Joe Hinkens from Mainline Auto Body has always been of the mindset that he wanted to press the easy button, when possible, take a shortcut where possible and not beat himself up to learn something new or develop a new skillset if someone has already carved that path. Follow their lead, so over the many years he hired consultants one after the other until there came a point in time that he became one.
Always look for long term investments
When you are working on introducing new methodology or ideas or whatever it be, when you are investing in your business with time or resources, always look for the long term. For years now Joe has looked at his business in terms of investing in it and investing in things that will be there long after he has gone. The mindset of thinking you are going to get to the finish line is a myth, the finish line keeps moving and you must keep looking forward and continue to look for ways that you can build infrastructure that will last and go the distance.
At Mainline, they have developed a mentality, not only do they want to make the business last, but they also want to build it in such a way that it leaves a legacy. Joe is a pie in the sky dreamer and if he had a nickel for every failure, he would be very wealthy but that does not bother him. The successes are such a joy that they keep swinging and avoid temptation for short term fixes. Never operate from a position of feeling like you are being backed into a corner and urgency. You have to go the distance and that means taking the time to formulate your decisions but be quick to execute, think things through but look for the long haul. Once you decide the path you are going to take, take it and move quickly and get it done.
Always looking out on the horizon, just like driving a race car, you do not look down at the bumper on the car in front of you – you look well ahead to the next turn and that is where your car will position itself. If you look there, that is where you will go.
Take the shortcut
This is where it is important to bring in the external experts. As Joe says, shortcut it, bring in the people that can help you achieve your goals and objectives and get there in the least amount of time. Not to rush it, but so you don’t waste time going down the path that someone has already cut. Someone has already been there, and these experts are out there.
It is about going outside of what you know, because someone else has already built that building and has proven results and that is where the value of their expertise come in. You can get hooked up on the cost, but you must look at the long term of that cost – it might be expensive, but the rewards are handsome.