Cars For A Living

Writing and Selling Automotive Horror Fiction Books, and The Legal Implications of Starting Your Own Car Shop

Since we discussed flipping cars in this episode, this image of Kurt Busch flying at Talladega seemed appropriate. Both are kind of a work out. 101 No BS Business Startup Tips! In this Episode of Cars For A Living Dan and I decided to review a fantastic article by James Altucher that was posted on TechCrunch.com called The Ultimate Cheat Sheet For Starting And Running Your Business. In it he outlined 101 tips that he had discovered by experience, and while the bulk of them are likely related to the tech industry (think iPhone app companies) we pulled out several that DEFINITELY apply to the automotive industry and reviewed them on air! Here’s a quick sampling…… 4) Should you go for venture capital money? First build a product, then get a customer, then get friends-and-family money (or money from revenues which is cheapest of all) and then think about raising money. But only then. Don’t be an amateur. 11) Should you build a product? Maybe. But first see if, manually, your product works. Then think about providing it as a service. Then productize the commonly used services. Too many people do this in reverse and then fail. 18) How do you get new clients? The best new clients are old clients. Always offer new services. Think every day of new services to offer old clients. 16) What do you do when a customer rejects you in a B2B business? Stay in touch once a month. Never be angry. 19) What’s the best thing to do for a new client? Over-deliver for the first 100 days. Then you will never lose them. 52) Should I give stuff for free? Maybe. But don’t expect free customers to turn into paying customers. Your free customers actually hate you and want everything from you for nothing, so you better have a different business model. 59) Should I hire people because I can travel on a seven-hour plane ride with them? Don’t be an idiot. If anything, hire people the opposite of you. Or else who will you delegate to? 73) My client called at 3 a.m. Should I tell him to respect boundaries? No. You no longer have any boundaries. 74) I made a mistake. Should I tell the client? Yes. Tell him everything that happened. You’re his partner. Not the guy that hides things and then lies about them. RULE #infinity: You create your luck by being healthy and not regretting the past or being anxious about the future. ================================= Listener E-mail 1) James J The thing that I am struggling with right now is becoming too consumed in a career where I have an ‘average’ amount of passion for. Now I do enjoy my profession (engineering/PM), but I do feel mired in red tape, culture of the job, and middle management. Work is continuously and increasingly all consuming, and retirement is quite far off for me. It is really quite ironic, when the company’s management seems to revel how they can remove life from people. …I just do not know how one can continue this longterm without getting so burned out. I just wanted to say thanks for C4AL episode #34. Rob, you already have my vote for the YEN competition and I wish you all of the luck. I’ve been a listener of TMCP and PT podcasts, and am getting into C4AL more and more. At the end of E#34, you mention flipping $1000 cars for $3000 and your ‘mentor’ in this foray. As such, I was wondering if there were any older C4AL podcasts where you detailed this flip or shared any further advice in getting into flipping cars in this manner.

Rob's Shark Tank Entry Followed By Listener E-mails - Flipping $10,000 Muscle Cars In Vegas and Will Working with Cars Kill Your Passion For Them?

Jim Schmidt on How National Parts Depot Grew from Model A Bolt Kits Into a Muscle Car Parts Giant!

Kevin Bryde, Vice President Hotchkis Performance East In this episode of Cars For A Living we had a chance to do a follow up interview with a former guest, Mr. Kevin Bryde. Long time listeners will remember Kevin was on Episode #25 of the show where he discussed his career as a NASCAR component fabricator and gave advice to others on how to pursue that same dream as well. With that said….it turns out that after 20 years in the industry Kevin had a new dream he wanted to chase himself: business ownership! Kevin in the rear seat of his Olds with a future product. The bolt in roll bar mount was designed to provide a mounting location for racing belts while also allowing full clearance for rear passengers. Long story short, Kevin and John Hotchkis have created a partnership to launch a new business in the Mooresville, NC area titled (appropriately) Hotchkis Performance East. The business will handle manufacturing of Hotchkis suspension components and will also perform customer installations. Since Mooresville is literally titled as “Race City USA” it does appear that it’s a terrific place to launch a new muscle car performance component company! During the interview Kevin shared how he and his wife decided to make the transition from employee to business owner work, both in terms of their finances and also their family. He also discussed how his partnership structure works and what he hopes the future will hold….and then we spent a little time digging into the “car that inspired it all” for him, his ’85 G-Body Olds. It was during the creation of this car specifically that Kevin realized his desire to leave NASCAR and work in muscle and performance street cars. You can reach Kevin via the Hotchkis Performance East Facebook page, through Hotchkis.net, and also via 707-660-3060. Thanks for the interview, Kevin! ================================= The Fastest News You Need to Know! Our pal Mike Murray from Performance Business Magazine is back for this show with his “fastest news you need to know” segment. In this clip Mike delved into the August 2013 issue of Performance Business (which is free for those in the industry) where you’ll find informative features covering Automotive Plumbing, LS Engine Building and Sound and Thermal Insulation!  

Under the Hood with Kyle & Stacy Stucker: How Detroit Speed and Engineering Grew from a Two Car Garage to Aftermarket Suspension Powerhouse

C4AL #30: Listener E-mails - How to Get Health Insurance, Automotive Graphic Artist Markets, and the Side Job to Full Time Leap

C4AL #29: How To Own and Operate a Stunt Driving School - with Bobby Ore!

How To Invent, Manufacture, and Sell a Product as a Side Business - Jon Leonard's Dune Buggy Golf Carts

Listener E-mails! Understanding Which College Degree You Should Get, Review of a Dune Buggy Golf Cart Business, and a New Forum for Engine Swap Fans

A Rookie Guide to Understand Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, and Protecting Your Ideas!

How To Get Into Professional Racing; Kevin Byrde's Journey From Industrial Lighting Sales to NASCAR Component Fabricator!

Jeff Lee on Building Hammerhead Housings from "Dream Idea" to Manufacturing Company!

C4AL #23: Mike Murray on Resources to Help You Grow Your Shop Today: Performance Business Magazine and the Hot Rod and Restoration Trade Show!

An "under the hood" interview with Nate Shelton, the Chief Marketing Officer of B&M/Flowmaster, and is a 30+ year veteran of our industry!