“Awe, look at that little mechanic in the making!,” is a comment that Andrew and I regularly hear from people when our son is in tow. In an effort to be polite, our response is often something like, “Well, we’ll see.” We realize people are just making “daddy’s little boy” conversation, however, it’s actually a challenging issue for us.
Tag Archives: small business
Understanding the Inner-workings of The Mechanic
Andrew is a resilient man – not impenetrable, but very humanly resilient. He commits to a task and he gets it done. His motivation stems from the heart. For him, it’s less about the cars and more about the people that drive them.
A Day in the Life: The Family Business Mom
We are a family business, and not just in the sense that Andrew and I are a husband and wife running a business, but because we are a family who truly cares about you and your family.
Business & Family Defeat Challenges
2017 has started as a very interesting year for our shop. Andrew and I welcomed our son, Arthur, into the world on February 8th. On February 12th I ended up in emergency surgery and then in and out of ICU for nearly 3 weeks with a severe infection.
The Meaning of “Family Business” Success
When we say we value our customers we mean it…and we try hard to show it without being overbearing. We truly care about each individual customer. Most people do not expect this from an auto repair shop and, it seems by people’s reactions, many people have not experienced this previously at an auto repair shop.
The Difference Between a Mechanic and a Craftsman
There’s a difference between “getting the job out of the door” and working with an approach of craftsmanship. Both approaches “get the job out,” but craftsmanship, while it usually takes longer, yields better long term results.
Challenges and Changes in a Mom and Pop Shop [We Like Mike]
On June 1, 2016, we brought on Mike Traher to Marinelli Auto Service. As soon as we did, the phone began ringing off the hook to the point where we had to make another big decision: to add a second phone line, which was a significant addition to our monthly expenses. However, it was a lot better than constantly returning your phone messages or waiting for one of us to get off the phone in order to make an important call.
My Life as a Mechanic’s Wife
While I’ve never been opposed to working in a male dominant industry, it just never occurred to me (because of my interests and abilities) that I ever would. However, now that I am working alongside Andrew at the shop full-time, I’ve become increasingly aware that I’m a minority in this industry.
Life Transitions and Paying Bills in a New Business
Change is abounding at Marinelli Auto Service. I’m leaving my job to help at the shop more, which has caused Andrew and I to reconfigure how we’re going to pay our bills.
How Marrying A Mechanic Changed My Life
As a little girl I imagined marrying a business man, much like my father. As a college student I was sure I’d marry a man doing full-time Christian ministry or a missionary. Instead, I married a mechanic. Even more to my surprise, my husband’s profession has become a part of my own identity, just as much as my own job has.