The Struggle of Succession: A Journey from Family Auto Repair to Independence [E154]

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In this podcast episode, Coach Chris Cotton from Auto Fix Auto Shop Coaching talks with Josh Then of Unified Automotive about Josh's transition from working in his family's auto repair business to starting his own shop.

They discuss the difficulties of succession planning, generational differences, and the challenges of modernizing a family business. Josh shares his personal struggles with work-life balance and the toxic work environment created by his father's resistance to change. Despite good pay, Josh felt compelled to leave and set up his own garage, facing the hardships of establishing a new business and a strained relationship with his father.

He also highlights the support he received from industry groups and the importance of utilizing resources like Facebook groups and YouTube for guidance. The episode emphasizes the value of seeking help and the continuous learning necessary for success in the auto repair industry.

• Introduction (00:00:00) Setting up the podcast and introducing the topic of succession planning in a family auto repair business.
• Background and Early Work Experience (00:02:08) Josh's early experience in the family auto repair business, starting from a young age and progressing through high school and college.
• Generational Differences in Work Ethic (00:09:29) Discussion about the generational differences in work ethic and work-life balance, comparing the speaker's experience with his father's dedication to work.
• Motivation for Succession Planning (00:12:52) Josh's motivation for pushing the succession plan, focusing on the impact of having a daughter and the desire for a better work-life balance.
• Challenges in Implementing Changes (00:16:25) The challenges faced by Josh in implementing changes and improvements in the family business, including resistance from his father.
• Lack of Formal Succession Plan (00:18:45) The absence of a formal succession plan and the difficulties faced in getting his father to agree to a plan, leading to the speaker considering other business opportunities.
• Succession Plan Backing Out (00:21:50) Josh discusses the shop owner backing out of their succession plan, leading to his decision to leave.
• Starting a Business (00:23:22) Josh explains how he started working on his own business in the background while still at his father's shop.
• Leaving the Father's Shop (00:26:59) Josh describes the process of leaving his father's shop and starting his own business in his garage.
• Father-Son Relationship (00:28:40) Josh discusses the evolving relationship with his father after leaving the shop and the tension between them.
• Conflict with Father (00:31:12) Josh recounts the conflict with his father after starting his own business and the subsequent fallout.
• Working with Family (00:33:11) Josh reflects on the challenges of working with a stubborn family member and offers advice for others in similar situations.
• Regrets and Lessons (00:37:07) Josh discusses what he could have done differently and the lessons he learned from the experience.
• Influence of Support Groups (00:39:14) Josh shares the impact of support groups like ASA and Shop Marketing Pros on his business decisions and growth.
• The helpful auto repair group (00:43:41) Discussion about a helpful online group for auto repair business owners and the value of their services.
• The abundance of industry resources (00:44:15) The availability of resources for auto repair shop owners on the internet and the continuous growth of information.
• Starting the journey to seek help (00:45:00) The frustration that led to seeking help online and the positive impact of reaching out for assistance.
• Reaching out for advice and support (00:47:38) The realization of being in a bubble and the value of seeking perspectives from others in the industry.
• Concluding the podcast (00:48:38): I thank the guest for the conversation and acknowledge the sponsors of the podcast.

Connect with Chris:

chris@autofixsos.com

Phone: 940.400.1008

www.autoshopcoaching.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae

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