The Key To Your Progress

The Key To Your Progress

By

Eric M. Twiggs

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. Mohammed Ali

I am in the process of training for a marathon.   At the start of this journey, my initial goal was to run three miles. “Three miles is a long run” I thought to myself.  During the run, I had to fight the urge to stop and ignore that voice in my head telling me quit.     The next morning, my legs were so sore, that I would have difficulty walking.   

My next hurdle was to run five miles. “Five miles is a long run” I thought to myself.  Again, that voice in my head was urging me to give up short of my goal.  I completed the run exhausted, drenched in sweat, and questioning why I was putting myself through this torture.   

Last week, as I completed a seven-mile run, I noticed something interesting.  At mile three, I felt fine.  At mile five, I had no desire to give up.   I was making progress. 

I know what you’re thinking: “Great story Twiggs, but what do your morning runs have to do with me?”  

The marathon is a metaphor of your ATI journey.   When you began, you thought raising your labor rate by $3 would put you out of business.  Now you can do a $10 bump without losing any sleep.

When you first implemented the parts matrix, you heard that voice in your head saying “my customers don’t have the money”.  Now you just set it and forget it.  In the beginning, the thought of leaving your shop for three days, scared you to death.  Now, you can leave for three weeks and return to a better business than when you left.   

If I asked you to go out and run a marathon next week, you would probably laugh at me.   If the marathon was next year, and you embraced the training process, what appears to be impossible now, would become achievable in the future.

The good news is that no matter where you are in your ATI journey, your future is in front of you.    The key to your progress is to embrace the process.   Stay with me to learn two strategies to help you embrace the process. 

Focus on Growing

In a previous blog, we discussed the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. This concept was originated by Dr. Carol Dweck in her book Mindset.   According to Dweck, someone with a fixed mindset believes that talents and abilities are set and can’t be improved upon.    When faced with the challenge of running a marathon, someone with a fixed mindset would respond: “I can’t because I’m not a good athlete.”   

The individual with a growth mindset believes that abilities can be improved upon with effort.  When challenged to run a marathon, they would respond: “if I put in the work, I can become a better athlete.”  Which mindset do you have? 

Have you ever made one of the following statements? “I’m not good with numbers.”; “I’m not a good leader.”; “I’m not good at selling.”  All three statements are symptoms of a fixed mindset.   By focusing on growing, you would recognize that you can get better, if you are willing to work.

For example, I work with a shop owner who struggled to understand the numbers five years ago, when she was new to the program.  Today, she is the numbers guru in her 20 group. When someone has a question about their portal numbers, they ask her.    She focused on growth, which helped her embrace the process. 

Focus on Becoming

I have a confession to make.  I don’t like running at five o’clock in the morning.   I don’t like running when its twenty-five degrees outside.  I don’t like running in the rain.  So why then, am I training for a marathon?    It’s because I like the person I must become, to run twenty-six miles.    If I can persist through the morning runs, I will become a marathoner.

What do you have to persist through to become a Top Shop Owner?  You may not like updating the portal every week.  You may not like sitting through classes.  You may not like doing daily repair order audits.   The key is to focus on who you can become by doing these things! 

To get a clear picture of what’s possible, find a mentor who has achieved what you desire, while overcoming similar challenges.  This will give you a living example of what your end result looks like. 

For example, I have a friend from college who had less athletic ability than I had, but has recently run in multiple marathons.  Seeing his current fitness level inspires me to keep pressing forward. 

At the end of the day, you can love the results without liking the rituals.  Shifting your focus to who you can become, will make it easier to do the unpleasant but necessary tasks that lead to greatness. 

Summary

So, there you have it.  Focusing on growing and becoming will help you to embrace the process, which is the key to your progress.   Remember, the race to become the best of the best is a marathon, and not a sprint! 

Eric M. Twiggs

The Accountability Coach

www.autotraining.net

PS. I have a special technique known as “the rubber band method” to help you become aware of when you’re operating from a fixed mindset.  This will remind you to focus on growth so that you make faster progress.   Email etwiggs@autotraining.net and I will send you the details.