At the stroke of stress

Jan. 1, 2020
One of our outside sales representatives and a close ?professional friend? of more than 25 years walked into the office the other morning, planted himself on one of the counter stools, leaned forward on his elbows and without a moment?s hesitation be

One of our outside sales representatives and a close “professional friend” of more than 25 years walked into the office the other morning, planted himself on one of the counter stools, leaned forward on his elbows and without a moment’s hesitation began our conversation with…

“Know what you really ought to do? You really ought to write about the inordinately high stress level that exists in this industry. I don’t think anyone realizes just how much stress there really is: how much stress we’re ALL under all the time. We don’t think about it. Nobody talks about it.

“It’s just there – all around us – every minute of every day! We just come to work and go on about our business as if it was all ‘normal.’ And, know what? I’m not sure it is… And, I’m certainly not sure it’s supposed to be.”

Looking back, I’m not even sure he took a breath. All I can remember is the look of consternation on his face. This wasn’t going to be one of our “light” or amusing “State of the Industry/State of the Aftermarket” conversations. This was a serious question about a serious problem that really demands a serious discussion if not a serious answer.
The only question I had after processing that first tidal wave of information was what could have possibly prompted it. My answer came almost as quickly as I was able to frame the question in my mind.

“Do you remember… (a competitor of his and an acquaintance of mine)? He had a STROKE! Forty-seven years old and he had a STROKE! That’s just plain wrong!”
Frankly, I’m not sure what he said next. I could see his mouth moving, and I know there were sounds being formed into words, but all I was thinking about were the three words I was still trying to process: 47, stress and stroke.

Forty-seven seems very young for a stroke in any industry. And, yet, knowing the kind of stress a high level of performance brings with it in this industry at almost every level; in almost every area, it didn’t seem all that shocking.

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Stress is a part of life. It can be associated with everything we do, just about everything we experience: good or bad, positive or negative. It is virtually unavoidable. And, yet, in conversations I’ve had with friends in other industries, wandering through the aftermarket does seem to bring with it more than its fair share of angst and anxiety.

A stroke, on the other hand, is something else entirely. A stroke is, or at least can be, a life-altering, health-threatening event that can leave an individual and/or a family crippled. It is something I have at least a passing acquaintance with because my wife had a “neurological incident” that forever changed both our lives. And while it was never formally diagnosed as a stroke, it was close enough to get our attention.

What about the question of stress and the aftermarket?
Is it valid? Is there an inordinate amount of stress associated with our industry? Are we subjecting ourselves to more than our fair share of anxiety, worry and angst?

Do we recognize the danger and just accept the risk because this is what we do…what we have chosen for our families and ourselves? Or is it possible stress has been so much a part of who we are, what we do and the environment in which we do it, we don’t even realize we’re all drowning in it?

Frankly, I’m not sure I have the answer. I’m not even sure there is an answer. All I am sure of is the question; and, having been asked, I think it’s a question that deserves an answer if not a serious discussion.

I did what my friend asked me to do. I wrote about it. Now it’s your turn. What do you think about stress and a high level of performance in the aftermarket?

About the Author

Mitch Schneider

Mitch Schneider is founder and past president of the Federation of Automotive Qualified Technicians, a professional society of auto repair technicians. He is an ASE-certified Master Technician and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

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