Hi, there. It’s December 16th, late in the afternoon, and Lesley and I just returned home from a trip to the Mothership: to Duarte, and the City of Hope, for lab work.
I know that sounds insane. Duarte is a long way to go to get blood drawn when there are two Quest offices right here in Simi. But if you were me and every time somebody touches you, you wind up looking like you were in a hatchet fight, you would understand! You go where you are least likely to be abused. You go where experience has demonstrated you will enjoy the most positive experience. And since the blood work will be read and interpreted at the City of Hope, that’s the most intelligent place to have your blood drawn.
A car is also a quiet place for us to visit for a while. A place to think about the blog post I just finished putting together for my Mitch Schneider’s World website. Particularly appropriate, since that post was meant to go live on January 1, 2021.
The post was based on the notion that If You Always Do What You Always Did, You’ll Always Get What You Always Got! Something we all be more aware of as we fight our way through COVID-19 and the pandemic. It’s even more appropriate because at least one iteration of that sentiment appears on the Mitch Schneider’s World landing page and states: To Go Where You’ve Never Gone… You Will Have to Do What You Have Never Done.
This sentiment could not be more accurate or appropriate than it is right now. Especially, in light of everything we have endured for the past eight or nine months.
Let me explain… Since I started writing in 1985, I’ve written at least one long piece every month. Three pieces a month for the first few decades of my writing career. One for the repair community. One for distribution and one for manufacturing. The format was pretty simple. Each column was approximately three pages, double-spaced, ragged-right. One thousand words each.
Each article was an island unto itself. Each had a beginning—a ‘hook.’ A middle and an end. Each had a purpose. It got to the point where I was actually thinking in thousand-word increments, mostly because it never occurred to me to present my ideas any other way. At least, not until now when I finally realized that I don’t have to do that anymore—if I ever did!
When it finally occurred to me that I’m not writing for a magazine anymore— that I can write whatever I want, as much or as little as I want, whenever I want to—I felt liberated! No longer forced to worry about satisfying advertisers, a publisher, or an editorial staff.
As a matter of fact, the only people who get to judge what I have to say—what I think or have to share—would be you. And I’ll trust you over any and all of the above in a heartbeat. Especially, when it comes to anything I post on the web.
So be prepared. And if that means one article a month, great! If it means two or three, even better!
I’m not sure why I felt constrained to one specific format over another, especially over the past few years. But I’m willing to bet it had more than a little to do with doing something I’ve always done the way I’ve always done it!
The Mitch Schneider’s World site will still retain its focus on the automotive aftermarket, the repair community, leadership, management, and success. It will continue to reflect my interest in moving from where you are to where you want and need to be.
I hope you like what we’re doing, and I hope you’re comfortable with where we’re going. I’d like to think this site is as much yours as it is mine, and that you are as comfortable contributing as I am. So please don’t be a stranger. I really do look forward to hearing from you and take to heart pretty much everything that you have to say.
I hope you enjoy this piece. Under normal circumstances, it would have been January’s column. Instead, it’s going to be December’s second column.
As always, I’d be interested to hear anything you have to say about this column or any other. You can reach me at mitch@mitchschneidersworld.com. Or, at mitch@misfirebook.com.
In the meantime, look for If You Always Do What You’ve Always Done… submitted for your review and enjoyment on https://mitchschneidersworld.com.
Till the next time, stay well. Stay safe. Stay strong. Stay home and take care!
