Surviving the Grind: Business, Breakdowns & Balance Part 1 | Repair Shop Reckoning | Episode 12

This week on "Repair Shop Reckoning", Kevin Brown sits down with shop owner Bill Griffin to unpack his unexpected path into the industry. Bill started in accounting but ended up at Jiffy Lube, bouncing between dealerships before a layoff forced him into side work and MoTec training. The 2007 recession pushed him to open his own shop after seeing firsthand how broken the industry was. But self-employment came with real struggles—funding battles, hiring nightmares, and a brutal snowmobiling accident that put everything into perspective.  

Bill opens up about parking lot wars, toxic employees, and the toll it took on his personal life, including a divorce that forced him to rethink his business. After 18 years, he’s seen it all—rising costs, technician shortages, and the daily grind of keeping a shop alive. No fluff, no sugarcoating—just real talk from the trenches.

00:00 Introduction to the Race is Zero
00:36 Bill’s Journey Begins
03:30 The Leap of Faith
07:05 Challenges and Triumphs
10:00 A Life-Altering Accident
13:25 Rebuilding and Recovery
15:00 Learning the Business Side
19:44 Family Dynamics in Business
22:12 Navigating Change and Divorce
26:20 Embracing Technology in Business
30:00 The Weight of Missing Transactions
32:00 The Rollercoaster of Business Ownership
34:00 Navigating the Impact of COVID-19
36:00 The Challenge of Retaining Talent
38:00 Crisis Management in Business
40:00 The Importance of Team Dynamics
44:00 Lessons Learned from Employee Conflicts
50:00 Final Reflections on Leadership