08/08/2025
Ok, gather around, take a knee, drink water, smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Let’s talk about some issues I’ve been facing at the shop and how we’re going to address them.
The number one issue I’m having is that things are taking too long to get finished. As I look around the shop right now, I see five cars that I’m actively working on, plus two tunes sitting outside. This is simply too much for one person at one time.
You see, I have a problem with being too nice and saying yes — and it’s affecting everyone. By not wanting to let anyone down, I’m actually letting everyone down. When I have too much on my plate and run around trying to knock out multiple things a day, nothing really gets accomplished.
What needs to happen is this: I need to start one project and put all my focus into it until it's fully finished — and I know that. I have to be more firm with people and stop trying to appease them.
Yes, I know you want it done.
Yes, I know you’re excited.
Yes, I know you spent a lot to have the project completed.
But guess what? So did the guy before you — and the one after you. I have a clear work order laid out for the vehicles in the shop, and I will not be deviating from that for any reason moving forward. If you want to know where you fall on the list, please email me and I’ll let you know.
It seems like my favorite phrases are:
“I got you.”
“I took care of it.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
No one wants to receive a call after a project has started and be told it’s going to cost more. What I’ve developed a bad habit of doing is absorbing the extra costs and just letting things ride. While it’s something I largely don’t mind doing, the scale at which it has happened over the past couple of years is astounding.
I sat down and crunched some numbers, and the amount of parts and labor I’ve given away is simply unsustainable.
When doing custom work, things can and will come up — it’s just the nature of it. It’s my responsibility to find the best solution and carry it out. But it’s not my responsibility to take on the financial burden that comes with it.
That said, I don’t mind covering things from time to time. I see it as a gesture of appreciation to my customers. But I have to stop it from becoming normalized.
I appreciate everyone who chooses to work with me — I really do. But things need to change to make this a more streamlined process for everyone involved.
I hate not being able to keep my word, and it’s happening far too often. I’m doing my best to remedy this, so please bear with me.
~Larry D
