A story about my dad

Like for many of you, 2020 hasn’t been the greatest year for me. Six months ago, my father passed away. I haven’t felt much like writing these past six months, but I’m trying to find my way out of the sadness, so today I want to share a story with you. (And yes, it has a lesson.)

My dad was a mechanic. He owned a garage (Milt’s Service) for over 45 years. He not only fixed and inspected cars, but he had a flatbed truck for towing vehicles and hauling machines all over the United States.

I was talking with one of his friends about a month ago. Steve (a guy who is a little younger than me) grew up next door to the garage and hung out with my dad a lot.

One day, Dad was helping Steve move his toolbox from one place to another. It was late in the day and everyone was tired. Steve said he wanted to get it over with quickly so he could be done for the day, but my dad wanted to prepare to move the toolbox correctly. They used large rolls of plastic wrap to protect and secure the toolbox for transport.

Dad took his time and did the job right. Why, Steve asked, when it was just a toolbox, going down the road and even he didn’t care?

My dad responded that when people saw him driving (in that flatbed truck that everyone knew), he wanted them to know that Milt’s Service would put the same care (and love) into moving their toolbox or other item, just like he was doing now.

I laughed, not only about the plastic wrap (because he LOVED plastic wrap), but because that was my dad to a T. “If you’re going to do something, do it right.”

It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

So, back to you. Do you show your non-paying customers (friends and family) the same care and professionalism that you do your paying customers? Is excellence a habit for you?