level of profit? As long as the business is profitable enough that the owner is happy and able to live comfortably, it is a successful business. Sure, if they are not happy with the money they're making, they should be examining what they should be doing differently, but that's not the case for everyone. Greed for the sake of greed is just as toxic as not aiming high enough with one's aspirations.
Click to expand...



Hell yeah Charlie. Very well said. Success should be an individual goal, and only YOU can say whether you feel successful or not. No one else's opinion means s*** as far as that's concerned.:clap2::rockon1::high5::xyxthumbs:usa::peace:



At least this thread has managed to stay somewhat civil compared to "others" I've seen here lately. Let's see if it stays that way or ends up :lock: like the rest!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top