Covid-19, coronavirus, shelter in place, social distancing, close contact, essential activities, essential businesses, flattening the curve, and many other terms have become synonymous with the year 2020. Did you think we would be hearing these terms this year or much less living through a pandemic? I know I did not. I started the year off at my shop, which has been a family business since 1960, managing it as I have always done with no thoughts about an “insignificant” virus that would take over the world to become part of our history. Ironically just when this virus began to take a foothold in my home state in March,  I found myself with a fantastic opportunity for a change in my career. I accepted a position with the Assured Performance Network at a Regional Director and Telecoach. This opportunity gives me a chance to talk and work with some of the best collision repair shops in the country. I am learning how body shops across the United States are struggling and coping, and sometimes just getting by with this pandemic digging in. I had started reading a little bit ago a book by Dan Crenshaw called Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage, and it got me to thinking about fortitude in the face of Covid-19.  

You may ask, what is fortitude? Fortitude refers to strength in the face of adversity. It means you have the emotional or mental power to tackle difficult times. I have seen our industry take a massive hit, but we keep going. Collision repair shops have made adjustments to serve our customers, like so many other businesses have. The past few months, I have talked to many shops throughout the Southeast, and you all amaze me. You all amaze me with the grit and tenacity that you tackle the challenges of trying to do business with limited contact. Many of you may not realize, but the reason we have been able to take on these challenges is due to fortitude.  

In a previous article, I introduced you all to a favorite quote of mine, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill 

The quote above reinforces the fact that fortitude is a trait that we need to possess to keep our businesses open, and we need to continue to do everything we can to pursue excellence for our industry. I know many shops have seen revenues decline, and the work has slowed down, but we have to hang in there and find opportunities within the madness. What types of opportunities is our industry taking advantage of during the slow period we are experiencing? Talking with various shops,  I have heard of many taking advantage of the training opportunities that are helping our industry get better. Other shops have their employees working on pet projects such as cleaning the shop, painting, and making necessary improvements that have been needed, but never seem to have the time to do. Maybe seeking out certifications is what will help your shop at this time or talking with car dealerships and insurance agents for referrals? Making sure your online presence is there and being able to interact with your customers in the community. Right now, the virtual world is safer than the real world it seems. What opportunities will be successful for you is unique to your shop, but there are prospects out there. 

One thing that this pandemic has made clear is it will change our industry whether we like it or not. We can not be afraid to improve our business practices. Virtual estimating, disinfecting of the vehicles, employee and customer safety, personal protective equipment for getting into the vehicles were items we didn’t think about much before. Virtual estimating is going to become a normal way of doing things for our shops for the foreseeable future. Employee and customer safety should have always been a practice, but not like it needs to be now. Employees are going to have to take the necessary precautions in dealing with customers’ vehicles. We need to do everything we can to make this a part of our everyday routines. 

The adverse effects of Covid-19 are going to change our operations and the way we do business significantly. Our “new normal” might seem foreign now, but from it, hopefully, we will have positive growth within the collision repair industry.