RR 386: Shop Talk 6 – Making it Work – Husband and Wife Partners

Kim and Rob Auernheimer own CS Automotive in Brentwood, Tennessee.  CS Automotive was opened in October of 2006 in the back of the warehouse and now they call a 6,400 square foot, 10-bay shop home.  Prior to joining husband Rob, in the business, Kim had a career in Real Estate and Commercial Property Management. In July of 2011, she stepped out from the background and joined her husband in the venture of creating an industry-leading, standout shop on a full-time basis. Listen to previous episodes HERE.

Judi and Dana Haglin owners of Haglin Automotive Inc. is a full-service auto repair shop in Boulder, CO, they’ve been leaders in the Boulder auto repair industry since 1981.

Judi and Dana have a super working relationship and they explain how that happens. There are certain rules that create harmony for them. They pay attention to details, share a core value; ‘Everyone Speaks’ that is part of their strong business culture.

They received Motor Age’s Top Shop honor in 2015. Key to their success is they know their roles and together make a strong business owner. They say, “Fixing cars is secondary, we are primarily solving our customer’s problems”. Previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• For Kim and Rob, there are two different personalities. One at home one at work.
• Advice for successful communication- take a communication style to learn about each other and then learn how to have the others ‘conversation’. There is an episode on this topic, the DISC evaluation to best understand each other’s communication style. Understand strengths and weaknesses and how you can be efficient together as a team. See episode on DISC HERE.
• Work life and home life personalities often separated- being apart of both can be eye-opening and challenging
  • Learn which buttons to press and not press, when to approach things and how to communicate with each other
  • Wife has to still prove themselves to employees and spouse
  • Have boundaries to prevent overflow of work-life spilling into home life together otherwise the work will never end- always be respectful and mindful of each other
  • Don’t let business take over the family, you have business for the family and for your employees family and your customers
• Balance and keeping each other in check
  • Knowing partners strengths and weaknesses to help better the business and customer service  
  • Look back as much as looking forward to seeing the progress and changes you’ve made
• Making decisions together
  • Have to trust and support each other in order to make change in business, need one on one time together
• Reaching out and helping other businesses will only make the industry stronger
  • Start with one new relationship at a times. Share in your success  
• Recognize and appreciate your partner’s strengths. Let them do it.
• Advice for successful communication- take a personality test (DISC) to find out how you can be efficient together as a team. Know yourself and all of your team. See episode on DISC HERE.
• To make it work have your partners back.
• Don’t let the business take over your family.
  • The marriage is more important than anything.
• Perfection does not exist.
• Look back and see where you came from. This will provide you with a perspective on your accomplishments together. Better together than apart.

Resources:

• Thanks to  Kim and Rob Auernheimer, and Judi and Dana Haglin for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
• Link to Haglin Autocare HERE.
• Link to C and S Auto HERE.
• Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

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