Latest / PITSTOP With The Diers Ford/Lincoln Auto Amigos / Pitstop Episode 4: Lessons From the Workplace
Transcript
- Diers: Hey everyone. Tony and Fernando with Pit the Deersford Lincoln Auto Amigos Pitstop. And want to thank our drink sponsor, the Cart and Co. in downtown Fremont. You know, the Cart and Co. is one of the ⁓ best coffee shops here in town. It's one the local coffee shops in Fremont. And I can promise you that their coffee is delicious. Erica's kind enough to give us a different flavor of the week. One thing that's in our ⁓ you know, especially in the car industry, is technology, you know, which a lot of people. Number one, you know, our service people. ⁓ we have now you plug in a computer to diagnose car, our mechanics who have to have schooling on how to service technology. Every time and they've all been phenomenal. So if you have the chance to go to downtown Fremont and try the Cardin Co., give it a shot. You're not gonna regret that. Mm-hmm. And definitely sales. For sure. I mean, nowadays, you have ⁓ have a ⁓ lot of other not just the AC and the radio, right? You so many other buttons, so many other things that you need to know about your car. And that's something that, as a salesman, you gotta teach your clients. Which can be really good. Yeah. Com some people might not want all of it, but it Welcome Pit Stop with Deers Lincoln Auto Amigos. I'm Tony. And I'm Fernando. And today we're going to talk to you a little bit about culture at work. Fernando, what's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you at work? You know, one of the weirdest things that I've been able to experience here ⁓ while working at Deers is we were to go to the Chamber of Commerce here in Fremont, and let me tell you. It can be really good. ⁓ a lot of things designed to help make driving easier for you. I would say one thing you're seeing is more, you know, lane centering, self driving blue crews. I think that's fantastic. It helps me out a lot. You know what was shocking to me is I had an older gentleman who came in looking for a truck and he goes, Gotta have blue crews. Really? And I said, You're kidding me. You're how old he goes, I'm ninety three. He goes, I go to Canada, I put on blue crews. That place is haunted. If you ever get the chance to go, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. They have wonderful staff. ⁓ Chamber of Commerce is some of our favorite people work there. ⁓ And ⁓ it's wonderful place. ⁓ But it might haunted. I was in there too and I saw the the downstairs is creepy, but I didn't I They have a basement. I didn't see anything, I didn't feel anything tunnel and it looks ⁓ creepy. And he goes, I just sit and enjoy the ride and watch the window 'cause I have to. So that that kind of shocked me. so let's look back at your work work career or maybe talk about if you could do anything, what would be the worst job for you? A job that, yeah, I d I would never want to do that. It's dark. I wouldn't go down there. ⁓ Well, go down the basement. You know, when I was first started at Deers ⁓ and go on test drives with customers and ⁓ had young lady that ⁓ took on a test drive and we're driving down the road and one of the things you do as a salesman is you try and make small talk with ⁓ and I was doing that and I could see her squeezing the wheel tighter and she started leaning forward. Lawn mowing? Definitely don't like lawn mowing, but I think cleaning out the the restrooms, that is something I I would I would not do. And you know I couldn't I that smell any job that would have bad smells would be bad for me. Have you ever been in one of those things in the summer? Yes. Disgusting. Yes. And my father in law has some. He And she says, Don't talk to me. ⁓ didn't talk to her. And we're just riding, we're going on the bypass around Fremont and we just keep going. And I'm I'm wondering w ⁓ where we going? And finally turns in on the last possible exit and we drive and then she pulls into this ⁓ house that looks like it's been converted into apartments, and she just gets out and goes inside. And you know, when he was auctioning, he'd take him to to the auction and set it up out there. And, you know, if you're working the auction, which I did some for him back then, and I had to use the restaurant, I had to go use it, and then he'd have to leave there and go clean those. And I thought, yeah, I get I couldn't do that. So I'm glad he didn't ask me to go along. So one thing just queasy now, just thinking about that. One thing that ⁓ is real at work and and I think everybody has to deal with is burnout. I'm sitting in car, you know, thinking there's some things I won't do to sell a car. I ⁓ no idea what she's doing. ⁓ finally comes back out, gets in the car, of course, doesn't say anything to me. And we get in the car, we back out, almost hit another car, ⁓ she drives back to the dealership and she parks it. And said, Did you like the car? And she goes, ⁓ I want to talk to you. And ⁓ you know, I I'm gonna give you a situation. Love my job. I I've been fortunate to have gr two great careers that that I've enjoyed greatly and always wanted to be a teacher and a coach. That was my dream and loved it. ⁓ when I was the athletic director, which I loved working with coaches and I loved working with kids and and you know, everything you have to set up everything, I really liked it, but I got burned out. It w it was all the hours and So I don't know at that point if I just thought my sales skills need to improve that but yeah it didn't ⁓ go very well. Maybe she just needed a ride. You know me you were her personal Uber. She needed something. ⁓ Yeah, ⁓ it that that ⁓ probably the strangest thing that's ever happened to me at work. How about ⁓ what's one job that taught you something that you did? Well, every job teaches me everything that I do. time away from my family and and those things. And so when I hit fifty five, that's the retirement age. I think it shocked my wife when I said, I think I'm gonna get out. I think I'm gonna retire. shocked her two ways 'cause we couldn't afford for me to retire. but also she knew how much I loved it ⁓ and I'd just gotten to that point and it wasn't because I didn't. It was just I didn't I didn't want to do that anymore. I didn't want to put all that time into that ⁓ and what job did you have where you feel, Gosh, I learned so much there? ⁓ overall? It was just time for something different. I'm sure between all the stuff that you had to do for the school and and your position, you're feeling pretty worn out, weren't you? You know, if you talk about work anxiety, you know, there was just so much planning, you know, and and there were so many things and and ⁓ I'm telling you, you know, most people think athletic director just goes to watch the games. Man, that's such a hard question because every job teaches you something different. You said you learned so much, but not it's now I'm wondering. Did you pay attention? Well yeah, but I mean every job that I've had taught me different here and there. ⁓ maybe the military has taught me a lot more than I say and thank them for because the military was just a great experience overall. Teaches you ⁓ The work is is where you really don't see it. It's behind the scenes. And the only time you notice is if something doesn't go right at the game. And which still you can be a great planner and that can still happen. but the way you avoid a lot of that is is good planning ⁓ and you know, it was you know, my days were run, run, run, run, run all day and ⁓ ⁓ I I loved it, but it ⁓ had just gotten to the point where, you know, it it was time. I wouldn't say discipline all the way, but it does teach you discipline. It teaches you how to use everything you're surrounding and ⁓ you know, adjust to what's going on ⁓ in your life. So great You know, I think you'll you take bits and pieces with you from all your jobs. but me not I'm not a handy person. And ⁓ I'm the who flunked shop class because my birdhouse fell apart. Did you ever feel burned out while you were doing that? ⁓ yeah. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't. You know, some things you can do to try and help with that is find fun moments. You know, I I think there probably should have been times where I just got out of my office and, you know, whether it was ten minutes, you know, just go walk around or, you know, go visit with some folks and and but you know, I you know me. I'm a I'm on schedule. but I had a job. I worked at a resort when I was in college and learned how to tile. I learned how to use a spray gun painting. framing, drywall. I we we did a lot of those things and I'd really never had experience with that. ⁓ And you to this day, I I think that helped me a great deal, especially our first home. We we did a lot of things to remodel the house and the garage. but I really You know, I I'm the calendar guy, I'm the schedule guy, and and so I think I don't have time for those things and I probably should have put more of that in there. And I think in any workplace, you know, you want to try and do things for your employees that maybe give ⁓ a little break. You know, you don't even realize I mean, you know now, you leave the office, I'm like, where's Fernando going? We got all this to do. You I know you know that. and I think that's part of just me. You know, it's just I've been on that for so long that it's hard for me to give Thought I took some good things with me from that job. So what were some of your first jobs? My first job ever was in a construction company that did just about everything. We did siding, roofing, decks, drywall, everything. ⁓ You you working at thirteen. Yeah, when I was they hired you to do that stuff right away? get away from that even though I'm doing something different. ⁓ but I think as employees, you know, and employers, you need to look at your employees and you need to say, what can I do to take some of that off of them? You know, and and a lot of that is them their mental health at work. You know, if I want them to continue to be productive and happy employees, what am I going to do to to help with that? And I think Deers does a good job with that. You know, you know a lot of people I learned how to do that stuff right away. Yeah. I mean, I was I when I came into the into the company I was just assisting, you know, throwing away trash and all that, just little things. But I mean I wanted to learn. I wanted to start doing something more. I felt like useless just picking up trash and doing all that, so I started to learn. I picked up a lot. You know, I we worked with my father a lot. ⁓ Yeah, cut firewood and sold it and then we Yeah. You know, tell folks about some of the things we do, which I I think benefits our employees. You know, Dears is fantastic in in the in a matter of, showing up for their employees. We always do birthdays. now we're moving on to just doing one ⁓ once a month where we ⁓ we shout out all the birthdays that happen that month. Not just birthdays, but work reversaries and you know, new staff. ⁓ The new staff that happen to have that everybody gets to know ⁓ We haul garbage. I don't know that I learned a lot of skill there, ⁓ throwing a trash can up on the truck. You got strong. Yeah, that helped. but really my first what I would say was my first job, my dad bought each of us a lawnmower and we mowed yards on the side because we didn't get paid by our father, although he said we're paid because we had a place to eat and sleep. But where I was making money, I'd pull on my bike and I'd have a sickle Everybody gets to know them. And I mean, even on Facebook we put we put a post about, somebody's birthday or somebody's work aversary and all their friends and family just comment and they're like, ⁓ yeah, Tony, you know, good to see him. Happy birthday, happy work anniversary. People just like to see that. And that makes also the the employee feel good. And I I think it shows ⁓ we we appreciate and we celebrate them. strapped to the handle and I'd have my gas can strapped on there. I would go mow yards. ⁓ one of my grandma's friends asked my grandma if I would mow hers. Big place. I mean it's a big it took me four hours to mow this place. And I to my father before I went, how do I know what to charge? And my dad would say, well, just look at him and say, what do you think it's worth? You know, we know what goes into making up Deers Ford. It's it's everybody that works here. And so we try and show them appreciation. you're in public education, you know, which is funded by tax dollars, you don't have bonuses. You you you know, you can't do, hey, we're gonna cater this and because that's pub you know, that's that's money from your taxpayers. ⁓ my first bonus, you know, my first year I worked here and I got a Christmas bonus and the Deers family gave us something and they give us hams. So I worked four hours on this. Now I realize this is in the 70s. But I got done and she said, What I owe you. And I said, Well, what do you think it's worth? She gave me five dollars. And I was so mad. I came home and my dad goes, How'd it go? And I go, I'm never doing that again. I'm not mowing her yard again. He goes, Yes, you will. You told her you'd do it. Now you're committed. And I said, Dad, you gave me five bucks for four hours work. And my dad goes, And you'll go do it again. And she's friends with my grandma and I. Man, I thought I was having, you know, I'd never had one of those before. It was cool. And ⁓ you know, the celebrations, ⁓ when we had a retirement my first year and I got to help plan it and we we catered it and they invited their family in. What a great moment, you know, for that person. Thank you for all the years you've been here. And ⁓ but I think those things really help and I think our people feel appreciated, and that's important. That's huge. My g I think my grandma felt bad. So my grandma must have said something to her because the next time I mowed it, she gave me forty dollars. I was a lot happier. You know, eight bucks an hour back then was pretty good. But now the five dollars I was not feeling very good about. You know, the first time I ever mowed a yard, because when I grew up here in the US, I I lived in apartments with my parents. And I was in high school, I used to work at the computer lab in the high school. And I really love those cakes. The c the cakes from Artisan Breads are are always good. Shout out to Ednan Raul from Artisan Bread. Who had amigos do different jobs there one time and that was fun. It's not easy. but I think those things really help. it it's also good but we can get back to artisan bread, carton co, ⁓ different places when we celebrate our employees. We ⁓ we do all the cooking. You know, we one of my teachers there, he was like, Hey, you wanna earn some money? And I was like, sure. ⁓ he's like, I I need to my yard mode. I was like, I'll do it. And I didn't have a lawnmower. So ⁓ He your goat. ⁓ So ⁓ let me use the one he had, but he was like, You know what? My my lawnmower crapped out, ⁓ it We lean on those people too. So if money didn't matter and you could do any job in the world, what would you do? I would be a philanthropist. I'd say you're kind of there already. You know? Yes, but not with my money. ⁓ Yeah. You know, I think ⁓ you you know, even you talk you sit and think about if I hit the lottery, what would I do? And don't tell anybody. Yeah. Well yeah, don't tell anybody. But And I have this push mower, the the ones that just the thing would just go around chopping the grass, right? The blade? Yeah. It was made out of wood. Like you're talking about a self mower. not even with an engine. Nope. No one you push it, it goes. As the blades all the way around. Yep. Yeah. I pushed that for about an hour and a half straight, Tony, 'cause it was a very bumpy yard. I had a blister something. Yes. Yeah. That was ⁓ Nebraska is not one of those states where you can keep it. It's public. but I always thought I'd I'd buy a ranch ⁓ I'd just have different chores out there. You know, one day I might hook up the tractor and take the big mower that you put on the back and go mow or check fence or, you know, hopefully have some animals and take care of them. And ⁓ I'd have to get my son in law down there because I wouldn't know what to do with that. ⁓ That was terrible. I think that's where my trauma and mowing the lawn comes from. Do you think the work culture today is different than it used to be? ⁓ for sure. What do you think's changed? You know, I think now people want to work if they're not treated correctly ⁓ if they don't well, let me change that. If they don't feel like they're treated correctly. Some places are, you know, just But I think I would want something that just keeps me busy because you know, of course you gotta play golf every day. But ⁓ I would definitely want something that ⁓ that I have things to do because I I don't think I would enjoy just sitting. No, I don't think I would either. But I would I would get a ranch. A lot of acres. I but I would hire people 'cause I would not be putting up fence. Great to work at and some places are not the best to work at. But I mean, if you have a family and you need the money, some people just make up excuses. You know, the the whole hustle culture. They called it the hustle culture, you know, it where you feel like I gotta I gotta go, go, go, go, go. ⁓ I think that's diminished some, you know. And you know, having been in school and in education for thirty two years, you look at that and go, Well what what changed? I mean Like the kids you hired to mow your yard. Exactly. I would just be out riding, you know, in my land and the sunset. Good for those kids. Yeah. They're out making some money. If you could go back to your younger working self, what advice would you give yourself in your early working years? Have kids changed? I don't I don't know that it's kids. Kids kids are gonna live up to expectations depending on what the expectations are. But I think it's parenting. You know, one is there's not as many manual jobs, so it there's not as many jobs for kids to do. But where you go and you really want learn to work hard, I don't think that's the same because of the change and things are more mechanical and less manual. Probably just trust the process. ⁓ I think people put too much stress on trying to get ahead in life but don't actually enjoy the process of doing it. I think people want to jump just jump straight to, you know, having all the money in the world which is fantastic But But it's also I think the expectations of parents. You know, so many kids now are involved in, you know, round youth sports and and where they work, you know, finding for that. So I I think that's changed it some. do you think any other than the the hustle, what are some of the other things that maybe you think have changed? No, it's might hard for you because you're twenty six, you know, and I'm sixty. They don't enjoy what they're doing. You know, and I think that when I was a kid, growing ⁓ and seeing these these especially now nowadays, the kids see all of these young adults having money, having cars, having fame on and the internet, and they just want that. And they put so much stress on themselves for not having it that, you know, a lot of other problems happen, right? But Mm. You know, so I've seen a little more of that than you have. I think that the value of work has diminished. And the reason why, in my opinion, is because I mean, I think it depends on the season, you know. some people grow up and get taught the these lessons about work ⁓ and because their parents Just trust the process and just keep being you, keep doing what you're doing, you'll get there. You know, I the one thing I would say, and I don't I don't think I'd have to tell my younger self this because my father said it all the time, but I would tell young workers, take pride in what you do. ⁓ my dad taught us that. regardless of what job we were doing, you know, we we hauled garbage. We threw garbage cans up on a truck. are going through it as well, you know? And then once you grow out of that, the next generation is like, well, I already went through all that. I don't want my kids to go through that. So it's it's less. I think that older generation had to work a lot more, a lot differently than than they we do now. ⁓ and a lot of that has to go has to do with technology, of course. I think that more people now are focusing and rightfully I mean And my dad would make sure we put ⁓ back where they were, you know, put ⁓ back there where they're supposed to be. And because he wanted people to come out and see that, you know, yeah, we're dumping your garbage, which isn't a fun job. But we take pride in putting things back where they are. ⁓ so I think teaching people to take pride in what you do is a big thing. If I could go back to my younger self, I would say enjoy it more. ⁓ trying to have a little more fun. You know, when I start out, I was a young head coach and I was ⁓ focusing more on you know computer work and ⁓ technological stuff because that's where the world is leading up to, you know? thing I think really changed culture or culture was COVID. You had working from home. Yeah. You know, my gosh I can stay in my pajamas and do my work here. you had less communication, you know, more of it was through Zoom technology. twenty eight years old and I was so driven to prove myself that I I wanted to win. And and so I I would drive the kids hard too. And I think I had some fun with them, but if I look if I would do it again, I would try and have more fun with them. And I'm not saying not work as hard, not not take as much pride in how we play or the effort we give, the hustle we give, how we represent our families, I'd still be that guy. I think those things are important. that interaction ⁓ being in a work environment, I think I think that changed it. I think it it had a big impact on on our work culture. ⁓ mean, who wouldn't love to work from home? You know? Well, I think that a lot of people are you know, they're man, what is the word I'm looking for? I don't know. When when not very But I would look for ways to try and have more fun with the kids. And I know a lot of you who played for me probably shocked by me saying that. but I look back now and I wish I'd have been more of that guy. not apologizing for the things I believe in, but ⁓ I I think you want them to love it. And I'm sure I did that all the time with them. So I that's the advice I would have given to myself. I think that ⁓ as you good at speaking out loud and talking to people and ⁓ inverted. is that introverted. Introvert. There you go. So I think that a lot of people are just naturally introverts and being out into the in in the work environment and having to do a lot of different jobs just pushes people to come out of that. And then they they get used to that get older and you you see everything that you done you've done, it's just hard not to think what would have happened if I did this, you know? But this is not always the best. And one thing I'd I'd hope you remember is work pays the bills, but stories from work and with your friends and colleagues are gonna stay with you for a long time because the majority of your life you spend working. Yeah. I mean that's just life. I we have to pay bills, we have to be you know, being able to be out there more and talk to people more in in the office or at their w place of work and then COVID happens and they they get put back into their little box of where you don't have to go outside and I don't want to do this and I don't want to do that I'm comfortable here and then ⁓ stops and then people have to go back to their ⁓ days of work and office and being outside and in the public. kids to take care of. And so, you know, work is going to be three fourths of your life, but leave it at work. ⁓ I went to a workshop one time. One of the best things I ever heard is the speaker was talking about ⁓ what are your people you work with or your kids if you're a teacher, do they get your very best every day? And of course everybody's gonna say yes they do. And he said, what does your family get when you go home? And maybe that's what changed a lot too. So did have you ever had a bad boss? Sometimes I don't think is the boss itself, maybe just the people around you. I know, I it's the same as saying you've ever had a bad leader. Mm-hmm. You have good leaders, you have bad leaders. a lot of things go into that. But you know, and I it's not like we don't contribute to that too. For sure. You know, I mean, I'm I'm a little stubborn and I'm a little ⁓ bullheaded. but you know, I you have people that are better leaders. Are you still giving them the very best of you? Or is is it what's left? And so leave work at work and try and give your family the best when you get home. I think that's great advice. And I try and do that more than I used to. Work is stressful. And you can't change most of that. But enjoy your family. I think that a lot of people forget that. Yeah, people who aren't as good a leaders. I think the good ones really understand, you know, what creating a culture does for your business, does for your schools, it does for, you know, any career that you're in. And people that are good leaders, number one, I think they make people feel good about being there. I think they make you feel good about doing your job. You know, I I work for a couple of guys, ⁓ coach and girls basketball for Jim Dodge and track for Fred Lamley. You know, work is work and family's family and you sometimes it's hard to separate that that time, but ⁓ you gotta focus on what's good in your life and have that positive mindset and not let a lot of the things that happen at work or throughout your day affect you and keep you from, going home and enjoying that time. So keep working hard, take pride in that, be a great colleague. ⁓ always to reach your goals. And I told people I would work for free for those guys because they made me feel so good about what I did. I don't think my wife would have been up for that, but I think good leaders make you feel that way. They make it enjoyable, they make it ⁓ they they still have they still want to be great at what we're doing, but they're really good at making you feel good about being there and doing your job. You know what happens when you build a good culture. But enjoy your life, enjoy your work, and enjoy your time with Bitstop and the Audio Amigos. And we'll see you again next week. Don't forget to follow us. We are on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. hit that follow button. Make sure that your notifications are on every time we post something so you guys can catch it as soon as we post it. It's wonderful having you guys here. we will see you next time. Thanks for tuning in. in in your business or at your ⁓ place of work it builds people who wants to reach a common goal. I think that when p everybody's in the same boat and that it's only that only happens when your guys your culture is is built up to a certain point where everybody's in the same boat, everybody's proud of where they're working at and proud of where they're at. Let me add something to that. 'Cause you threw out the boat thing. Everybody's in the same boat and they're all rowing the same direction. Yes. Yes. Yes. And that that's what a great leader builds. I think that when you have a great leader, everybody wants to go finish that common goal for the company. Well, and I think y along with that, what makes it great to be there? You know? And I think that's treating people with respect. being friendly to people. And then you're you're gonna have different work personalities. You're gonna have people you get the grumpy guy, you know, who's always gonna be grumpy. You got the funny guy who maybe wants to kid around too much, funny guy. But then you have those people that are just very task on task all the time. So you're gonna have so many different work personalities in a business. You know, we have 70 some employees, everybody's gonna be different. Everybody's driven by different things. But I think a good leader recognizes that. And I they they try and work to each personality. But I think it all starts with being respectful, being polite, and then and then giving them guidance. You know, here's what we need from you, here's what I expect, and then being consistent with that. ⁓ I think if you're doing those things, it creates a good work environment. ⁓ a good leader motivates people. And they don't put people down. They motivate you to do what's best for you and for the company. That's the difference.