Sunday in the Park... With Whom?

Every so often... Actually, more like two or three times a year, my wife gets an uncontrollable urge to visit the Descanso Gardens in La Canada/Flintridgem, just off the 210 Freeway.


If you're from this part of Southern California you are probably already familiar with the Gardens. If you aren't, you should be.

If you aren't from Southern California, it's probably someplace you should visit if you ever find yourself out this way and you have the time. Once the private estate of a wealthy businessman, it's a magical place now open to the public.

I say it's magical for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it is one of the few places my wife can drag me where the show of resistance is pretty much just that... a show. The Gardens sprawl over acres and acres of what was at one time California chaparral and as much of a forest as you will ever find out here.


Now, there are formal gardens  everywhere: Roses, Irises , Chrysanthemums, Lilacs... Koi Ponds, a formal Japanese Garden, a new gallery, just about the only Gift Shop I will ever enter willingly, and much more.

It's magical for another reason and that is, if the gardeners and horticulturists at Descanso can't find a way to make it grow, no one else will and you aren't likely to find it anywhere else!

Frankly, I'm not muchof a "flower" or "garden" kind of a guy. It is not the way I would choose to spend a Sunday afternoon. Certainly, not a Sunday afternoon during the Stanley Cup Playoff's!



It doesn't matter how incredible someone's mansion might be, either. And, this one is really quite amazing - the fact of the matter is, you can only wander through a house like that so many times before you've seen just about everything there is to see. So, that isn't what allows Lesley to "win" every time she decides to drag me down the Freeway to commune with nature for an afternoon.

It isn't the Snack Shop, even thought it's run by one of L.A.'s better restaurant groups. It's the fact my blood pressure drops more than a dozen points the minute I clear the driveway. It's the families you find yourself surrounded by, speaking more languages than you can recognize, enjoying the same fresh air, the same delicate beauty, the same quiet peace. It's the little kids chasing butterflies or reaching out to touch a flower or looking down into a pond to stare at a giant Carp staring right back at them.

Today, was Earth Day and the Gardens were celebrating - something I wasn't even aware of when we left the house. There was entertainment all afternoon, along with a barbeque. The band was fun and the constant flow of music: music that never stopped all the time we were there, ranged from Country, to Folk-Rock, to Country-Rock, to Blue Grass, to Classic Rock, and then some.

The sun was shinning. The weather was good. The breeze was light. The sun was out. The Gardens were magnificent. And, the shop with all it's challenges and mysteries disappeared from my thoughts, if only for an afternoon.

It was the music and the grounds, the flowers and the people, and Lesley and me holding hands and walking the trails. It was peaceful and quiet and introspective and spiritual: all the things the work week generally isn't!

It was one of those rare experiences where the sum of the parts really was greater than the whole: where a few hours at Descanso actually equalled more than an entire weekend of 'time off.'

Sure, it was a Sunday in the park with Lesley... And, with everyone else who might have been there. But, even with all the help of an army of groundskeepers, gardeners and horticulturists, it was more. It was an afternoon in the park with something greater, something that could actually force you to stop the rushing and the racing around long enough to admit that there is something special at work all around us all the time, and whatever you choose to call it: whether you call that something special God or Nature or whatever else you can think of, whatever it is, it's pretty spectacular!


So, my prescription for a weary spirit or a heavy heart: my prescription for a week like last week or a year like last year, is at least two hours at Descanso Gardens - or, a place near you very much like it, taken at least twice a year.

And, if that doesn't do it... call me in the morning.

Elemental...

 Fire... Water... Earth... Wind... Metal...

Not necessarily something you would expect to find in an article dealing with vehicle care, wear, damage, service and the need for periodic scheduled maintenance.

Nevertheless, here we are...

Why? Because believe it or not, it seems like the easiest and best way to make the case for regularly scheduled service.

Let's start with Fire.

Fire...

The natural enemy of all things mechanical is thermal damage and heat. If your vehicle is powered by fossil fuels: if it is either diesel powered or powered by an internal combustion engine, it has moving parts and depends upon combustion - an explosion and controlled burn - to generate the energy necessary to power that vehicle down the road.

Regardless of how well lubricated or how efficient the cooling system, the result of both is high temperature: intense heat. Uncontrolled, high temperature is both dangerous and costly

Water...

  

As long as we're talking about Cooling Systems... Most vehicles today are "Water Cooled:" engine temperatures are controlled (reduced) by circulating liquid through passageways in the engine block and cylinder head.

Plain water - even distilled water - is insufficient. Contemporary engine temperatures are far too high, even when operating within normal ranges and the boiling point of water is far too low. To raise boiling points high enough to accommodate contemporary engine designs manufacturers began adding chemicals specifically designed to accomplish that one goal by raising the boiling point of the liquid in the system.

Because of the increased use of dissimilar metals in engines and cooling systems today and the functional properties of a liquid rushing through the engine under pressure (cooling system boiling points are raised approximately 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit for every additional pound of pressure) and at relatively high speed demanded the introduction of a palette of chemical compositions and colors reminiscent of a rainbow. Each is different and many are vehicle or manufacturer specific.

There are all kinds of different chemical additives used in coolant compositions today, but the most important thing you can do is be sure the 'right' coolant finds its way into the right vehicle!

The most important thing for us to recognize is that heat (temperature) and oxygen (air) are the cooling system's mortal enemies and that over time the quality, composition, integrity and performance of the coolant and the cooling system will degrade (We can talk about electrolysis another time).

Earth...

I guess you can translate this any way you want to, but "Earth" to me is synonymous with "dirt" and dirt and engines - or, anything constantly in motion  - don't go well together.

Engines today are clearanced - built to exacting design specifications - to ensure the highest performance, greatest economy and longest service life. That is, of course, if they are 'properly maintained,' which is what this series of Counter-Intuitive articles is all about.

That's a long way around the barn to say they are "tight:" built with just enough clearance to accommodate the lubricants that help reduce friction and prevent the engine from burning itself up. Introduce contaminants into the crankcase and allow them to build up over time and you will find yourself confronted with unnecessary and potentially catastrophic repair bills.

Today's lubricants are highly effective. They have enhanced friction reducing capabilities and film strength enhancing additives to fight the effects of high temperature operation and oxidation. But, they still must be drained and refilled on a regular basis in order to remove contaminants that will inhibit performance, cause premature wear and ultimately cause failure. It’s a simple fix that can and will extend the vehicle’s service life while reducing overall cost of operation.

Wind... (Oxygen)

Oxygenation, in conjunction with temperature and all the other chemicals, minerals, liquids and metals in the engine and cooling system, is a real problem - not necessarily in and of itself – but, in the way it interacts with every other element accelerating performance degradation.

If you're not convinced, take any untreated metal and expose it to the elements - air included - and, watch what happens. Introduce temperature and untreated liquids and the recipe for failure and consequential damage and expense increases exponentially.

Low oil level in the crankcase – too much air, not enough lubricant – can cause a laundry list of problems all related to lack of lubrication. Too much oil in crankcase – not enough air – causes churning, foaming and lack of lubrication.

Too much air drawn into the engine in relation to the amount of fuel – often referred to as a “Lean” Condition – can cause higher temperatures, poor performance, low fuel economy and misfiring. Not enough air – known as a “Rich” Condition – can cause problems of a different sort equally as difficult and challenging.

Too much air in your tires can cause a harsh ride, lack of control and uneven tire wear. Not enough will cause reduced fuel economy, a different kind of uneven tire wear and a host of other problems.

Like all things in life balance is the key!

And, finally…

Metal…

      

It should go without saying that even with the introduction of lightweight, space age plastics, cars and trucks are mostly metal of one kind or another.

It’s the “one kind or another” that gets you!

Dissimilar metals used in conjunction with each other: an aluminum engine block, steel crankshaft; copper and brass used in gaskets, seals and additional components; compound alloys, etc. can lead to all kinds of problems, especially when liquids are involved.

The first battery was made up of two different metals immersed in salt water.

Add the natural occurrence of metal fatigue, wear, oxidation, particulate matter, contamination, and you have the potential for chaos in your driveway.

The answer is care, maintenance and periodic inspection. It’s all the insurance you will ever need provided the vehicle you are driving was engineered intelligently and manufactured carefully.

We will talk more about each one of these elements and the many and different ways they interact and work together as the series continues…

Photo Credits: Bosch, Airtex and Schneider's Automotive

The Last Place I Looked...

I just spent the better part of two-and-a-half hours looking for a piece of paper, albeit an important one...

I went through my desk in the back office: the office that was my Mother's not all that long ago... I went through every drawer, meticulously emptying everything; then, putting it all back. I found "stuff" that hadn't been touched by human hands in a decade! I found "stuff" I've been looking for - OK, not all that aggressively - but, still: "stuff" I was actually happy to have found.

Unfortunately, none of it had anything to do with my quest.

I cast my eyes to the double-wide, sliding door cabinet immediately to my left. Again, I found "stuff" that would actually be considered 'classic' in another year or two, other "stuff" that qualifies as 'antique' even now. I've filled and emptied two five-gallon garbage cans twice. That's twenty gallons of paper and junk in what's supposed to be a "paper-less society!"

Still, that one wicked, miserable, folded, "safely stored" and elusive sheet of paper mocks me!

In frustration, I took the cabinet to my right apart: rearranged the binders, threw out more useless paper and more than a few ancient periodicals... I even dusted while I was in there just to make it looked as if someone was actually in there.

People standing at the counter stared at me shaking their heads, wondering... "Who is that maniac in the office? Is he OK? Does he know he's mumbling to himself? Someone ought to watch him so he doesn't hurt himself..."

The afternoon summed up in a word: Unsuccessful!

The harder I look, the more frustrated I get: the more frustrated I get, the harder it is to look.

Pretty good definition of a "Vicious Cycle" if you ask me!

It's my fault... I know it and have no excuse. Explanations, perhaps. But, excuses? None...

You see, I have a bad habit... I write things down to ensure I won't forget them.

You're probably thinking to yourself, what's wrong with that? Writing stuff down so you won't forget is a good habit, not a bad one. I'd agree, the only problem is how and where I write things down. I collect 6"x9" notebooks... lots of them.

I've always got one with me - Well, just about always. The only problem is because I have more than one and because I tend to leave them everywhere so I don't have to look for one when I need it, it's not always the same one I just finished writing in.

That can make consolidation a real adventure and retrieval damned near impossible!

I went home last night thinking - and, writing - about all of this. I gave up my quest and was actually able to reconstruct the information I searched for all afternoon from memory, in part because I had written it down at some point.

I'll probably continue to look because frankly, I can't help myself. And, ultimately, I'll find what I'm looking for. I'm sure of it...

We'll meet somewhere... Here at the shop, perhaps at an industry event some time in the future and you'll stop me and probably ask if I ever found that elusive piece of paper and I'll probably answer, "You know, I did! It was in the last place I looked!"

And, then you'll probably just stare at me and say, "Of course, it was! How many people do you know who keep looking for something after they've already found it!"

Dawn of Yet Another New Day?

I'm sitting outside the Starbucks at the Simi Valley Town Center freezing my "gotchkas" off... Well, not exactly.

It's 'brisk,' not exactly freezing...

 I'm working on a Grande Verona getting ready for a BNI: Business Network International, meeting to start. Like most things in my life, I'm early... Really, early!

In all honesty, I spent the first five minutes in the parking lot watching the sun come up thinking about the beginning of yet another new day.
It is inspiring... Not necessarily the beginning of "yet another new day:" more, the sun rising in the East on another beautiful Southern California morning.

That's what's inspiring. That, and the Grande Verona!

I don't know what the people who awaken long after the sun comes up do to get their day started. For me, being a "morning person" has never been much of an option. Going to work when it's dark and coming home in the dark are pretty much just a given and to be really honest, I'm not going to tell you I've always stopped to marvel at the magnificence of each new sunrise. I haven't... Not, always, anyway. This is a fairly new phenomenon, but one that I plan to indulge while I still can.

You see I'm starting to believe that each new day brings with it the opportunity for just about anything and everything we would like it to be: anything any one of us could imagine, anything any of is disciplined and determined enough to create.

The sun does it's part... The rest is up to us.

The hard part is resisting the urge to let yesterday interfere with today... Because what we do right now will determine both what the future and the past is going to look like. I don't know about you, but that's what I'm going to be thinking about when I stare into the sky tomorrow morning...Mitch

Creative Tension

Creative Tension…

They call the strain that manifests itself when you’re trying to reconcile your “Current Reality” – where you find yourself in life at any given moment – with your Vision for the future, “Creative Tension.”

Tension, because of the pressures leaving your comfort zone to do new and different things brings with it: creative, because of the new and different things you generally have to do in order to transcend your current reality.

Most of us have experienced “Creative Tension” at one time or another in our lives; we just didn’t know it had a name. It’s that uneasy, uncomfortable feeling that washes over us every time we challenge ourselves with something new, something different, something more.

My entire professional life has been filled with creative tension. It’s an integral part of the changing technology that is the automotive service aftermarket and the many different hats I’ve learned to wear moving from ‘pump jockey’ to ‘driveway salesman;’ ‘mechanic’ to ‘technician’ and, then, ‘shop owner;' ‘trade journalist’ to ‘seminar facilitator’ to ‘author.’ It’s become a natural element of remaining successful in an infinitely changing environment, a survival skill in an ever-changing world.

A natural element of my creative tension is leaving the shop. I say that as if leaving is a ‘bad thing.’ It’s not… Not if you’re leaving for training, education or to expose yourself to new and different ideas all focused on creating a better experience for everyone involved in your business: clients, associates, vendors… everyone.

OK… Leaving for vacation every once in a while isn’t such a “bad thing” either! But, either way, leaving still involves not being there and not being there is still stressful. 

Being someplace else, doing something else – regardless of what that ‘something else’ might be. Even in a digital world, your physical absence still involves some loss of connection, which is generally accompanied by a fair amount of discomfort.

The stress I feel isn’t due to lack of confidence in our people… Nothing could be further from the truth. We have a great crew and as different as our backgrounds and experience might be we all have one thing in common. We all have a profound and very personal sense of what it is to serve. We’re all proud of the profession we’ve chosen as well, and approach what we do deliberately with enthusiasm and a real understanding of the responsibility we’ve accepted when it comes to the service, maintenance and repair of our customer’s vehicles. We also understand how important it is for our clients to have the freedom to go wherever it is they want to go with the security and confidence of knowing they will be able to return home safely.

This is what you think about at 35,000 feet on the way home from two meetings focused almost exclusively on “Best In Class” automotive service delivery. It’s what you think about after almost a full week spent discovering new and different ways to improve and enhance the relationship you share with your client base – improve and enhance it from the client's perspective as the purchaser of automotive service: the client's perspective as a customer.

Something else you think about is how you are going to balance the creative tension you know will accompany integrating these new concepts into your service mix without compromising the same high quality customer care our client’s have come to expect from us. 

The good news is the kind of creative tension I’m feeling as I consider everything I’ve experienced over the past ten days: everything I’ve listened to and learned, is every bit as exciting as it may be stressful. Things like moving toward a more Customer-Centric service delivery model: looking at the whole process and every conceivable interaction through the customer’s eyes, managing diversity in the workplace, engaging Generation “X” and Generation “Y” clients, coping in a web-enabled world and much, much more.

As far as I can see it’s all good and more than exciting enough to drive us into a shared and mutually beneficial future: a future much more consistent with the Vision I have for all of us. A Vision worthy of the Creative Tension that is certain to accompany its achievement…  

Absent With Good Cause...

I just finished writing a piece for Auto-Insights, our newsletter at the shop, and “tweaked” it just a bit so it would work here in Counter-Intuitive. It is titled, “Creative Tension.”

Creative Tension is the sensation we experience as we move from the “Current Reality” we know toward our Vision for the future: a Vision whose reality, no matter how clear or carefully thought out will still remain largely unknown and as a result uncomfortable.

It’s hard to write about something like that without considering your own “Current Reality” and the “Creative Tension” that seems to fill every empty crevice of your life: hard, if not impossible. Especially, when that “Creative Tension” is always more stressful and anxiety-laden then you think it ought to be. One of the primary sources of that tension has to do with another interesting principle – something I try mention every time I’m in front of an audience doing the presentation work I do.

The principle is “Loss of Opportunity” and it’s something everyone doing presentation work is familiar with. The concept is simple enough… If I say I’m going to be somewhere, doing something – what I’ve really done is acknowledge the fact that I can’t be anywhere else, doing anything else; at least, not at that at that particular time or place.

It’s so much a part of the world of presentations and speakers it is generally addressed in the contract requiring the host to compensate the speaker in the event of a cancelation, recognizing the difficulty “filling” that space at the last minute constitutes. However, Loss of Opportunity impacts just about every one of us.

All of us are forced to make difficult choices when it comes to allocating our time, especially today when with the intense pressure of so many worthwhile and competitive demands. Doing this means we can’t do that… Being here means we can’t possibly be there… And, not doing that: not being there, almost always means we are ultimately going to frustrate or disappoint at least one other person, even if that one other person is us!

I experience the frustration, disappointment and tension associated with Loss of Opportunity all the time, especially when I’m trying to reconcile “Want To’s” with “Have To’s.”

Unfortunately, one of the best examples of that is this blog – Which is, most assuredly a “Want To!” I like writing here and experience a fair amount of frustration when the fates and my own lack of planning forces large gapping spaces between entries. It doesn’t matter how important the reason, how necessary the absence… You just can’t be in two different places doing two different things at the same time no matter how appealing or important. It is both physically and emotionally impossible.

This time, it was a ten-day business trip to Florida to both attend and present at two different, yet very similar automotive aftermarket conferences. I suppose I could have found a little time to write at least something. But, quite frankly, I was so immersed in everything that was going on around me - including a little R&R at the 'Happiest Place on Earth" - it never occurred to me; at least, it never occurred to me when I had the time or the opportunity to think of something I felt worthy of sharing. Before that, it was the weeks of preparation ramping up for the conferences combined with constantly thinking about actually getting up in front of hundreds of my peers the eleven times I would be sharing the two presentations I created for both events.

It seems there is always something looming in the background: some “Have To” that inevitably takes precedence over this very enticing “Want To.” And, while I’d like to think I was absent with good cause, the fact remains that for whatever reason, I was gone, nevertheless.

I’ve decided that going forward I’m going to try my best to be more consistent, even if it means just checking in as often as I can with what “Sweet” Dick Whittington, an old L.A. drive-time Disc Jockey, called “Clean Thoughts on a Dirty Wall.” That way, even if I am absent with good cause, we can still keep in touch and you can still remain an integral and important part of my life…