Plain Talk Go With What You Got By Rob Buksar Walmartism, warehouse shop- A ~, ping,andmassmar- ~ | keting are certainly | no longer up and ri Py coming agendas, but ‘ now an established aspect of Ameri- can life. The “blue light special” men- tality has permeated the American mindset and our industry is no excep- tion. We all are continuously bom- barded with flyers trying to unload the growing glut of the Third World’s entire manu- facturing output cluttering up our shores. To further complicate the issue the OEMs, especially Delco, are out there in the aftermarket attempting to buy a larger piece of it by producing and dumping new and reman units far be- low their value. It’s a real shame their corporate planners have resorted to this flea market tactic. But that doesn’t change anything, they have and it hurts. Our market is being beat up badly with no immediate signs of relief. So what’s the solution for the small guy? Fold it up, close it down and quit? If you don’t see an alternative, then maybe there isn’t one for you. There isno glory in beating your head against the wall until you’ ve destroyed your- self. If you can be brutally honest while looking in a mirror and know you have tried and used everything available to you and there’s still no fruit, maybe it is time for a change. Cut and break while you still have something to lose. Whoever came up with the concept of a captain remaining with a sinking ship was either brain dead or had no self- esteem. Choose life—it’s better. Now for those of you who are absolutely confident you have unplayed cards, pay close attention to this. (By the way, I put myself‘on the top of the list for needing this admonishment.) Get going with what you have; don’t wait on what you don’t! When many of us become overwhelmed with our cir- cumstances, we find ourselves saying, “TfT only had this. . .If only things were like the old days…IfI only had more money, then I could compete with the big guys. Far too many of us overstate the importance of the things we don’t have. Unfortunately, when we focus on the things we can’t do it prevents us from doing the things we can. The pro- longed idleness paralyzes our initiative. To the hesitant mind everything is im- possible because it appears so. Don’t wait for Delco to go out of business or for new fair trade agree- ments. AutoZone and NAPA are not going to go bust anytime soon. If you’re waiting for special circumstances to occur before you’ll act you may be signing your own death certificate. Far too many of us don’t need more strength, ability or greater opportunity. We need to use what we have— which is usually and unfortunately ne- glected. Make the time and analyze your circumstances. Remember it’s darn easy to deceive yourself so it helps to involve someone significant to you in order to keep you honest. Success never comes to those who fail to appreciate and utilize what they already have. Remember to focus on what you can do, don’t even list what you can’t. Most of us have awesome talent, skills and ability. Many of those are untapped also. So what’s the so- lution for the small guy? The answer is focusing and working with what you DECEMBER, 1999 have and not getting hung up with what you don’t. Rob Buksar is owner of Hoosier Electric Co., Gary, IN. ERE Page 1 of 1