Back to Your Roots

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Your Next Big Hire

ANNA ZECK

Editorial Director

The MSO Project Back to Basics

RECONNECTING WITH YOUR ROOTS

Recently here at FenderBender, we’ve experienced one of those random bouts of employee turnover, and, as a result, it forced me to do something that, frankly, I haven’t done in years now: write stories for the magazine. When I first started working for FenderBender as a staff writer, my entire job consisted of writing magazine stories. But as I continued growing in my role, that part of my role decreased more and more, until I finally just wrote my editor’s letter.

I’m sure many of you can relate to this: You may have started out as a technician, working on vehicles every day—something that, in all likelihood, you now haven’t done in years.

It was an interesting exercise for me to go back to the basics and write many of the stories that make up this quarter’s issue of The MSO Project. It reminded me of those early years in my career, trying to master the job and learn the industry. It made me feel more connected to our staff and the work they do every day. And it also reinforced the reasons for many of our processes and our dedication to making sure our team follows them. Because, man, looking at 45 minutes’ worth of unorganized interview notes really isn’t fun.

It’s almost ironic, then, that the main story I wrote for this month’s issue is about finding a COO or operations manager for your shop. Although it felt good to get back on the ground floor, it’s absolutely not something I—or you—should be doing with any regularity. Sometimes that’s a bitter pill to swallow; I love reporting and writing. Doing that over the past month felt so familiar.

But it’s simply not my role anymore, just as working on the day-to-day of your business isn’t yours either anymore. If you haven’t already invested in a key C-level position like a COO, I highly encourage you to read the story (not that I’m tooting my own horn) because the sources in that story so plainly lay out not only when it’s time to hire that position, but also exactly what that role should entail. And, perhaps more importantly, what your role should entail.

I hope that as we enter fall and finish out 2020, you’re feeling better about the state of your business, and ready to continue on that growth plan.