Learning Curve

 

     If you have any questions, concerns, ideas or even just would like more information on getting some work done here at the shop, I am here to help. 
     So another week and the learning is different daily. One day I am looking for parts that go to a new vehicle. The next hour I am looking up parts for a classic.
     The daily struggle for me is the lingo. What one company calls one thing the next one will call the EXACT same part something totally different! Who said you can't reach an old dog new tricks? I am going to get this if its the last thing I learn! (what I tell myself when I'm getting frustrated)
    Yesterday was spent looking up parts for a retro late 80's vehicle. Google was not my friend and had to call all of our part vendors, who I am sure are tired of my voice, and realizing how expensive it is to keep an older model safely on the road. I myself drive an older model SUV and have decided to stop dropping tons of cash on repairs to it. I try to do them myself but some I truly just don't want to deal with the being filthy at the end SOOO I pay someone else to get dirty for me.
    Yes, yes I know, "you work AT a shop!" I still have to pay the guys for their time and all the parts I need. I have learned something about myself  "I can do it, but why should I when someone else could do it faster and I don't need to crawl on the ground?" I  am grateful they provide me the service I no longer wish to do. I'm going to leave the hard work for the younger kids and I am just going to enjoy NOT doing it. 
     Being in the service industry most of my adult life I enjoy my jobs, YES every single one of them. Some I didn't enjoy for long and others I now know were the best times of my life. I have made some great lifelong friends turned to family but being able to share what you learned and the issues you had learning is what makes us, well US. This job I now enjoy to the fullest is a new experience every day and its AMAZING. I still get to meet new people, talk story with others, and have a new outlook toward all the work that goes on behind the scene at almost every repair shop. 

Behind The Grease

     For those of you who know me, you already know this story and for those of you just joining this wild ride known as my life I'm going to give you a quick recap of the last 10 years.

     After living in California my whole life the guy I was with wanted to come live with his family on Maui. I was ready to take that step forward and try a new adventure so why not?? Life happened and things between him and I didn't work out and we split. Just days later we found out we were going to be parents, our best surprise EVER! Being that I was older and pregnant my doctor took me out of work and ordered me to take it easy. Again life keeps rolling and after our blessing was born I lost two amazing men just weeks of each other, My dad and Uncle lost their battle with lung cancer. 
     More time passed and I got a new job. One willing to work around the hours I need to be a mom and still put food on the table. Covid hit and life came to a crashing halt. I was lucky enough to keep my job and the hours needed to be a mom and make money but the stress was getting to me. Life happened yet again and I made the choice to leave that amazing place in order to find something I could learn from and grow. 
     I found myself talking to the owner of Otto Shop Maui and they needed to hire someone to be their service writer and well I found something new I was eager to learn about with an amazing chance to learn more. So present day that is what I am doing, I work for Otto at his shop trying to keep things running smoothly and help with the part of the job that is behind the grease.  

     I have been here working just over a month and so far so good. I am really enjoying the new job and skills I'm learning. Most of the time people would refer to someone not well educated as "the mechanic" of the group. I have since learned that is NOT true in the slightest. ANY person in a specialized trade is AMAZING, the way they just KNOW what needs to be done... crazy and astonishing all at once. 

     I am going to leave you here today with that bit of info and will try to update you weekly on things going on in the shop and behind the grease. 

Please ask any questions you might have.