Transcript
Aniz Lavji: All right, welcome everyone to another exciting episode of the Shop and Tread Talk podcast. My name is Aniz, and before we begin, just want to make sure.
Aniz Lavji: You follow us on Facebook. if you look up the shop and tread talk podcast you can definitely follow us on there like and we're trying to keep up with our posts every week but again life's busy shops busy so doing the best we can.
Aniz Lavji: Usually we'd have Frank with us today, but... It's a Saturday and he's busy and I've been crazy. busy for the past couple weeks so we haven't really been able to release an episode here for a couple weeks but starting to get things uh back on track and it's mostly with me just life and vacations and everything. but Today, we've got a good buddy of ours.
Aniz Lavji: Sonny Macera. Sonny, why don't you... Introduce yourself. kind of Tell us... where you are and what you do buddy.
Sunny Massera: Okay, yeah. My son's name is Sarah. I live in Portland, Oregon. Well, outside of Portland. Um, been a... Technician for 27, no, 28 years now.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Just about almost 30 Started working in shops when I was 17 and just kind of... then or a wrenching ever since. I've done different functions in in this.
Sunny Massera: In the shops, like I've worked at parts stores and stuff.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: Um... worked at body shops didn't like didn't like doing body work
Aniz Lavji: yeah I can imagine all that dust. and
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: on everything that gets to you.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, i don't I don't like to smell all those chemicals. um But it sounded like...
Aniz Lavji: Some people do like it.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. I found myself ah in a hot rod shop when I was 20 and I worked there for many years just building hot rods and customs. And. there was a lot of high -end cars and there was a lot of garbage to fix so i learned how to fix Fix a lot with a little, you know.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah. that sounds like most uh what most shop owners are kind of going through it's
Sunny Massera: Hello.
Aniz Lavji: especially if you're beginning you know, you've got, got work and may not have a whole lot to kind of go with, but you do what you can to get by. Right.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah. um i've I've owned a shop a couple times. I've i've made the attempt. and First time. was, you know, just not prepared, didn't know. how to run a business and
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: i'm a great great technician i can build cars but When it comes to running a business, that's... ah Nothing I really learned or picked up anywhere. and Now, i've I've actually learned more about running an auto shop in the last... two and a half years than I have in the previous 25, you know.
Aniz Lavji: it's It's interesting how that happens. I mean, there's so many people that
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: you know they'll be running a shop for like you said for 20 years and then They start. getting all this knowledge and inspiration and talk to this person and that person and get a coach or something like that and they're like well Damn, I wish I would have known this about 15 years ago.
Aniz Lavji: and
Sunny Massera: what app
Aniz Lavji: Imagine what it would have been now, right? but it's It's better that you've... You've got this. kind of inspirational knowledge over the past couple of years instead of being Two more years from now, right?
Sunny Massera: Oh, yeah. It's funny. I actually closed my last shop. I was a one -man show. I was doing... a Hot rod work and just whatever kind of came along um By myself, completely in a two -bay shop, and it...
Sunny Massera: i found I found Lucas and the industry podcast and Jeff. right as I closed that shop and I probably would have stayed open it had I found them first because it would have you know given me a couple tools to actually be able to manage it properly and kind of build it but i had already made the decision to close down and
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I started driving a tow truck. And then I found the podcast, so I had all this time to listen to all the podcasts.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: and got caught up and i was like wow this is there's a whole world out there that i was uh you know It got me out of my bubble.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, sometimes you need you need that.
Sunny Massera: which was
Aniz Lavji: and like It's kind of like me. I found... Jeff's JD mechanics podcast on a whim just searching
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: In my car, I just searched mechanic podcast and that came up and
Sunny Massera: Well.
Aniz Lavji: I'm really glad I did because that changed a lot for me as well.
Sunny Massera: Right.
Aniz Lavji: But. You know.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, that's funny. I think I found him on, on I think it was TikTok or maybe YouTube.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: i found I saw a short, you know, and I was like, who's this guy?
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: and went down the rabbit hole and uh I ended up meeting Jeff last year at... That's Seema, Apex, and and Lucas, and David.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: and Mike Allen.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, all all great guys.
Sunny Massera: And. Oh, yeah. No, it changed my life for sure. um It showed me a lot of what I didn't know that I'm starting to learn now.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, it's it's interesting.
Sunny Massera: Uh oh.
Aniz Lavji: like When people look at this industry, They see okay. Well, this guy's got an auto shop they fix cars and you know, it goes home at night and probably that's the end of it and comes back in the morning does the same thing all over again, but it's not that simple.
Aniz Lavji: we We don't get to just go home and shut off most of us. you know, we start thinking about.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: oh you know i've got that cadillac coming in tomorrow and i gotta do this job but ah that's gonna need this and do i have that tool or maybe oh you know what let me let me stay up and research online and make sure I've got this and that to prepare. So we don't get to really turn off.
Aniz Lavji: i mean it's not just a simple at 501 the doors closed and you know you're done for most people.
Sunny Massera: oh Absolutely.
Aniz Lavji: It's not as simple as people think it may be, just go and fix cars and go home and turn off, right? It doesn't work that way.
Sunny Massera: Oh, not at all. Not at all. I mean, I...
Aniz Lavji: i'm
Sunny Massera: I wake up thinking about like, did I? what was the process i was going to use on that or what do i need to do this car next week or Yeah, it it doesn't turn off like a...
Aniz Lavji: As long as you're not waking up by thinking, did I torque that wheel?
Sunny Massera: You know.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, let's. I tried. Try to torque everything at at you know at the appropriate time.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I've actually gotten less in the... Last couple of years, got in the habit of marking everything I torque with a grease pen.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: different colors. so i know that i've already done it or people can come along behind me and see if it's been torqued or not
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: saves some time and you know it gives a little bit of a assurance that i then then i can go back and look and be like oh okay yeah okay i was i was tripping But I did that.
Aniz Lavji: Exactly.
Sunny Massera: Well.
Aniz Lavji: no it's it's not a very cut and dry industry i mean it's
Sunny Massera: No.
Aniz Lavji: Especially not now. Do you have your own shop right now? Are you working somewhere now?
Sunny Massera: i work in I work in a performance shop. It's actually it's it's a performance shop that's owned by a large car group. I think there's 14 dealerships in the group. But we're like the specialty shop and then we do a lot of the used car stuff.
Sunny Massera: So there's like used car lot. They bring us cars for UVIs or DVIs. We go through each car. make sure it's you know new tires and brakes and detailed and And that's part of the shop.
Sunny Massera: And then the other part of the shop is hot rod performance work on...
Aniz Lavji: okay
Sunny Massera: you know brand brand new mustangs brand new f -150s but also like a 65 Mustang or a 41 Chevy truck. It's kind of, it's.
Aniz Lavji: So you're...
Sunny Massera: a It's a mixed up.
Aniz Lavji: You're right in your realm though, really.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, and it's taken me a long time to get here. i mean i've Done a lot of hot rods and custom stuff, which kind of... put me behind the ball on the on the new cars.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: which I've had to spend the last couple of years getting caught up so I can work on anything I really want to. um Not saying I can fix everything, ah but I can try. and having to the right techniques and and and processes to To learn how to fix these things has been ah it's been a bit of a challenge.
Sunny Massera: I did. teach myself through different ways on the internet to do automotive tuning
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Mainly Chevys. Because I build a lot of Chevy stuff and, you know, doing LS swaps. and the old stuff I need to be able to plug the laptop in and make it run.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: And then I found myself in this shop who has a, I worked with a master tuner. and this guy's been tuning cars everything you can think of for 20 years with a dyno.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. Nice to have someone there with that kind of experience.
Sunny Massera: So it's like...
Aniz Lavji: That's ah that's excellent.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah, and we're the same age too. as We're like two weeks apart. But he's been doing it so long. I mean, he's put a turbo on literally everything you can think of. Minivans and... Suzuki's and just Like yeah, the the weirdest cars come through our shop and and we tune them so
Aniz Lavji: Well, as long as the customer is willing to pay and they leave happy.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: I mean it is what it is.
Sunny Massera: It's a different clientele. um you know there's there's an We put the expectation right ahead that you know you're going to... If you want us to dyno your car or even look at it, there's ah there's an inspection fee. There's a minimum, you know.
Sunny Massera: It's like a $1 ,200 minimum dyno fee. depending on like say we get it on the dyno and it needs spark plugs or spark plug wires or a fuel pump or whatever, which happens a lot.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: people are gets ready to dyno and nine out of ten cars that come to us for dyno tuning work are not ready
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: We have to do something. i mean we put them on the dyno on the first run the motor just is like you know it doesn't It makes 110 horsepower when it should make three, you know.
Aniz Lavji: say
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: So. There's a lot of that, which is cool. like um And I get to kind of... be slow and take my time. it is a flat rate shot but we have a interesting pace structure So everybody's super happy.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: It's it's it's shop average. Some guys are running 250 plus percent eff efficiency. Some guys. Some days I'll only run 50 % efficiency because I'm working on a weird...
Sunny Massera: 77 Chevy Dually or whatever.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. Yep.
Sunny Massera: So it kind of averages out. We run about 140 % average efficiency. weekly.
Aniz Lavji: As long as...
Sunny Massera: So everybody's paid everybody's paid well, yeah. Thank you.
Aniz Lavji: As long as everybody's happy, you know you're able to...
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. pay your mortgages if you have one pay your bills and you know wake up in the morning and actually want to get out of bed to go to work right
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Oh, yeah
Aniz Lavji: But, you know, working this as hard as yeah I'm sure you do. and then if you have to wake up in the morning you're like oh man i gotta go into work that's That's the kind of... feedback i get from some people where they're in a situation where The money is great.
Aniz Lavji: But you wake up in the morning and you're like, oh man, you know, like... I really don't feel like going in. but I got no choice because
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: I've hooked in here. you know i'm making great money but
Sunny Massera: Money is not everything money money is not everything culture is i would say first
Aniz Lavji: mentally, do you feel drained? No, it's not.
Sunny Massera: To me, at least.
Aniz Lavji: Even when...
Sunny Massera: and having worked in a lot of shops.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Amen. ah yeah I am one of those floaters. I've had a lot of jobs, but um you know nine out of ten of them were because there was poor management. or You know, um...
Aniz Lavji: even Even when we're interviewing someone. The money part is the last thing that. I even get into and. and a lot of them they get surprised they're like you know you we haven't even talked about you know pay and stuff like that because right now it's not important to me
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: I wouldn't know. you know where you were what you were doing there and what it was like working there and why do you want to leave?
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Because if... the reason you're leaving that place is something similar to how we run it, then we are not going to be a good fit.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, it's been said, you know, you don't leave a job because of the job. You're still doing the same job you leave because the manager, the owner. or you know the culture you're not leaving the work we still do the same work wherever we go it's
Aniz Lavji: Exactly.
Sunny Massera: It's the environment that we're trying to get out of. and I mean, I did that this year.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. and
Sunny Massera: I was i was working ah at a high -end Bronco shop building brand new Broncos.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: We will. $300 ,000 trucks and I just couldn't stand Couldn't stand being there. Didn't want to be there. I mean, we had brand new brand new parts for everything, and it's just... just ah It was just negative. I didn't want to be there. you know um Not that those guys are are... bad people or anything it just wasn't a good fit for me i didn't i didn't vibe with it
Aniz Lavji: At the end of the day,
Sunny Massera: Well.
Aniz Lavji: We have a very limited. amount of time on this planet.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And if you're going to be spending, like I was actually just saying on Tanika's podcast.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: For ASTA, you know, a few days ago we recorded that. you know We spend so much of our lives at work.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah.
Aniz Lavji: compared to how much time we spend at home with our families and everything. so if we're going to be here at work like i'm here on a saturday i'm working but If I'm going to be here, it better be worth it. and if, like I said, if you're waking up in the morning and you're getting that feeling that Oh man, you know.
Aniz Lavji: Hi, guys. It's Saturday. I got to go into work. This blows. if you're getting that feeling you better open your eyes and figure out what you want because Your time, you know we don't know what's going to happen today, tomorrow, next week. five years, 10 years down the line. So You got to think about now, if you're having that feeling now.
Aniz Lavji: make changes in your life.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah. Oh, yeah, exactly. Yeah. i mean if you don't like the room you're in find a better room as they say.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Which is true, which is so true. I mean, we i mean I definitely spend more time with my... My co -workers and I do with my wife, you know like
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I might we might get three or four hours with her in the evening, but like I'm at work 10 hours a day.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: so it's
Aniz Lavji: And then, you know, I'm not sure, do you have any kids, Sunny?
Sunny Massera: It matters.
Sunny Massera: My kids are all grown up.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: My daughter's still... My daughter still lives with me, but my son has moved out. He lives right around the corner, and I never see him.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: So.
Aniz Lavji: but But you know, some some people that have younger, like myself, I've got three younger kids.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: By the time I come home from work, I leave at 4 .30, get back. hour drive 5 30. you know, And if I'm late, there's traffic could be six.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: you know you start missing dinner and then you start missing bedtime routines and everything. So. you, it really makes you start realizing that, Hey, the this has to be worth it. You got to have that time for your family because.
Aniz Lavji: They're here today and value them and spend time with them today.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, yeah, well, you know, I was... When I had my first shop, I had it for about five five years. we did a lot of I did a lot of custom exhaust. and Hot Rod stuff. and regular maintenance on people's cars, but it was a saturated market.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I was at work for... I mean, I'd get to work at 7, 8 o 'clock, and I was there until 7, 8 o 'clock every day. and then drive on top of that there was about a three -year period i didn't I saw my kids maybe.
Sunny Massera: one day a week if they weren't doing sports things or whatever. And I was working, you know. 70 hours a week average.
Aniz Lavji: and How do you feel by by Friday?
Sunny Massera: Just to keep... Oh, I was... i was just I was exhausted, you know? I mean, luckily I was... I was a bit younger. I had a little more pep in my step. but
Aniz Lavji: But quality of life, right?
Sunny Massera: There's no way. account.
Aniz Lavji: what's What's the quality of life when you're working 70 hours a week?
Sunny Massera: Oh, there's...
Aniz Lavji: And. you know for example on that saturday let's say if someone called you up and said hey sunny you know let's go out for a drink or let's go out for good you're probably going to be in the position you're like i can't even move like i
Sunny Massera: second
Aniz Lavji: I just need to rest until Monday.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, there's a bit of that. I mean, I was working Saturdays a lot, too. So, you know, that's... That's one thing I've i've I ah won't work. I won't work on the weekends now. I just i have to have the time.
Sunny Massera: You know, i'm I'm in my mid -40s.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I can't. I can't do 70 hours a week. you know like
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: pushing 50 hours a week I can do but i have because I have a nice steady job where I'm not really exerting myself. you know. Well.
Aniz Lavji: but I now Now that you're you're working at the place you're at now, do you still... have that urge or feeling to get back into entrepreneurship for yourself again.
Aniz Lavji: um
Sunny Massera: Possibly. possibly um
Aniz Lavji: Were you kind of comfortable and... that where you are and it's kind of you know guaranteed paycheck and
Sunny Massera: Tell it.
Aniz Lavji: Just be able to coast it in.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Well, there's there's a bit of comfort and security in working for a big company that really does take care of their employees. like everybody that i work with is super happy it's one of the best places in my area to work
Aniz Lavji: There you go. the main thing.
Aniz Lavji: But see, you nailed it on the head. They... take care of you.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Okay, because there are a lot of places that Take care. of their employees with you know pizza parties but It's not all about that. it's it's It's about actually caring for them and caring about them.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, yeah, exactly. that's I've left. the most recent job I left was because there was this. facade of of uh caring, you know. and there was always the promise of this bonus or that or whatever and then You know, and then he takes us out to a steakhouse. We have a bunch of expensive drinks, but... Like, I'd rather take the 300 bucks you spent on.
Sunny Massera: on steak and and you know drinks for me. and put it somewhere else instead of just hanging out with you guys and then
Aniz Lavji: Put it towards my tool build.
Sunny Massera: Bye. Yeah, put it down on the on the truck, you know, like...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: like Or buy the tool I've been asking you to buy for the last month or whatever. you know so There is a bit of that.
Aniz Lavji: It is.
Sunny Massera: um the place I found myself at now is, is Ram. the The shop foreman is a technician. the He's been a technician for 30 years. and He runs that place. like He makes sure that our technicians are happy and we're all on the same team.
Sunny Massera: And we're a team, not just individuals.
Aniz Lavji: i Exactly.
Sunny Massera: which is good Which is good. We all help each other out. we try to get you know The harder projects done faster.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: You know?
Aniz Lavji: But your pay structure is...
Sunny Massera: together.
Aniz Lavji: Israel. running Like a team, right that's the thing.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Exactly.
Aniz Lavji: it's running as a team. So it's not like.
Sunny Massera: We're incentivized to be a team.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. so so basically if you guys are all helping each other and everything works out in a certain fashion where everyone's happy, everybody wins.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. oh yeah
Aniz Lavji: And there's no animosity where, oh, you know, I'm not going to help you. ah You heard Jeff talk about it all the time on his podcast that
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: you know Someone needs needs a push. I'm not helping them because... That's going to take 15, 20 minutes away. Right? So I'm not doing that. Right?
Sunny Massera: Yeah, that's That's not how it works at are at this place. i it's what I really like it. like we We are incentivized to help each other. and help get these projects done faster. and Because it's it's average pay. like if we do if we all help each other do more work faster then that's Everybody gets paid more. Everybody.
Aniz Lavji: And again, at the end of the day, everybody's doing. basically the same job. Okay. It's just a different repair order.
Sunny Massera: Yep. Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: and At the end of the day, if you're you're working this hard, you're speaking with so many different people. you You need to feel like what you're doing makes a difference.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Right? You can't...
Sunny Massera: We've got some noise going on.
Aniz Lavji: Oh, 100%. 100 %
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: but
Sunny Massera: We'll out. So... so um It's funny. I met Bakaru Bob um on on Facebook pages, and then he then he was on your guys' podcast.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Right after we talked. And then, so yeah, he's sponsoring me to go to ASTA, so I'll see you there in a couple of weeks.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, yeah, so I was going to talk to you about that.
Sunny Massera: It'll be pretty awesome.
Aniz Lavji: I saw that.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: I thought that was amazing, man. That's really cool, and congratulations. I think that's pretty cool, man.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, he offered he's like are you going as I was like can't really afford it, you know us Kind of had a gap in my work there for a couple months, so I was... I can afford part of it. He's like, i if you if you can get there, or I'll pay for you to get in. I was like, yes, sir.
Sunny Massera: I'll be there. I booked a ticket immediately.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, that's amazing, man.
Sunny Massera: So I'm excited to meet everybody. It's going to be fun. i'm I'm looking forward to getting some training for Brandon Steckler. That guy's amazing.
Aniz Lavji: Oh, he's a stud, man. Like, you're getting training from someone like that?
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: That's going to be... That's going to be incredible, right?
Sunny Massera: Yeah. yeah yeah I mean, I i i know how a scope works i i but i i want to know how a scope works not just kind of i don't want to guess at it
Aniz Lavji: No, exactly. and you know this kind of training you you're only going to be able to get it at places like this.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: You're not going to be getting this off a random Napa training that you're going to have to you know log into and watch on a screen. you can actually meet the people that are.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: building these huge programs, the people that are holding you know huge conferences and
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: you know, surrounded by people that are from this industry, supporting this industry. and want to do what's right for it.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Right, you know, there's only so much you can learn off a YouTube channel
Sunny Massera: Exactly.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I've been watching like Scanner Danner for... 10 years. And, you know.
Aniz Lavji: besides scanner data.
Sunny Massera: besides him, I learned a lot from him and like, you know, check engine Chuck or whatever, but.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. He's... he's ah He's on another level.
Sunny Massera: i'm I'm a more tactile learner. I need it kind of in front of me. like I spent a lot of time online learning how to tune.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: and it and some of it just didn't stick and i have to redo it and actually
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: apply it to the what I'm doing in the moment. for it to really like yeah for the group.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: I get the concept, but the actual application of it sometimes is a little bit... Um, hard it's It's hard to apply it when it's not right in front of your face. So i'm I'm excited about that and getting, you know, the networking and just getting to meet it.
Aniz Lavji: Oh definitely. Have you already sign up for our offices area.
Sunny Massera: and i'll get Okay. I have yeah. I'd have to look up with there. Brandon is one of them.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: They're mostly mostly technician classes. ah
Aniz Lavji: Anyone in particular that you're really excited about? or
Sunny Massera: Brandon Steckler, and then there was another one like I can't remember right offhand. But buckaroo Baba asked me he's like just pick whatever you think it is. I was like well You tell me. You're you're the trainer, too. like Yeah, how about we We went over it together and we picked out a whole.
Aniz Lavji: He knows everybody.
Sunny Massera: um you know. I picked out the whole schedule, so.
Aniz Lavji: If you've got advice from him on what to take, you're...
Sunny Massera: Not exactly.
Aniz Lavji: you're good to go.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, I think i think I'm going to fly down to Texas in April and and do some of his two -step training too.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, no Yeah, I think that'd be a great idea.
Sunny Massera: Since... it
Aniz Lavji: He does a really good job with that. that whole program. and when he was on our podcast before he did talk about it too which was it was really cool
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah, I'm excited to to meet him. and and ah Just the whole thing. like I hear ASTA is the super event. like besides Besides Apex, Apex is so big.
Sunny Massera: it's kind of diluted with all these companies and stuff
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: mean When I was there last year, that's where I met Jeff in person and Lucas and David. And Mike Allen, too. um
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Thank you. it It's just so busy there in Vegas with a with SEMA going on. it You kind of just get lost in the crowd.
Aniz Lavji: You can't really have a ah really...
Sunny Massera: And.
Aniz Lavji: good conversation there. it's it's very it may feel like rushed because you know there's tens of thousands of people there
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And, you know, there could be How many people that are waiting to talk to? Jeff or Mike or... uh lucas or david right and you know try to have a conversation with uh those I'll you know.
Aniz Lavji: those I call like celebrities because in the industry, I mean, they're they're up there. They're very well -known people.
Sunny Massera: Well, you know, it's funny.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: funny ah and There's like, I mean, maybe it's... This is a big industry, and most most technicians I've... i met shop owners i mean i literally ask people when i go into any and If I talk to any random tech or...
Sunny Massera: We're going to some shop for whatever reason. If I talk to them, I ask them if they've ever heard about the change in the industry. or legitimate mechanic and most of them have never heard of it.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I'm like, well, you need to listen.
Aniz Lavji: because they they were not in the tow truck like you were that one day randomly looking and finding it.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: because it's It's not going to just pop up. in I don't think... come I don't think these guys are doing sponsored ads on... you know, facebook and stuff like that it's it's more of you know if you know about them you join their group and then it branches out but It's not like something where they're...
Aniz Lavji: actively advertising out. you know Facebook ads and stuff like that. It's it's more they get found
Sunny Massera: Yeah. It's up.
Aniz Lavji: wow
Sunny Massera: what do they call it, organic engagement and the algorithm pushes their their their content forward, the more it gets popular, the more it gets popular.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. Yep.
Aniz Lavji: For sure.
Sunny Massera: I think it's pretty cool.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: and I mean, I try to share their stuff a lot.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Um. but I found that sometimes when I share a bunch of the... Podcast stuff, nobody responds at all. and like that's because i'm I mean, I have a bunch of car friends, but that we don't really interact on Facebook because...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: It's well except for all my new friends like you
Aniz Lavji: go it Yeah, I think we've been talking almost every week, I think, for for a while now.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. No, it's great. i mean I love your perspective. I love what you're doing with your business. and you have a really good attitude
Aniz Lavji: Thank you. Thank you.
Sunny Massera: towards all of it you know you're you're excited and i like that i like to engage with people who are excited and wanting to move forward.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: and make things better. And that's what this is all about, right? It's just like, let's make everything better.
Aniz Lavji: For sure.
Sunny Massera: We like to fix stuff, right?
Aniz Lavji: a Yep. And I mean, I'm no technician by any means. I can i can change out a set of tires on a machine, no problem. but You know, don't ask me you to do your breaks because I'm i'm not going to do it right.
Sunny Massera: right
Aniz Lavji: But you know. But. the very important thing as an owner. I know the process. I know what it takes to get the job done.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: because I've been in the trenches with the ranchers like they say.
Sunny Massera: Well, yeah, there's there's ah there's all these different functions in our industry.
Aniz Lavji: And.
Sunny Massera: that you know.
Aniz Lavji: For sure. and a lot of Some owners, I'm not saying a lot, some owners. They'll just be in office like this and they don't go into the garage. and see what's going on.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: They'll just pick up the phone and... like hey you know uh why is that brake job taking so long what's going on But they don't understand that. you know, to do that job properly.
Aniz Lavji: it's not about taking off those rotors slapping on another set taking off the brake pads, slap another set in. and you know, five minutes, the thing's done. A lot of them. may put pressure on their text to do things faster, but they don't realize that.
Aniz Lavji: Those pins have to be removed properly. They have to be lubricated.
Sunny Massera: Oh, yeah.
Aniz Lavji: the boots if the boot is ripped replace them the clips may not fit properly on the aftermarket pads that you know, were ordered.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: There's so many different things that go into.
Sunny Massera: Cleaning your hub, you know.
Aniz Lavji: think Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Okay.
Aniz Lavji: Cleaning up the hub. And then all of a sudden. you've got a caliper that's leaking and there extends the job. Bye. if you are aware of all these factors that go into just doing a break job.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: When you're quoting this job, you can tell the customer hey you know this is going to take some time because we can run into something.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: But if you don't give that expectation to the customer. then they're expecting that job to be done liquidy split. And then now you're under pressure. And then that's where you start. barking at the tax state. Why isn't it done? Why isn't it done?
Aniz Lavji: So, Hmm. As an owner, I want to make sure that I am very aware. of how things run in the shop. on All the jobs. I want to know.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: beforehand like what can we run into And if I've already had experience selling this job, I know that this is going to take some time.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: But just this little thing, if a lot of owners did that.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: And that's just one other way to support your technician because then your technician knows that. you know my boss or my service advisor is you know we're on the same page that this is going to take some time i'm not going to be getting a call after 20 minutes of lift in the vehicle is the car done. they're going to know that, you know.
Aniz Lavji: I need time to fix it correctly.
Sunny Massera: yeah Yeah, and also, you know, a good a good owner or a boss or shop manager will will understand what the... the technician where they're at and they're... but you know what uh what they can do and what they're there.
Aniz Lavji: their abilities too.
Sunny Massera: capable of so Kind of playing with that. and under or understanding what their able to do and how fast they work. and you know, like i've seen texts not want to say like they run into a problem.
Sunny Massera: They don't want to tell anybody.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: because it just makes them look bad or or that it won't be received like, oh, just fix it. And it's like, well, I need more parts or I need more time. So there has to be a...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: There has to be a give and take there in communication of... of like you know
Aniz Lavji: Definitely.
Sunny Massera: And I've worked for people that just didn't even want to hear it. They're like, just fix it. I'm like, well, you didn't give me the right parts. or You know, it's... so Yeah, communication is a big part of it. And that helps with the culture, and you know, having people that are not afraid to.
Sunny Massera: Just... talk to each other about the current problem. or work through a problem that hasn't happened yet.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: If you're not able to communicate.
Sunny Massera: No.
Aniz Lavji: with your technicians, with your front of house, the back of house, if they're not all on the same page you know besides that particular repair in general.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Mm -hmm
Aniz Lavji: And if if there's no you know kind of chain of command or. If you don't even have like a chat group or some kind of immediate way of communicating with your fellow technicians or anything from the front and back.
Aniz Lavji: you know, things get said that may seem wrong when you're seeing it out loud. you know Like, if if you're not... if you're not on the same page with your technicians what i'm trying to say is you're going to start getting friction and that's where you get.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah.
Aniz Lavji: technicians that are going to jump ship.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: because it's not always about the extra.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: five bucks I make here or four bucks I make here. Many technicians I've talked to would rather make five bucks less. but really enjoy where they work.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah. Absolutely.
Aniz Lavji: got And I think I can't remember I think it was Josh Parnell. i' I'm sure you've heard of Josh Parnell.
Sunny Massera: I know Josh too, yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, yeah. And i'm I'm pretty sure it was him that... I had a statistic that I think it was 1 out of 10, and you know just I'm pretty sure this is what Josh said. i'm I think pay was.
Aniz Lavji: around six or seven. It wasn't even in the top three.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. That's right.
Aniz Lavji: You can always make more money, but you can you know you don't always have the opportunity to work somewhere.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, once I
Aniz Lavji: that you really like and feel appreciated. And that out. outweighs the cash sometimes.
Sunny Massera: yeah Yeah, but i mean there's also the balance of like getting paid enough to be able to... you know Pay for your life. We go to work too.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah. But. But if you're happy where you're at means that you're getting paid enough.
Sunny Massera: pay to convert bases, right? Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: for you to be happy
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah. Sure.
Aniz Lavji: That's what I mean there. You always got to be paid what you're worth.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, no i followed
Aniz Lavji: but
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: Sometimes you may take a few bucks less or whatever. to just be happy where you are. I mean, I'm not saying you should be paid 25%. less to be happy. That's not what I'm saying.
Aniz Lavji: I'm saying if you're paid what you're worth and you're happy. is is worth more in my opinion than going somewhere else that's going to give you 15 bucks more. but they're going to work you to the bone. and you're not going to want to wake up in the morning and go to work.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. No, i absolutely.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: Totally agree with that. Yeah, I've uh... so In my particular case, um I've found that the... people I was in trying to work for were very undervaluing my my expertise.
Sunny Massera: and my time.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: And when I first moved to Oregon, and the first couple of jobs I had, they really just. I mean, I was Bowery. They were paying me what, you know, loop techs make. to work on a... $200 ,000 car they're like here take this Ferrari apart But like, I'm going to give you $24 an hour. I'm like, what am I doing?
Sunny Massera: Yeah, so i get ah so I get offered another job. That's like $2 more doing the same thing. I'm going to jump for two bucks.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: And then it turns out, you know, they Turns out neither of them were good jobs in the in the end. but
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: i did enjoy what i was doing but i you know i I can't go to work and you know, for a week and then not even have gas money at the end. So it's like.
Aniz Lavji: That's
Sunny Massera: And, you know, cost of living is just going higher and higher every day. So, like, the range the wage increase has to... Kind of keep up with that.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I had a job, I was working at ah an old shop, an independent shop. And when I... Well, my... Now, my good friend, he was the shop manager there. he had They had like seven hot rods sitting in this building they were not getting work done.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Well, they had like four other, you know, regular line texts. just doing the brakes and the engines and the timing belts and stuff and they didn't have a hot rod guy So they they spent about a month. calling me trying to get me to go work down there
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: And then they started me $5 less than I said I would. was willing to start at.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: And it took months for me to even get a 250 raise up to... Almost what I said I wanted to. be paid. And I fixed every problem car in and like, I mean, there was like.
Sunny Massera: 30s Plymouths and like a Bronco all taken apart and a Javelin and it was just crazy and and I got all these cars fixed and done and out and he made a lot of money. I i know what the ah ROs were on those things.
Aniz Lavji: yeah
Sunny Massera: My average ah r RO was like over $10 ,000 at that shop. But, you know, it was a three.
Aniz Lavji: It's amazing what that $2 .50. what it's worth to you what's worth for them, right?
Sunny Massera: Yeah. And part of part of it was just the respect factor. I'm like, I asked you for this and you're not giving it to me. And then six months later, you want me to be super appreciative of.
Aniz Lavji: ah
Sunny Massera: giving me a raise that didn't equal what I wanted to even start with. to start. So... Um. I... And I tried to... I tried it.
Sunny Massera: tell that guy about the industry and change the industry. And just like, there's conferences you can go to. There's. training we can all do.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: He had no interest in doing any of that. he Knew everything already. He was already like, you know. I'm doing it the right way
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: All right.
Aniz Lavji: i i thought i knew everything too about you know a year and a half ago and i didn't know shit
Sunny Massera: You have. Well. Well, you know, with the first three days I worked there, every employee in the place came to me and told me how how horrible of a job it was. And I'm like, well, why am I here? Why are you here?
Sunny Massera: Why are you telling me this after I got hired, you know?
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, you could have mentioned that earlier.
Sunny Massera: But... Yeah, and then my what my one buddy, who's he's a friend of mine. He works somewhere else now. but See ya. I think he finally realized... He finally did realize that he he was not... a His perspective because he was making it worse to worse for himself by hating it all the time And he was.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: You know, he was a shop foreman, so he was helping the other guys. and and selling work, but it was really weird you know you just come over every day and like come over to the building i was in and Just see how much he hated it. I'm like, well, that doesn't help my moral.
Sunny Massera: Morale. like
Aniz Lavji: No, no exactly.
Sunny Massera: I'm going to come over and talk smack about these guys. And want me to stay here, you know? Like, like what's going on, you know?
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: um
Aniz Lavji: That's definitely a toxic environment.
Sunny Massera: And... and Yeah, and these guys being in a toxic environment made it even more toxic. And so I left that place for another toxic environment.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, and you know, when it comes to raises and everything i mean like for for my place in particular you know usually at end of the year and Before my techs or whoever even.
Aniz Lavji: ask for a raise i already sit down with them and we go over the year and everything and they get raisin like
Sunny Massera: fair
Aniz Lavji: every year because I proactively give them raises because. if we had a good year and cost of living is going up.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: My expenses are going up. Their expenses are going up. So they need to make more money. And then we have that conversation about. you know, how the year went. And. you know what is in your mind what what what do you think is fair we just have that I don't think I've had longer than a 10 minute conversation.
Aniz Lavji: about raises because within 10 minutes we're like okay yep that's fair done it's going to be starting the first or second week of january and that's the end of the conversation because they know what this conversation proactively is coming up.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: That's really good
Aniz Lavji: Every year. uh
Sunny Massera: That's really good
Aniz Lavji: in December. So I don't have to have that conversation. in june or july and you know like my that my tech that's been with me
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: 16 years he knows in December. we're going to have that conversation.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: So it gets rid of the whole... oh you know should i ask him should i say no you're here for the long run In December, we'll have the same conversation like we do every year. And I take care of my people.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Well, it's a touchy subject to I mean people deal do with it in different ways. um For me, it wasn't even really about the... 250 or whatever it was more about the fact that he was purposefully not giving me what I asked in the first place.
Sunny Massera: Because if you'd just given me that...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Um. Or even close to that, have a conversation about it instead of just...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: kind of me waiting for my first paycheck and it being like not what i thought we agreed to and that's kind of My bad for not getting him, you know. an offer in writing.
Aniz Lavji: But I guarantee you when you got that first paycheck, if you would have made a big stink about it and be like. you didn't know You didn't do what you agreed to. I'm out. I bet you would have written a check for the difference right away. but it shouldn't.
Aniz Lavji: have come down to you
Sunny Massera: Exactly.
Aniz Lavji: telling him that that's the whole This is is's a principle of it. why does it take
Sunny Massera: Yeah, the principle, exactly.
Aniz Lavji: Why does it take the... technician to... you know ask for three bucks more or whatever it is And then they don't get it. And then they say, you know what?
Aniz Lavji: I'm getting an offer from somewhere else is giving me this. oh no don't leave okay let's sit down and talk i'll give you the three bucks But why the hell are you giving it to me now? but when i asked for it before it was a big problem but now that i'm leaving and you go work
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: and you're going to get screwed.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Now you want to give me the money.
Sunny Massera: Well the thing is the other part the other thing with that guy was he would short me on hours like I would be there 40 plus hours a week. i You know, I was there all the time. And if i was if I was gone a day, it would be accounted for.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: But then I'd get my check and it'd be like 36. the 30 and i was hourly i was not it wasn't flat rate
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: And I was there from 730 to 530 every day. barely took a lunch i just keep going you know like i sit down and eat but Like, I'm like, you know I'm here 40 plus hours. I just want my 40.
Sunny Massera: Why you... Pay me 36 or 37 or... or pay me 32 thinking I took a day off when he wasn't. even there that day himself. So I'm like every you know, after Bye.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I don't know, three or four pay cycles, I was like... you gotta You can't just short me every single time and then make it up to me.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Like when I call you out on it, like how many, and it turns out he was doing it to everybody in the company. like There's like five or six of us that work for him. And like, he's literally shooting.
Aniz Lavji: So five or six people. uh six hours a person times X amount of dollars.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. I mean it adds up quick. And I was just like, you know, it's it's not really the fact.
Aniz Lavji: very quickly.
Sunny Massera: It wasn't really the... The amount he was paying me, it was how he was paying me. And the fact that I had to call him out on it all the time. and it's just like this is this is just not good i was like oh And when I left, I was like, I hope you figure out a better path to run your business because this is not it.
Sunny Massera: And three of us left that same week.
Aniz Lavji: Now on that. On that note, if that person... you know would have gone to a conference like ASTA and been serious about it, take the management courses.
Aniz Lavji: you know sit sit in a class with Cecil. or It's a bull or something like that
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: and or or Rick White. sit in one of those two classes and
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: get some knowledge and get some pointers Hire a coach. If you're in that situation where you're you're running into...
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: employees that are saying you're not paying you properly you're not doing this you're not doing this and If you're feeling overwhelmed, get help. because your business is just going to go this way. It's a good hour.
Aniz Lavji: because people are not going to want to work for someone that's treating their employees like that.
Sunny Massera: You know...
Sunny Massera: i You know, I just don't think he cared enough like I told I was like you either there's all kinds of resources out there and this is even but this is a bit before I left.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I left. I didn't know any of the... the what I know now. about training or anything. But I have since went and I send him feeds all the time because I like the guy and I think he's a good person.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: But I just He thinks he knows everything about how to run a shop. And it's one of them. I would say lack of management styles, you know. Like he just. again good person but just i mean he's just floundering as a shop owner and i And I can recognize, like, I see some of the bad habits he had. I had them myself.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I at least took the... took it on myself to be like, okay, this is not. I'm not getting anywhere. I'm not making any money. I'm i'm working a job for myself.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: And I'm not building anything here, so I might as well just close it down and reevaluate. and uh He kind of took advantage of that the fact that I didn't want to work for myself And I liked the cars I was working on too.
Sunny Massera: I got to you know build some really cool cars.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: but I can do that anywhere.
Aniz Lavji: Of course, yeah.
Sunny Massera: Of course. he he's one of the He's actually one of the people I wish would go to training. I think he could run a business really well. But he's just not open to it. and Like, what do you do with somebody that doesn't want to? And you can lead a horse to water kind of deal.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, you can't force them to drink
Sunny Massera: Yeah, there's I think there's a lot of shop shop owners out there like that. who just Think they're doing just fine the way they are. And they're just.
Aniz Lavji: You know what?
Sunny Massera: You're getting by.
Aniz Lavji: They won't drink the Kool -Aid, man. that's the
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Just like Tanika, she's always talking about drinking the Kool -Aid.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, yeah. Cheers.
Aniz Lavji: If you don't want to have a sip. and get through one glass, you're not going to get through that jug of information because
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: There's a lot of information out there, but if you don't want to absorb any of it or be open to it, have an open mind. to get training and understand that you've got to be, like Mr. Parnell says, a lifelong learner.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: we're not going to be able to know everything ever. It's impossible.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah. There's no way.
Aniz Lavji: like You've got to be a lifelong learner and be open to the fact that you don't know everything. There is someone else out there that is running. a business better than you.
Aniz Lavji: is more successful than you.
Sunny Massera: sure
Aniz Lavji: But what is success to you?
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Exactly.
Aniz Lavji: okay That's something that a lot of owners, and I've had to discover that over the past couple of years too, like what is success? Right now. Success to me is Hopefully, you know we end up hiring this person.
Aniz Lavji: And I train them so I can step back a little bit. and be able to spend some more time with the family. That to me at the moment would be more success than anything.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah. Well, that's the most valuable. That's where you put place your value right now.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: your Your business allows you to have. The ability to take care of your family and the time. to spend with them. if you're spending more time in the business than you like. than with your families and yeah hiring a new person is a huge asset and that that success. getting that person into the position that you need them to be in.
Sunny Massera: so you can take the time to have the life you want.
Aniz Lavji: But see all
Sunny Massera: that's great
Aniz Lavji: All these thoughts and all these things all. all came from going to ASTA the first time last year.
Sunny Massera: Yeah
Aniz Lavji: Because when i when I went there, I went i went alone.
Sunny Massera: Oh yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And, you know, I was kind of like.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah. I heard them. I heard the podcast the other yesterday.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I listened to it. Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, and and you know, just like the short... short version is I went alone and
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: by By the end of it, i mean I left with so many friends, so many contacts that I can... balance ideas off and you know like you're this will be your first asta rig
Sunny Massera: Yep. Yep, that's right.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, you're you basically leave and you feel like you're part of a family. hey you're not you're gonna you may be going there alone but you're not because you i'll be there
Sunny Massera: Yeah, that's great.
Aniz Lavji: Frank's gonna be there. Buckaroo Bob's going to be there. So you're already going there and knowing so many people. So you're ah you're actually ahead of the game.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, no. um I'm excited. like i i want You know, get to meet Zeb. Zeb's... Zeb's a cold goat.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Dude, you know? and Get to have another beer with Jeff and see Lucas.
Aniz Lavji: I haven't been able to meet him in person yet.
Sunny Massera: I'm psyched. Plus the training I get.
Aniz Lavji: come
Sunny Massera: out but Never had any good training. I've tried to go to some of the Napa stuff. and uh well i did a world pack training but uh it didn't really stick like we're just in a classroom talking they're talking at me And it's not.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I don't know. It's not as, uh, now I'm, now I want to, like, I want to absorb everything I can. I spend a lot of time reading up on a lot of different subjects and like, you know, if I have a particular problem I go down the rabbit hole with it.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Like the other day, I spent three hours trying to figure out a canvas problem on it. 24 Malibu and it turns out it was just a dirty ground. Like... It's just like, oh my God.
Aniz Lavji: those dirty grounds.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, but now I know the system. Now I know next the next Malibu that comes in, I know exactly what to do. you know
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, you don't know what you don't know.
Sunny Massera: So.
Sunny Massera: But, i'm yeah, i'm I'm one of those people that just i cannot stop. absorbing stuff. I have to learn stuff all the time. Amen.
Aniz Lavji: And you know, when... when you go to this when you go to ASTA. The beauty of it is you're going to. gain all this knowledge from those courses. And the second you walk out.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: you meet people. and BAM You get more knowledge.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: everyone Everyone's talking and giving ideas. There's no... Um, There is some gatekeeping but you're you're going to get a lot of people that really want to help.
Aniz Lavji: They really want to.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: hear your story or hear, you know, Sunny, you've had, you had this issue with this. Oh, that's easy. uh you know if instead of doing it this way if you would have pulled this panel off There's two wires off to the right.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: the second one on the right if you would have just take this and did this or whatever Yeah, you could have done that three -hour job in about 20 minutes.
Sunny Massera: Right?
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: like Well, holy crap.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: There's that work my whole trip right there.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, yeah um
Aniz Lavji: I mean this and there's so much information outside of the classroom that it it It doesn't make sense until you're there. Because I can see it until I'm blue in the head, but...
Sunny Massera: Right.
Aniz Lavji: it it doesn't you won't be able to really understand what i'm saying until you're there and you know at the ah at night if you're at the bar or something and you're having a drink with someone and the knowledge you get with from everybody and everyone's really friendly.
Aniz Lavji: and Everyone wants to chat.
Sunny Massera: oh yeah
Aniz Lavji: and meet new people. and you know create their network of friends and peers right
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Yep. Yeah, that's what I'm... um Very excited about that part of it, too. I mean, I took myself to Apex last year, and like we said, it's just so many people there. it's It's really hard to connect with people on a one on one level.
Sunny Massera: And as soon as I heard about ASDA and just kind of looked into it.
Aniz Lavji: Definitely.
Sunny Massera: and The beat. It... Absolutely seems like... Well, I want to go to tools, but... You can only do so many things, you know.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, I miss tools this year as well.
Sunny Massera: so
Aniz Lavji: andm I'm hoping to go next year.
Sunny Massera: Are you going to go to Apex this year?
Aniz Lavji: tools that No, it's i can't I literally can't because it's in November.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yep.
Aniz Lavji: And winter tire season.
Sunny Massera: Mmm.
Aniz Lavji: Good. Yeah, we there's no way because we we go through 400 or 500 cars in a month.
Sunny Massera: Oh.
Aniz Lavji: And yeah, that cost me way too much not to be at the shop.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Sunny Massera: no That's it. i get that that's yeah i've i've uh I've heard about... Entire season in Canada, for sure. And we have tire season here too.
Aniz Lavji: oh it's wild
Sunny Massera: We're, uh...
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: We're out. It's November and I think April. we We're not allowed to run snow tires, you know from made of End of October, I guess.
Sunny Massera: So there's a big tire switchover thing. I worked in a i worked in a shop where we stored 1 ,000 sets of tires for people.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: And we do like, you know, in November. or late October, we'd end up doing a couple hundred sets of tires.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah.
Sunny Massera: i Don't miss that one bit.
Aniz Lavji: oh No, I can't imagine. and you know we're we're trying to separate. or staff so i like what i'd rather do is this season have my actual technicians and apprentices be just fixing cars not focusing on tires.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: And then just have a separate team of. tired guys that are just taking that over, right?
Sunny Massera: Right.
Aniz Lavji: so
Sunny Massera: Huh.
Aniz Lavji: So just trying trying trying different processes and procedures, which I've learned.
Sunny Massera: huh
Sunny Massera: Right?
Aniz Lavji: for going to the trainings and everything.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: One, I don't know if... The classes there this year is... a Becky Witt. i took I took that class last year.
Sunny Massera: She's a she's smart one there. That lady knows her stuff.
Aniz Lavji: She's a firecracker man, like
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: she's up I... You answer if you raise your hand answer questions just throw a freaking Twinkie at you And I'm not kidding. Like...
Sunny Massera: ah
Aniz Lavji: she she
Sunny Massera: That's awesome.
Aniz Lavji: Literally. If you're in the middle of class, you'd open up a box. And she throws a box behind her. And she's going around and someone says something. Whew! whips it right i mean you better be quick or you're gonna get nailed
Sunny Massera: ah
Aniz Lavji: and But, you know.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. look
Aniz Lavji: Excellent class. Excellent class.
Sunny Massera: I love her donuts series, like, just the the donuts thing is...
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah. I read them all the time.
Sunny Massera: Great.
Aniz Lavji: and and honestly if I didn't see the class this time, but if it was there I would have taken it again.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: I didn't see it either. I don't think I took that. I don't think I got. We got on board with that one.
Aniz Lavji: but But that was a lot of fun last year, but you know a lot of the trainers that are there this year
Sunny Massera: hu
Aniz Lavji: really, really good classes. and you know i'm I'm really glad that you're able to. to come this year because i think it's going to be a life -changing event for you man
Sunny Massera: Yeah, I think so. i'm I'm excited. I've been trying to tell the guys at work about it, and they're like, what? What is it? I'm like, dude, look it up. so i like so put it on the group text and they're like you know There's one guy that I work with who's a...
Sunny Massera: He just does the frame inspections and in UVIs. he's I think he's about 28, 29. But I can tell he's really sharp and he wants to learn more, but they've kind of got him.
Sunny Massera: Stuck in the position. He's in So I've been, like, feeding him, like, bits of information.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Like, here, read this Scanner Danner. Like, I got the Scanner Danner book.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: I gave it to him. and I send him videos and stuff he should watch.
Aniz Lavji: We'll see what you're doing right now.
Sunny Massera: And.
Aniz Lavji: is you are changing the industry Because you're doing that for him.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: and other technicians. may want to gatekeep and not try to bring up this industry in a way by just helping one person like you know, Hey John. you Check out this.
Aniz Lavji: Here's a book. Read it. It's going to help you.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: It costs nothing to be kind.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, exactly.
Aniz Lavji: It costs nothing to be kind and you never know.
Sunny Massera: Exactly. I love teaching.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, and you you never know the one time you may need some help that person that you just gave this book to or you just gave them a couple tips. and they might Sonny, you need a hand? okay Hold my beer. I'm on my way. I'm going to give you a hand because you have that mutual respect. You're both helping each other.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Okay.
Sunny Massera: yeah
Aniz Lavji: And that's one thing. that this industry needs more of. is technicians helping each other, shop owners helping each other. There are more cars on the road then there are shops to fix.
Sunny Massera: Oh absolutely.
Aniz Lavji: There's lots of cars for everybody.
Sunny Massera: Absolutely.
Aniz Lavji: But if we all come together and. help each other with information. distribute and information responsibly.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Okay. what What I'm doing on this podcast, it's fun. If I'm able to help one person.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: I'm happy I don't care about uh getting rich off podcasts i mean that's not why we do this
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: Okay, we we do this, Frank and I do this because we really enjoy it.
Sunny Massera: Right.
Aniz Lavji: And. if one person messages and says man you know i got a really good idea from your podcast Okay, man. we We did it right then.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And that's it.
Sunny Massera: Not. I think it's great. I really enjoy listening. From when I found your guys' podcast along with all the other ones, that it really... ah It just continues a positive conversation in the right direction. So we're all talking about...
Sunny Massera: the the right things. and doing the right thing for each other and the industry. and and pushing a - a - a good dialogue, you know?
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: Um.
Aniz Lavji: keep the dialogue open.
Sunny Massera: I have a good time. with one I try to get on podcasts. I think this is my fourth podcast with, you guys with you know.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: And I'm just I think it's great. i I think we all need to share our stories. And. Help each other, you know move forward, you know, it's it's great a
Aniz Lavji: everyone's got a story and you know we try to keep a platform open where you can share it and Just really feel part of the industry and not just an outsider, right?
Sunny Massera: Yeah. what's i mean i've been in shops for almost 30 years and i've never felt a community like i do now But I'm not even in a shop with everybody.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: We're all in shops. spread all over the country. But we're all in the same room together. You know.
Aniz Lavji: Like now...
Sunny Massera: trying to make it better.
Aniz Lavji: At this point, like, you know, I've got so many contacts and now I've got you as well. and like if i had a ah car come in that had a weird issue and it's a Toyota, Nissan, Honda or something.
Aniz Lavji: I've got guests that I've made friendships with that I could just. send a quick text and be like you know hey have you ever seen this oh yeah it's uh take out the rear tail light there's probably uh this that's wrong with it and you know And vice versa, like we work on a lot of electric vehicles.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And if somebody had a question like that, they can always reach out and, you know, we all help each other.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: But that's the only way that you're going to move this industry forward. is if you actually care and help.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Right.
Sunny Massera: Exactly.
Aniz Lavji: So. Oh, God.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: But...
Sunny Massera: yeah Nice.
Aniz Lavji: um But, you know.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, so and that's that's what I like, um getting to meet all these different professionals at different places in the industry. you know like Um, like a toyota technician or accurate technician or like now you have a hot rod technician like
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: um performance stuff, you know, old muscle cars, like that's my bag. Like I know them very well.
Aniz Lavji: They're all different experiences.
Sunny Massera: So. Exactly.
Aniz Lavji: but we're all working on pieces of metal at the end of the day.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah, and, you know, it's interesting to see, like... i think the the I see the industry going as... All of us that are are trying to network and make it better and fix it.
Sunny Massera: We're going to continue to grow and stay relevant. and and
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: But with the technology, because we're trying and there's a lot of shops of. They're just going to fall off. They're not going to be able to keep up and people are going to start to realize like, oh, these guys can't really work on my car.
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: You know for whatever reason there's ah various reasons that's gonna happen so
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. Yeah, it's
Sunny Massera: It's... I saw it coming. years ago like you know we all need to stay relevant or get left behind.
Aniz Lavji: It's interesting you said that because just um just yesterday my dad was telling me you know there's two or three shops that have opened up and two or three different tire shops and And I said, well, okay, where are they? They're here.
Aniz Lavji: Okay. And I look him up and. you know, they're just getting off their feet. And then you look at what they're doing. They're advertising the shop layout and everything. And I'm like, None of my customers are going to go to this place anyways.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: they're going to be working on cars that we've worked on 15 years ago our clientele you know i don't I don't get scrappy cars coming into my place. and judging by a lot of these places that are opening up which to no fault of their own.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
Aniz Lavji: It it takes a lot to start a business up.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: They're going to be starting off with those, you know, 98 civics and 2002. Ultima is, you know, cause you got to start somewhere, but. you know, those are vehicles that we don't even get in our shop anyway so i don't even pay attention to them
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: I would just give kudos to them for trying to get into this industry because it's not easy. It's not easy to survive.
Sunny Massera: It's not I mean in having a good structure knowing the customers you want and what you're willing to
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: what you're willing to do. You know, if somebody comes in, they want to. you had to patch their tire on their ball for that four ball tires and they want you to patch a tire and it's like well You need four new tires.
Sunny Massera: And if they're not...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: if they're not on board with that then it's kind of like well like you know What do you want me to do for you?
Aniz Lavji: that That's exactly.
Sunny Massera: let's
Aniz Lavji: Funny as you mentioned that is this morning had a Chevy Cruze come in. and frank when you listen to this i know you're going to get excited because i said the word
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Chevy Cruze.
Sunny Massera: He likes it.
Aniz Lavji: Yes, we had a Chevy Cruze come in, Frank.
Sunny Massera: He likes those things. God.
Aniz Lavji: And. he had a nail on his back tire, completely bald. I said, I can't fix it because it's not safe for you or I. uh your other three tires are bald as well you need a set he's like all right so That was the end of that, right?
Aniz Lavji: But giving the proper advice and doing right by the customer, right?
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: That's what this is all about.
Sunny Massera: Well, average... advocating for the the customer the car and the in the general public you know like I'm not going to just do a pad slap on the car because you can only afford new break just brake pads.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. We don't install outside parts or nothing.
Sunny Massera: It's like, well.
Aniz Lavji: Cause it's just not.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And we know how to say no to a customer. that we think is going to be trouble. We're okay saying no to...
Sunny Massera: You know that's...
Aniz Lavji: a customer.
Sunny Massera: we're We're... At my shop, we're pretty good about, you know, like, oh, you want us to work on your 07 Sorrento? Like, no thanks. But we did recently hire a new service rider who's let a couple of cars through the door that we're like.
Sunny Massera: You know, they're going to spin. $5 ,000 to fix their Oh, seven Sorrento or there. 2009 Elantra, like...
Aniz Lavji: Yep.
Sunny Massera: That totaled the car. Just... just changing the oil total of the car you know cost of whatever
Aniz Lavji: Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Maybe that's a little extreme, but... like those vehicles shouldn't be in our shop we work on new cars and high -end hot rods and muscle cars and End.
Aniz Lavji: Stay in your lane and don't deviate to the wrong highway.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Basically.
Sunny Massera: Yeah, like
Aniz Lavji: what it is.
Sunny Massera: there's been a couple customers that got there brought their cars in recently and we're like you know what you should literally just trade this thing and don't spend it don't spend a dollar with us Go to the front of our...
Aniz Lavji: Yeah. Yep.
Sunny Massera: our business and trade it in and we'll get you a different car And then we take that 40.
Aniz Lavji: I've done that many times.
Sunny Massera: Well.
Aniz Lavji: I've done that many times. I've had customers come in and
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: they'll have a four or $5 ,000 estimate. And I'm like, look you know, Bob It doesn't make sense to fix this car. It's got 250 ,000 on it.
Sunny Massera: Yep.
Aniz Lavji: you're and and they'll agree they want to spend the five six grand i'm like you're putting good money after bad money and you know they appreciate the advice
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Yeah, that's... ah i've I've told I've told quite a few cars for various reasons just be like you you know like Your money would be best. spent somewhere else. you know.
Aniz Lavji: So, Sonny, in closing, one thing I want to ask you is. If you had to give a piece of advice to a technician or an owner. that Actually, wellll we'll go with this because right now you're you're a technician.
Aniz Lavji: what's one piece of advice that you could give to
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: and aspiring technician that wants to get into this industry. What's one thing that you can tell them that you wish maybe someone would have told you a while ago.
Sunny Massera: Get... As much training as possible. I mean. Yeah, go to go to... events like ah tools ASTA or there's tons of online training. But get as much training as you can and learn as much as you can. Find a subject you like.
Sunny Massera: and go down the rabbit hole with it. become an expert in that one system or that one type of work. And then when you feel proficient at it. Find another thing to be good at. just you know We have to keep learning. that's that's that's what it is a lot of people are happy just hanging parts but like If you want to be satisfied in what you're doing.
Sunny Massera: Learn as much as you can. that's That's... ah It took me a long time to learn how to learn, you know?
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, 100%. No, that's, I think that's great advice. Yeah, man. that's I don't think I could have said it better myself, buddy.
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Well, you know.
Aniz Lavji: of
Sunny Massera: and watch.
Aniz Lavji: So I...
Sunny Massera: I've learned the hard way.
Aniz Lavji: Oh yeah, we all do. Uh,
Sunny Massera: Right?
Aniz Lavji: In closing, everyone. you know if you want to visit ASTAUSA .org. ASTA conference is next month in North Carolina.
Aniz Lavji: Definitely. Come see us if you're going to be at the conference. uh you know even if you're just booking a ticket alone you're not alone you already know me Sonny's gonna be there.
Aniz Lavji: Frank's gonna be there with me.
Sunny Massera: We'll be there.
Aniz Lavji: And, you know, really. If you're feeling nervous about it, you know send me a message i'm sure you can send sunny a message about it and you know we can all get together.
Aniz Lavji: more than welcome to make new friends. And I think it would be something. that would be very beneficial to anyone in the automotive repair industry. to go to ASCA next month.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: So you can go on Google's ASTA. and North Carolina, get some more information. I already said the website. and Yeah.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: i
Sunny Massera: it's it's It's a must.
Aniz Lavji: I, uh, it's a, it's a...
Sunny Massera: i'm I'm excited to be here. We're going to have a beer and talk about talk shopping.
Aniz Lavji: Oh, we're gonna have a couple, that's for sure.
Sunny Massera: Make new friends. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. Yeah, I'm excited. I was hoping Frank was going to join us today. but ah
Aniz Lavji: I messaged him earlier.
Sunny Massera: We're good.
Aniz Lavji: his tight Saturdays, are he's with his family and stuff, and I just ended up having some time today that just worked out. but
Sunny Massera: Once with, yeah.
Aniz Lavji: Sonny, thank you so much for joining us, man. I know you're three hours behind.
Sunny Massera: Well, thank you for having me.
Aniz Lavji: Yeah, don for sure, man.
Sunny Massera: Thank you. and yeah My wife.
Aniz Lavji: Well...
Sunny Massera: Yeah. Cool. We'll see you soon.
Aniz Lavji: We'll have to get you back on here again one of these days, but we'll be seeing you next month.
Sunny Massera: Yeah.
Aniz Lavji: And appreciate it. Everyone that's listening, this episode will be uploaded. You can take a look at it on the Shop and Trend Talk podcast. Facebook site and we're also on YouTube.
Aniz Lavji: Thank you very much. Sunny, hang on the line. We'll get this uploaded.
Sunny Massera: Sure.
