Latest / Downshift With Tonnika / How to Build a Team That Doesn't Need You Every Minute | Brandon Steckler - Ep 17

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How to Build a Team That Doesn't Need You Every Minute | Brandon Steckler - Ep 17 · Downshift With Tonnika

• Tonnika Haynes [00:00:00]: And then you can't go back there and fix everything for them either. So you don't do that anymore. Brandon Steckler [00:00:04]: You know something? I'd be lying if I say I didn't. And I have to get away from it because I'm becoming a crutch. Tonnika Haynes [00:00:09]: Yep, been there, done that. Actually, Rick called me, you're mummy and them too much. And I did that a lot. Brandon Steckler [00:00:14]: I am. And you know what? It's my tendency to go there because that's the only way I feel like I'm helping. But at the same time, I will get phone calls that say the check engine lights on. What do I do now? Come on, guys, let's try a little bit. Tonnika Haynes [00:00:26]: Because you've allowed them to call you and ask you that question. Brandon Steckler [00:00:28]: It's my fault. Tonnika Haynes [00:00:28]: I know that. That was me before. They were using my brain to do their. And so now I'll say, well, what do you think you should do? Brandon Steckler [00:00:35]: Welcome to Downshift with my sis, Tanika Haynes. We all know as shop owners, sometimes you gotta slow down in order to speed up. And that's what this podcast is all about. It's time to downshift. Tonnika Haynes [00:00:54]: You know, I really had no idea who you were until you guys started dating. Cause you are Amber's baby daddy. To me. Brandon Steckler [00:01:02]: That sounds so funny. Tonnika Haynes [00:01:03]: That's Amber's baby daddy. Brandon Steckler [00:01:04]: It is, though. That's who I am. Tonnika Haynes [00:01:06]: That's who you are. But that's funny because you get to really introduce yourself. We talked a couple times, and I see you. I know you teach, and you're awesome. Awesome, awesome. Brandon Steckler [00:01:15]: Thank you. Tonnika Haynes [00:01:15]: Technician and educator. But other than Amber's baby daddy and World Pack and Steckler, who in the heck are you? Where'd you come from? Brandon Steckler [00:01:24]: So I was actually. I'm not too far from here. I was born in Princeton, New Jersey. I grew up in a Heightstown area. And you probably don't know where that is. Tonnika Haynes [00:01:31]: I have no idea. Brandon Steckler [00:01:32]: I spent most of my life right over here in Reading, Pennsylvania. I made a lot of friends here. I moved all over the country in search of a. I call it a place to call home. As far as work, I grew up in a dealership atmosphere, and it just got monotonous. I mean, I learned a lot at the dealership level, but I got bored. And some people would say I was crazy because in this industry, it's easy to make money when there's plenty of work and you're doing the same things over and over again. It's like assembly line work, you know? But I just I wasn't mentally stimulated, so I ventured out into the independent side of the industry and got my rear end handed to me. Tonnika Haynes [00:02:10]: I mean, what cars were you working on at the dealership? Brandon Steckler [00:02:12]: Toyota. So I started my career off with gm. I went to a GM ASAP school Automotive Service Educational program. And it gave me some really good structure. It taught me how to stay focused on learning newer technologies and. And how to leverage service information and use the right tools and follow procedure. But I really didn't feel it prepared me for the real world. And here's what I mean by that. Brandon Steckler [00:02:36]: It had nothing to do with the GM program. It was great. But to leave with all these certifications and I still couldn't fix a sandwich. And that's the truth. It was pretty humbling and embarrassing. So it just took time. But when I. When I had an opportunity at a Honda dealership, I carried over those learning capabilities, like the ability to learn rapidly over to Honda. Brandon Steckler [00:03:02]: And I progressed really, really quick. And in less than a year, I was master certified with Honda. So it went really well for me. But that same rapid rate of growth is what hindered my progress in the. In the independent side because I came out with all this confidence. But, man, like, when that Honda wasn't in my bay and it was a Volvo or a Saab, I was absolutely clueless. Tonnika Haynes [00:03:26]: Took all the air out of your balloons. Brandon Steckler [00:03:27]: That's exactly it. The wind in my sails just. And to the point where you felt like, maybe I shouldn't be doing this. I hightailed it back to the dealership, and one of my friends, Dan, said to me, he pointed, absolutely not. Get out. He had some other words for me. I don't want to say him here. Tonnika Haynes [00:03:44]: Get your ass out of here. Brandon Steckler [00:03:44]: Yeah. He's like, no, you belong out there. You got a mind for it. It's like anything else. You just got to learn. And he was right. It took that kick in the pants to get back out and try again. Tonnika Haynes [00:03:56]: Well, I'm glad he did that for you. Brandon Steckler [00:03:57]: Me too. Honestly, it reshaped the way my career was headed. Tonnika Haynes [00:04:02]: I watched my dad do that to people a couple times while I was talking about it. Curly and Nick, they're amazing. And Nick is crazy awesome certified technician. I mean, they want him to teach for Toyota. He's like, nah, I just stay in the bay. But he fired both of them, especially Curly. And Curly has his own shot, but because he thought, you're limited in yourself. Go out there, get out. Tonnika Haynes [00:04:22]: Go do some stuff. Brandon Steckler [00:04:23]: That's great. Tonnika Haynes [00:04:23]: Get out. So then you moved to an independent. When did you start teaching? Well, actually. Tell me more about your mentor. Brandon Steckler [00:04:32]: So everybody who knows me knows. Everything I've ever done was because of Jim Morton. And I got to give it to my parents. My parents gave me the drive to do things, just always try harder. I mean, that's what I've always done. But shortly after leaving the dealership or getting into the independent side of the industry, I met Jim Morton at an event, a real, real tiny after work event, you know, pizza and soda. And there might have been 10 or 15 of us in there. And his claim to fame was. Brandon Steckler [00:05:06]: What was the name of the class? The A, B, Cs and Ds of ignition. Give me a car, any car, and in 15 minutes or less I'll have the ignition system fault figured out. And I thought that was, that was a pretty big claim to make. I'm interested now. And I couldn't believe the amount of knowledge this man had. But what struck me most about it was his confidence, right? It wasn't that he could do all this stuff. It was that he had no doubt he could do it. So I approached him after that event and, excuse me, I asked if I could get some private training from him. Brandon Steckler [00:05:37]: And he giggled like, yeah, right, he's heard it a thousand times. People show up once and then they change their mind. And he said, yeah, $100 an hour. And I said, ouch. Okay. So we went to his house later that week. And I was there till, I don't know, probably 11 o' clock at night. I met his wife and I turned like this, my book bag knocked all her pictures off the wall. Brandon Steckler [00:05:57]: There was glass everywhere. I was so embarrassed. But at the end, he put his hand out like this and gave him a high five. He's like, no, you owe me $600. Tonnika Haynes [00:06:05]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:06:06]: And I paid him and he cashed the check. Son of a guy. But after that, those days with exchanging money were over. He found himself an apprentice. And he's always told me, he goes, if you ever lose the fire in your belly, I'm going to drop you like a hot potato. Do you understand? I said, yeah, yeah, I'm not going to do that. I want to do this and I want to help other people do it. Because I was miserable at the dealership, I couldn't see doing it another 40 years. Brandon Steckler [00:06:32]: And believe me when I say where I worked was great. I loved the guys, I loved the shop, I loved all my customers. But mentally, I was just bored. It was lots of work, lots of Sweat, lots of grease. And I wasn't getting any gang up here. No challenge. No. It didn't seem challenging anymore. Tonnika Haynes [00:06:48]: So, okay, so. And then I know that the student is now the teacher, but you're taking it to a different level, and you're dealing with some knuckleheads that are giving you a hard time. Brandon Steckler [00:07:00]: I'm trying. You know something? I had a tremendous opportunity. That same mentor, Jim, dragged me in front of the classroom. He said, I can't talk. My throat hurts. You're gonna have to teach this class. Tonnika Haynes [00:07:09]: Was he telling the truth? Brandon Steckler [00:07:10]: He was not telling the truth, and I knew it. But I said his mentor did it to him 20 years before him. But he said, listen, like, regardless of fact, whether you think you know what you're doing or not, you've heard this class 20, 30, 40 times by now. You're just gonna go through it. Even if you don't know what you're doing, you're gonna be able to teach it. I just want to get you up in front of the classroom. Tonnika Haynes [00:07:28]: Those are people in front of. You don't know that you don't know. Brandon Steckler [00:07:30]: No. And the best part was they were all my peers anyway. Tonnika Haynes [00:07:33]: Okay. Brandon Steckler [00:07:33]: So they were cheering me on as much as. So I was a little nervous, you know, I was kind of sweaty. Tonnika Haynes [00:07:38]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:07:38]: But it went well. And it. Tonnika Haynes [00:07:40]: It. Brandon Steckler [00:07:40]: You wouldn't believe how much you. You retain, and you don't even know you know it until you're put on the spot and it just comes out. It just keeps coming out. I'm like, wow, where did I get that from? Tonnika Haynes [00:07:51]: Right? Brandon Steckler [00:07:51]: You know? But that's what got me into the teaching realm. People have come up to me and said in many different ways that all this stuff you're talking about, I've heard before, but it makes sense now, the way you explain it. So I think if I have any claim to fame, it's not that I know anything that other people don't know. I'm no smarter than them. I just know differently. And I explain. Yeah, I guess that's it. Because the way I understand. Brandon Steckler [00:08:18]: I told you I went to school and I got great grades, but I couldn't fix anything. Tonnika Haynes [00:08:21]: Right. Brandon Steckler [00:08:22]: I had to virtually revisit everything I've ever learned and more or less take my own mental notes. So it made sense for me. And that's just how I explain it. I use a lot of analogies. I take things that we're already comfortable with and try to attach it to things we're trying to learn. And then that little Happy Medium is where all the magic comes together. Tonnika Haynes [00:08:39]: Okay. Brandon Steckler [00:08:40]: So I had the opportunity to teach all over the country at different shops, and one of what was my clients approached me and he said, listen, I have an opportunity I'd love to talk to you about. He wants me to come on board full time. Time. And this is now my partner James. And I've been challenged with trying to take our, our team, our group of technicians to the next level. And I'll just say spit shine and polish procedures. Almost like the military inducts, you know, trainees into boot camp and kind of wipes the slate clean and starts over. That's what I'm trying to do. Tonnika Haynes [00:09:15]: Right, and that's what you're trying. That's what you're doing. What would Rick say you're doing? You're not trying to. Brandon Steckler [00:09:20]: Yeah, you know, I am doing. And it's, it's. I'll admit it's a bit humbling because I had all the confidence in the world, I do have all the confidence in the world that I can help these, this team, right? These guys and these girls do better than what we're doing. And. But it's not coming as swiftly and as easily as. As I expected it to be. And it's great because I've got all these personalities. I've got one guy who's diagnosed, like I say, sociopath. Brandon Steckler [00:09:49]: He has an inability to feel. You know, your dog dies, he'll pat you on the shoulder because he knows he has to. Tonnika Haynes [00:09:54]: They're there, right? Brandon Steckler [00:09:55]: But you can see it in his eyes when you talk. And then I've got my other guys. One's pretty autistic, but absolutely brilliant. He's only been working on cars six months and he's, he's taken powertrains out of newer Mercedes Benz and going in valve trains on BMWs. I'm like, what are you doing to this kid? You're going to give him shell shock, you know what I mean? But he's doing fantastic. Tonnika Haynes [00:10:17]: Oh, my goodness. That's like. What's that TV show with the autistic doctor? Oh, my. I can't remember the name of it. Brandon Steckler [00:10:22]: I think it's the Good Doctor. The Good Doctor, yeah. Tonnika Haynes [00:10:24]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:10:24]: He's very. Exactly the same. And he's brilliant. He's. He's trained as an engineer, so he has all the, the knowledge that most techs shy away from, but no practical experience. So when he and I talk, I talk to him on a different level. Tonnika Haynes [00:10:38]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:10:39]: And he's one of my favorite guys, actually. I Say that about all of them. I love them all for different reasons. And some of them are a real pain in the ass. I got to tell you, they're in a rush, and they know they're in a rush. And everything they've ever broken or done, I've done a million times. So you're not going to fool me. Tonnika Haynes [00:10:54]: Right? Brandon Steckler [00:10:54]: Oh, you know, it also needed this. Stop. I know where you goofed up. Tonnika Haynes [00:10:57]: You broke it. Brandon Steckler [00:10:58]: But I feel almost like a dad sometimes to teenagers, and I don't mean that in a. Tonnika Haynes [00:11:02]: No, that's a good thing. Brandon Steckler [00:11:04]: It is. It's rewarding. Tonnika Haynes [00:11:05]: I'm not used to it yet. Brandon Steckler [00:11:06]: Like, when they have successes, I get emotional about it. Like, I'm smiling from ear to ear when I'm telling them, great job. Keep up the great work. But when you see that response from them, like, they're ticked off and they're frustrated, I don't have time for this crap. And then they figure it out. And you can show them data, supportive data that showed the car was broken and now it's fixed. And suddenly they go, now I know what you're talking about. This is really rewarding. Brandon Steckler [00:11:32]: I love this stuff. Now till the next one. Then they're angry again. Tonnika Haynes [00:11:36]: But that's what Jim felt for you, I'm sure. Brandon Steckler [00:11:38]: Yeah. Tonnika Haynes [00:11:39]: Or feels to watch you out here. Right. Brandon Steckler [00:11:42]: I'm going back in my mind, I think, God, it's been 15 years now with him. I don't know how I made it this far. 15 years with him. I'm remembering all the things coming up through my learning curve with him that I'm now experiencing from his perspective. Tonnika Haynes [00:11:57]: So, yeah, same thing. Being a parent. Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:11:59]: No wonder he's bald. Tonnika Haynes [00:12:01]: You ran that man crazy. Like you said. It's like raising. You're raising your kid text. And then you are starting to sound like your father, Jim. Brandon Steckler [00:12:10]: Yep. Tonnika Haynes [00:12:10]: Just like sometimes I can hear my dad come out of my mouth when I'm running the shop. We can laugh about it now. He's like, yeah, you remember you thought I was crazy. I was like, yeah, I thought you were crazy, dad, but I get it. Oh, my goodness. But what is running a shop? It's like having a bunch of teenage cats that know how to fix cars. Brandon Steckler [00:12:27]: It is. Tonnika Haynes [00:12:28]: You can't hurt them. Brandon Steckler [00:12:29]: Absolutely phenomenal technicians. They're all very talented. And it's getting these sons of guns to slow down a little bit. Tonnika Haynes [00:12:37]: Well, we talked about, you know, what you have to do. Brandon Steckler [00:12:40]: I do, I do. And it's so hard because I want to Be friends with these guys and these girls. I got a great young lady that just started with us. She's brilliant. She's very talented. And the best part is she's so open to learning. She knows she doesn't know much, and she doesn't have a chip on her shoulder. And I'm just so excited for her because I'm trying to think where I would be right now if I had the opportunity. Brandon Steckler [00:13:03]: And the attitude she has now. I think she's 21, maybe 21, and she's gonna do great. Tonnika Haynes [00:13:11]: That's why I like having a young staff. I know some people can't stand a young staff. I like my young staff. They get on my flipping nerves. But I'm just sitting there like, okay, my eyes twitching, my eyes twitching. And then when they have a win, whether it's in the shop or in their personal life, and they want to share that win with me. Ms. Tanika. Tonnika Haynes [00:13:26]: This is what I did. Or one particular tech. Ms. Tanika I did this under the book time, and I didn't get mad. What? That is a lot coming from him. So. But I learned that with leaders. And so even though you know all the technical side, technical jargon, all the things you can do anything upside down, blindfolded, now, your new task is to learn to lead. Brandon Steckler [00:13:48]: And boy, am I terrible. I'm trying so hard. Tonnika Haynes [00:13:52]: You, I was terrible too, but I just had to start drinking a Kool Aid like me. I ain't got to lead them. All I got to do is pay them on Friday or Thursday, whatever it is now, and they need to do their job. No, you have to lead them. Nope, I don't. They have to do their job. So. No, Leadership is the key. Tonnika Haynes [00:14:08]: I still roll my eyes about that because it is harder than people think. But it's so rewarding because you're already doing it. You just have to dial it in. Brandon Steckler [00:14:16]: And that's the thing, isn't it? Dialing it in. Because right now, everyone that knows me, I'll self admit I'm winging it right now. I'm doing what I think is best for my team, which will always be best for our customers, because I've been there and done that. Sometimes in their minds, it doesn't align. They want to get paid again. They don't want to work on the comeback now. But hey, listen, if we don't work on that comeback now, they'll never come back. None of them will come back. Brandon Steckler [00:14:43]: And we got to handle this. Tonnika Haynes [00:14:45]: So how are you navigating leadership? Brandon Steckler [00:14:49]: My approach Right now is to take our mistakes. I've got to say, and I say I turn to. Ls the losses into learning situations. And that's the way I've been trying to lead. And it's not easily digestible for some of them because it's like, I don't have time for this. You know what I mean? But it's the best I know how to do right now. And what I'm trying to do is establish what I call sop, Standard Operating procedures to I take direct oversights and mistakes that we've experienced in the shop and I will revisit it on my time and how can we do it better? And I'll put it on paper, pen to paper and file it. And these become new standards. Tonnika Haynes [00:15:28]: I believe everything you're seeing right now. I think this conversation's gonna be important to shop owners that were techs that became shop owners, because that is what you're doing. You're a tech now. You're teaching and you're leading. So you just said a lot. We had the standard operating procedures, which you thought you'd never say. You never thought you'd be the office guy. Brandon Steckler [00:15:49]: No. Tonnika Haynes [00:15:50]: So we gotta figure out how to turn this tech into the office guy that's leading. And then you can't go back there and fix everything for them either. So you don't do that anymore. Brandon Steckler [00:15:58]: You know something? I'd be lying if I say I didn't. And I have to get away from it because I'm becoming a crutch. Tonnika Haynes [00:16:04]: Yep, been there, done that. Actually, Rick called me. You're mummy and them too much. And I did that a lot. Brandon Steckler [00:16:09]: I am. And you know what? It's my tendency to go there because that's the only way I feel like I'm helping. Does that make sense? I feel like if I'm not doing that, I'm not doing my job. But at the same time, I will get phone calls that say, the check engine light's on. What do I do now? Come on, guys, let's try a little bit more. Tonnika Haynes [00:16:27]: Because you've allowed them to call and ask you that question. It's my fault. I know that. That was me before. They were using my brain to do their work. And so now I'll say, well, what do you think you should do? That's what almost with anything. Kim Walker said that she was in her counselor. Counselor. Tonnika Haynes [00:16:44]: She's not crazy. I can't even think of the word, but if you flip it back on and what do you think you should do in that situation. Check engine lights on. Are you serious right now? And they're serious. Cause you have answered that question before. Brandon Steckler [00:16:53]: And yes, that's what I mean by it's my phone. And you know what's funny you mention that is because I know better. Even when other newer. Tonnika Haynes [00:17:00]: It's easier. Brandon Steckler [00:17:01]: It is when other newer instructors reach out to me and say, do you have any advice for me? You know, I've only been teaching two weeks and I want to get better. I'd say just keep it simple and where you have the opportunity to answer a question, ask a question instead and let them answer because they already know the answer. I don't know why I can't remember to do that when I'm in the shop in my new role. Tonnika Haynes [00:17:23]: Listen, when that baby gets about what time. When do kids learn to tie their shoe? I don't know. Brandon Steckler [00:17:29]: I don't either. Tonnika Haynes [00:17:30]: But it's going to be so hard to teach your daughter to tie her shoe that you're going to be like, I'm just going to get her Velcro or I'm just going to tie it. But if you do that, she'll never learn to tie her shoe. I know that's the simplest way I can put it. So like shop owners, we could sit there and baby them all day, but then we just have a glorified job. And you're not really a teacher or a leader if you continue to do that. But you know better. But then you're just going to have to align yourself. Your classes you're going to take at these things. Tonnika Haynes [00:17:58]: You have to go into the ownership classes now. Brandon Steckler [00:18:01]: Yeah. And you know something? I'm hoping one day to be able to write a class on being a. Whatever you're going to call my role. Here's what not to do. Tonnika Haynes [00:18:09]: Yeah. Yeah. The journey to the journey that you should not take to get here. Yeah. I think you should take ownership and leadership classes. When you visit the expos. I know you get burnt out from teaching, but if you're not teaching, you'll put your butt in a seat. Brandon Steckler [00:18:25]: I really do have to start taking some leadership classes. I've started watching a few videos that I'm privy to and it's opened my eyes to a lot. Tonnika Haynes [00:18:33]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:18:34]: Now it's implementing them and I realize that's where my downfall is going to be. I'll do that. I'll do that. Tonnika Haynes [00:18:40]: I'll do that. I'll do that. Brandon Steckler [00:18:40]: Get up and do it. Tonnika Haynes [00:18:41]: No, but you just got to do one thing at the time. Focus on one course until successful. Focus, Focus. Listen to me telling you what to do. This is what you need to do. Brandon Steckler [00:18:48]: Auntie Tanika. Tonnika Haynes [00:18:49]: Yes, Auntie Tanika. Because that's what I need to do. And usually when I'm saying this stuff I'd say on my lipstick report, I'm talking to myself. So, like, this past month, my book is over and over and over again is buy back your time. Because I just. I'm starting to micromanage a little bit more. It's like, nope, let's listen. Get into my head. Tonnika Haynes [00:19:06]: Get into my head. The same way that you learn your favorite song. What is your favorite song? Brandon Steckler [00:19:11]: You know, something I listen to so much over such a wide range of genres. Everything from. Tonnika Haynes [00:19:15]: I was talking to Ken about that. Yeah, me too. Brandon Steckler [00:19:17]: Billie Holiday through the most terrible rap you've ever heard in your life to Tonnika Haynes [00:19:21]: someone said in a class. I don't know what class it was. So what's your favorite word? And in my head it's too short. And I was like, oh, my goodness, I'm terrible. I'm just sitting in the class. And he's like, what's your favorite word? And he was talking about something. I believe it was Jim Kokonis. And I was like, I heard too short. Tonnika Haynes [00:19:44]: I was like, I'm such a bad person. But anyway, the same way you learned your favorite song that you know every lyric and whatever, you're just gonna have to do that with audible and become a student again. Brandon Steckler [00:19:57]: I'm a terrible reader. I love to read no audible. Just getting in the mindset, though. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:00]: Yeah, audible. Brandon Steckler [00:20:00]: Even that. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:01]: Really. Brandon Steckler [00:20:02]: I'll put it on and I'll listen to it. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:04]: And you squirrel. Brandon Steckler [00:20:05]: And I'm great when I'm driving. I don't know what it is. You'd think because you're focused. Driving. I love listening to audible. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:13]: Yeah, that's when driving or on the plane or getting ready in the morning. Brandon Steckler [00:20:16]: Well, that's the thing. If I'm in. If I'm on a bus or on a plane, for some reason I can't focus. But when I'm driving, I do. It's the weirdest thing. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:23]: Well, whatever works for you. You just gotta do it. Brandon Steckler [00:20:25]: Yeah, I gotta make it happen. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:26]: And then you're gonna raise new texts. Well, imagine being the shop owner with those texts that you have. How many is it right now? Brandon Steckler [00:20:34]: Right now, I think we're sitting at 11. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:37]: 11. Brandon Steckler [00:20:38]: One of our guys just left us last week. He wasn't comfortable. Yeah, and I understand. It's not. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:43]: It's not for everybody. Brandon Steckler [00:20:44]: And. Tonnika Haynes [00:20:45]: And you're the shop owner that hired one of these guys without them going through the stickler experience. Brandon Steckler [00:20:50]: Yeah, this is, I think that's how Tonnika Haynes [00:20:52]: we feel like we're losing the industry because we don't know how to adjust and we don't know how to train or coach them the way that they need to be coached. And it's hard because there's a lot of young people that did not have a Jim Morton or a auntie or a grandma that slapped them in the back of the head. Or parents. Like you said, your parents gave you a lot of grit and grind. And you were raised up to be who you're becoming. Cause you're becoming that person every day. Right. You're not there yet. Tonnika Haynes [00:21:18]: You don't even know where you're gonna end up until you croak. You're like, oh, he won. But anyway, so those 20 something years old kids that got a trophy for everything didn't have pe, so they had to sit in the classroom all day or they were labeled something that they were not and someone told them the ADHD was bad and it wasn't. They just didn't get redirected to what their real skills were. Those people in the workforce now and nobody knows how to handle them. Brandon Steckler [00:21:49]: And that's without medication. Yeah, that's the thing we're so excited about because we're realizing how brilliant some of their minds are. And like you said about labeling them, that person was never designed to hold wrenches and get dirty. They're meant to sit in front of a computer or push a pencil around and figure out these math equations. Those opportunities are with us and it can be so much more rewarding. So our goal with this endeavor we've taken on is to induct these people from all walks of life across the country that just have a great attitude. That's all we want is a great attitude and an opportunity to show them how rewarding this career could be. And an opportunity to train with us as newer technicians doing all things the right way, the best way we know how and avoid the pitfalls we've encountered. Brandon Steckler [00:22:37]: And you use the word raising, raising people in the industry. We want these young people to come in and be happy doing their job and pay them a very, very strong fair salary. So much so they wouldn't think of wanting to go somewhere else for more money. Tonnika Haynes [00:22:49]: Right. Don't put them in a loop bay. Give them $20 an hour and work the hell out of them. Brandon Steckler [00:22:55]: And my idea is to take my Young girl, Kaylee. I want to show her I've got this huge inspection process that I want implemented on every vehicle. And it's going to be her job primarily and preliminarily to do these inspections day in and day out. But it's gonna teach her safety, it's gonna teach her communication skills. It's gonna teach her to be observant and to document properly. And when the time comes, she will then be performing those repairs as we get a newer person in her. And I'm gonna raise her up in this industry. I know by her attitude alone and her willingness to learn. Brandon Steckler [00:23:35]: If she keeps this up, she will be leading one of our shops. I just know it. And that's up to her if she doesn't want to. But I could see her in that position. Tonnika Haynes [00:23:42]: But even if she doesn't want to do that, you have put in her things that she can take to other industries. If she decides I'm not going to stick with this or she might end up being a service advisor. She might not want to rent forever, but it will be you raising them. And it takes a village. And along somewhere in the late 90s, early 2000, we lost the village because nobody could tell other people's kids what to do. They didn't listen to anybody. And then a bunch of feeling foofy, foofy stuff started to come into play that actually crippled kids more than it gave them advantage. Like people know that I say feelings don't fix cars. Tonnika Haynes [00:24:23]: They don't. Unfortunately. Feelings do not fix cars. Cars are math. It's one plus one is two. But we have to learn how to coach these kids that were not properly raised. Not saying that their parents did it or on purpose. Mom was probably working two hours, two jobs. Tonnika Haynes [00:24:40]: Dad might have been working two or three jobs. They just didn't know any better. But we just cannot say that there are no technicians available or we can't find anybody to work anymore or these kids are lazy. No, these kids are lost. Brandon Steckler [00:24:55]: That's exactly it. My opinion as well. Tonnika Haynes [00:24:57]: These kids are lost. Brandon Steckler [00:24:58]: I think we. It's our responsibility as. I don't know if you want to use the word elders or elders, ones that have been there. Tonnika Haynes [00:25:05]: Aunties and uncles is what we're going to call ourselves. Brandon Steckler [00:25:08]: Uncle Brian and Antoni. Tonnika Haynes [00:25:09]: Yep. Brandon Steckler [00:25:10]: To show them it's not their. Their responsibility to know better, but for us to at least show them there's Tonnika Haynes [00:25:15]: opportunities, there's a better way. Yeah. We don't tell them then we're. We're wrong now. If I tell you let's think about the dvi. If I tell you what's wrong with your car and you don't do anything about it, or if you decide to do something about it next month or three months from now, I did my job. But if I don't tell you and I know better and something happens to you, I'm going to feel bad. So if you don't tell that young man or young lady, say, hey, you should pull your pants up. Tonnika Haynes [00:25:44]: We're not going to. I mean, just going to leave it at that. We're not getting too technical. And they look at you like, you pull your damn pants up. It's like I said it. And then they might think about it. You know what? I could pull my pants up when I walk into an office. Like, yeah, you should try to do that, young man. Tonnika Haynes [00:25:56]: Hey, hey, boy, pull your pants up. You're not gonna get any respect. But, hey, young man, you know, you go to an interview, you should probably pull your pants up so nobody can see your underwear. Okay? Okay. Auntie loves you. Brandon Steckler [00:26:07]: Bye. Tonnika Haynes [00:26:08]: And he might say, who the heck was that lady? Brandon Steckler [00:26:11]: Looking out for your best interest. Tonnika Haynes [00:26:12]: Looking out for your best interest. And he may not hear what I had to say until 30 days later. But if I don't say anything, I'm not doing my job as Village auntie. Brandon Steckler [00:26:22]: I love that. Tonnika Haynes [00:26:24]: So I think a lot of shop owners need to humble themselves when it comes to younger people in the workforce. You might not like their hair, you might not like their music, and you probably think their car is the dumbest thing in the whole world. Like, what are you driving? My son's car is the stupidest car. It's a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I know. I'm sorry. And he's got these big mud tires on it that scrape the fender wells every time he turns. It's got lights all in it. Tonnika Haynes [00:26:55]: He's got purple decals all up. That's that boy's truck. I hate it. But I can find something else to fuss at Jordan about other than his truck and his hair. And we can find other things to talk to these kids about other than their hair and their music because we had dumb hair. You know what? I'm not that old, but Afros, Jheri curls, mullets, Aquanet. What do we have in the 80s and 90s? It was rough, bro. It was rough. Tonnika Haynes [00:27:24]: So we look weird to our parents and two and our aunties. So let them express themselves to a certain degree. Find out where we need to pour into them. Stop being so Judgmental and just raise them one child at the time. Because if we don't, they're gonna be the ones taking care of our old cripple butts. And we just need to help them. And you can find a good tech. And at the end of the day, once you see these kids graduate from this program that you're producing and you see them in the world 10 to 20 years later, that's gonna make you feel so good. Tonnika Haynes [00:27:55]: Better than any KPI or any repair that you've ever done. Brandon Steckler [00:27:59]: That's actually that thought is what stays in my mind. What keeps me going is I want people. I got a lot out of this industry. I feel like I was lucky. Not many people do. Some of them will tell you, don't ever get into this industry. Tonnika Haynes [00:28:10]: I get tired of hearing, I get it sometimes, but just stop it. Brandon Steckler [00:28:14]: And I can respect their experience. But did they even try? Did they try to do something other than stand in the Same Bay for 40 years? Tonnika Haynes [00:28:20]: Right. Brandon Steckler [00:28:20]: Or just do their eight hours a day? Tonnika Haynes [00:28:22]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:28:24]: You know, that would make me miserable too. That's why I left. I just want people to know. I mean, we're always looking for good texts. Where and when I say good text, I don't mean experience. I mean people that, that have the attitude to want to learn and to want to be a team player. Tonnika Haynes [00:28:38]: Excuse me. Brandon Steckler [00:28:38]: Yes, ma'. Tonnika Haynes [00:28:38]: Am. What is the name of the program? I think we completely went past all of that. Brandon Steckler [00:28:43]: So the name of our shop is Future Auto Repair. Tonnika Haynes [00:28:45]: It's the one with the Lauren in the front. Brandon Steckler [00:28:49]: It's a beautiful shop. It's a great place to be. It's a nice environment for the techs, for the entire team and for our clients, our visitors. A great environment. And I love being part of that team. I love working with all of them. The entire team is in fact a team. And that's strange. Brandon Steckler [00:29:08]: I haven't seen that before. I've seen a handful of team players in different groups. Tonnika Haynes [00:29:14]: That comes with leadership. Brandon Steckler [00:29:15]: It does. And sometimes I feel we're a bit lackadaisical. We're too close. We're too much friends. And that's okay. It's almost like, what am I trying to say? Like a drill sergeant. Like that guy does not want to be your friend, but look what he's done after 13 weeks. He's responsible for making you prepared. Brandon Steckler [00:29:40]: He saved your life. Tonnika Haynes [00:29:41]: Perhaps. Brandon Steckler [00:29:43]: I want to help these people be prepared and to constantly. I want to teach them that they have to be self learners and they have to want to progress all the time, because it's not going to stop ever. I'm okay with them leaving. I don't want them to. But if it's not for them, I would totally understand because it can't be for everybody, you know, or we don't be doing it. Tonnika Haynes [00:30:06]: But if they leave, like I said, they will leave with something. Whether you can see it right away or not. They will leave with something. So, I mean, it might not show up immediately. It's going to probably be like the bamboo. It's under the ground for years before they sprout up. So just keep pouring into these young people and continue to do what you're doing, which I know you will. But then I also want you to continue to pour into yourself so that you can learn to lead these people, come up with the whole blueprint and start sharing it with other shop owners so we all can do it. Brandon Steckler [00:30:37]: Thank you. Tonnika Haynes [00:30:37]: And just raise everything that way. Brandon Steckler [00:30:41]: That's the best I think I could do with what I'm giving. So I'm definitely gonna. Tonnika Haynes [00:30:45]: And if you don't, I'm gonna come find you. Brandon Steckler [00:30:48]: And that's what keeps me going. I don't want. Tonnika Haynes [00:30:49]: Exactly. You don't want me come find you. I know better. Yes. All right. So are you teaching anymore today? Brandon Steckler [00:30:55]: I am. I have a brand new class I'm teaching this afternoon. I called it. I tried to give it a fancy name to make it attractive. I called it Electrical Wizard Works. Demystifying the Approach of the Successful Diagnostician. Tonnika Haynes [00:31:08]: Okay, that's a lot of words. Brandon Steckler [00:31:09]: It is. And I do it like that on purpose. People always tell me to hack it in half. No, it's just the way I do things. But the idea is I've got rounded up. I've got about 30 years experience in the trenches and believe me, not all of them were pretty. But part of those negative experiences is what helped shape me the way I head now. Tonnika Haynes [00:31:26]: Exactly. Brandon Steckler [00:31:26]: So if we could talk about for several hours what not to do and why. In essence, I want to save you guys five or six years of heartache. What took me 30 years to do shouldn't have. It should take me about five. And that's my goal for my new team. I want to get them where I am at in five years or less. If I could do that. Events like this, I'm going to. Brandon Steckler [00:31:43]: So that's what this class is about. Tonnika Haynes [00:31:44]: Do you get tired of running around with all the events? Brandon Steckler [00:31:47]: It does get tiring, but I never lose. It never gets to the point where I don't want to be there. Tonnika Haynes [00:31:53]: Okay. Brandon Steckler [00:31:54]: You know, just like if you're running down the football field, you might be tired, but you're not going to stop till you cross in that end zone. Tonnika Haynes [00:31:58]: I know that's right. It's the same thing. Brandon Steckler [00:32:00]: I just. I get physically tired and sometimes I just need a break. I was in bed last night at 8:30. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:06]: You. Chrissy was. I was like, I'm gonna take my food to my room and I will see you guys in the morning. Brandon Steckler [00:32:12]: Yes, ma'. Am. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:12]: It was the best sleep in the world. Brandon Steckler [00:32:14]: But I love it. It's. It's so rewarding. Especially when people come up to you and they tell you things that you've changed the way they do things. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:20]: I was gonna ask you how you feel about being a superstar. Brandon Steckler [00:32:22]: Oh, man. Thank you for saying that. I don't. I don't feel like I'm some kind of superstar. I just feel like I'm giving back and I owe it to our industry because they were so good to me. You know what I mean? Tonnika Haynes [00:32:34]: Gosh, we need so many more like you. Brandon Steckler [00:32:37]: Thank you. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:37]: We do. Brandon Steckler [00:32:38]: No, I just. I realize I have something I can share and I just want to share it. That's all. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:43]: Okay. Brandon Steckler [00:32:44]: And it works out well for me. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:46]: I love it. I love it. Brandon Steckler [00:32:47]: Thank you. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:47]: Well, I'm going to let you go and rest. Brandon Steckler [00:32:49]: Yes, ma'. Am. Thank you so much. Tonnika Haynes [00:32:51]: And you have a website. You're like your own website to. I don't follow you, where you are teaching or whatever. Brandon Steckler [00:32:57]: I don't. I've been asked that several times and I often. And thought about creating like a landing page. Yeah, like a landing page where just things. A calendar and such. And maybe put some of my training material on there. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:07]: Yeah. Brandon Steckler [00:33:08]: Believe it or not, I just haven't found a time to do it yet. And maybe in the future I'd like to. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:13]: I've got a class downloaded, I believe, like next Wednesday through WTI that we're going to look at. Brandon Steckler [00:33:19]: Great. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:20]: Signed up for it. Me and the Goss going to sit there and judge you. Brandon Steckler [00:33:22]: Wonderful. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:23]: I'm going to judge you and the guys will be learning because I don't know what you're talking about. Brandon Steckler [00:33:26]: No. Well. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:27]: So, yeah, think about that. A landing page. Stickler.com. Brandon Steckler [00:33:31]: that's great. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:31]: So we'll know where you're teaching and then a little couple links to some good videos. Brandon Steckler [00:33:36]: That's a great idea. I think I'll do that. That's simple enough. I can do that. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:39]: Yeah. You don't have to have a whole website. Just a landing page. Boom. You can go to wix. There you go. Yeah. I won. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:46]: Thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me today. Go get some rest. Rest your voice and get ready to take over the world. Brandon Steckler [00:33:52]: Yes ma'. Am. Thank you so much. Appreciate the opportunity. Tonnika Haynes [00:33:55]: Downshift with Tanika is where we slow down long enough to have real conversations hosted by myself, second generation shop owner Tanika Haynes. This goes beyond your car count your KPIs. We want to talk about leadership, legacy, mindset and the messy, beautiful journey of building something that lasts. You will hear stories from shop owners, technicians and other industry leaders who are figuring it all out by themselves in real time. This is a space for growth, tough love, laughter and leveling up.