Beech Tree News Network

Since the era of social distancing has begun, we have had to teach a lot of people how to reset their “change oil” reminders on their personal vehicles when they come in for an oil change at New Image Car Care.  Many vehicles have them.  Some reminders simply say “change oil soon,” others give a percentage number reflecting how much life is left on the current oil change, while others have a “maintenance required” suggestion.  It’s much easier to simply get into the vehicle yourself and go through the steps required to reset the reminder.  Since that isn’t an option right now, we have to give verbal instructions to the customers.

                “Turn your key on, but don’t start the engine.  Now, press the accelerator—not the brake—to the floor three times,” we tell GMC owners.  I wish they all were that easy, but no such luck.  Toyota owners have to push a button located on the dash until they reach Trip A, turn the vehicle off, press the Trip A button while turning the vehicle back on—not starting it—and holding the Trip A button until a series of lines works its way across the screen on the dash until they disappear, becoming all zeros.  That’s child’s play compared to a Nissan.  Nissan has a square and a circle that you have to push alternately.  You can hear the guys directing, “Push the circle, now the square, circle again, now the square.  Okay, square, square, square.  Circle again.  Square until you’re back at the home screen.”  At least Ford has arrows on the steering wheel in order to work through their menu. 

                After teaching people how to reset their oil reminders a few times last week, I was reminded that the days of having to train someone to take my place are fast approaching.  I have made a vow to myself that I won’t throw the next person in over her head and simply walk away.  There is a quote I know to be true: “The job will teach you how to do it.”  With that said, first, you have to have a teacher.  I have been preparing for this for a while.  I have a binder filled with how-to information, Post-its with quick fixes, and index cards with shortcuts. 

                I’ve had a few jobs where I was thrown in over my head, simply because the person training me was either impatient or highly intelligent.  The impatient person didn’t want to be bothered with me, and the highly intelligent person couldn’t understand why I couldn’t understand.  I had one boss, at a campus bookstore in Texas, who was a wonderful person, but she was the worst procrastinator I have ever encountered.   After I had been there barely a month, the fiscal year was coming to a close.  The yearly reports for the bookstore were due.  On the last possible day in which to turn in the information, she called me into her office, gave me a stack of papers, and told me the information had to be entered into the Excel program.  At that time, I had never seen an Excel program.  I worked till very late that day, and decided to give my two-week notice before the end of the next fiscal year rolled around.

                Some people are natural teachers, and it’s usually those of us who have had to struggle a bit to grab hold of and retain information who are the best at it.  I have to have lots of information in order to do the simplest of things.  I want that information in steps with cause and effect thrown in for good measure.  Case in point:  On Saturday, Greg, whose mind moves at warp speed and doesn’t slow down for unnecessary information, walked into the office with a guy’s Cabela’s credit card, and said, “You need to get the number off this credit card.”  I looked at the screen.  There wasn’t a customer name on the screen, so I asked, “Did he drop off his vehicle?”

                “No, he’ll be back later.  Get the number off the card,” Greg said.

                “There’s no customer information on the screen,” I said.

                “I’ve already got that.  I just need you to get the card number,” Greg said.

                “Clear as mud,” I thought, but didn’t say.  I wrote down the card information.

                A few minutes later, a name appeared on the screen.  The oil change was completed, and one of the guys pulled a white truck around and left the keys on the counter.  I picked up the keys walked out into the garage and asked, “Is this truck the credit card guy’s truck?”

                “Yes,” Greg said, “Lock the keys up inside.”

                “He has another set?” I questioned.

                “Yes,” Greg said.

                I ran the card, printed the receipt then locked the keys and the receipt inside the white truck.  The whole process had been crystal clear to Greg, but I needed more details, like the guy was in our shop but had some place he had to be and wouldn’t be back before we closed.  He didn’t want to leave his credit card because he needed it, but we could run the number then lock everything up in his truck.

                Garey and I are older than Greg and Renee.  Garey has eleven years on Greg.  I have seven years on Renee.  The day will come, sooner rather than later, when Garey and I will retire from the business world.  If Greg approaches you with a business venture, you best jump on it.  You won’t find a better partner.  Just don’t let him try to teach you anything or give you directions, for that matter.  You’ll end up some place none of us can find you.