04/23/2026
Take the Risk
One evening, Nick came home after a long day at High Volume Car Stereo and said something that would change the direction of our lives.
He looked at me and said,
“Honey, I want to buy this business. It feels a little scary, but the clients are there, the risk is low, and the owners are good people looking for a way out. I really want to do this and see where it takes us.”
We were sitting at home, just the two of us, talking through what this could mean. The previous owners, Mark Crystal Mason, were incredible people, supportive, honest, and willing to walk alongside us through the transition. At the time, Nick and I were both looking for ways to grow, to bring in more business, and to build something big.
But even with all the signs pointing in the right direction, it was still a risk.
The unknown weighed heavy on me.
Would their clients stay loyal to us?
Could we truly run this new business successfully?
Would our technicians be willing to get licensed and take on a completely new type of installation through the state of Oklahoma?
There were no guarantees, only a decision.
And we made it.
What stands out to me most from that time isn’t just the leap we took, it’s a small, almost forgettable moment.
Crystal handed me a massive roll of stickers. Each one had state-required information that had to be placed on every interlock we installed. I remember holding that roll and thinking, “There is no way we will ever go through all of these.”
Years later, I found myself holding the very end of that same roll.
And it hit me.
That roll of stickers represented every single install… every client we helped… every person working to get their license, and their life, back on track. Day in and day out, year after year, we showed up and did the work. What once felt overwhelming became a symbol of consistency, growth, and impact.
That moment reminded me of something powerful:
Every risk you take, especially the ones that scare you, is a risk worth taking.
This lesson matters because I used to be someone who stayed in comfort.
If it wasn’t broken, I didn’t see a reason to fix it. Change wasn’t something I welcomed, it was something I avoided.
But Nick was right.
There is not a single part of taking on our Guardian Interlock business that I regret.
It pushed our technicians to grow, learn, and become licensed professionals. It held all of us to a higher level of accountability. It brought new customers into our shop, strengthened our reputation, and opened doors to relationships and friendships we never would have had otherwise.
That one decision didn’t just add another service, it expanded who we are as a business and as people.
If there’s one thing I would share with anyone standing on the edge of a decision, it’s this:
If it makes your stomach drop… do it.
If it makes you dream bigger… do it.
If you can’t stop thinking about the possibilities… do it.
Because on the other side of that fear is growth you can’t see yet.
