Hit 500 cars repaired and it hit me different than I expected

I was going through my books last week and counted up all the jobs I've done since I started my own shop back in 2014. Total came to 503 cars. That number surprised me because I never thought I'd make it past maybe 200. Each one had its own headache, like that Ford Focus with the hit-and-run damage that took me 3 tries to get the color blend right. Or the old Chevy where the frame was tweaked just a hair and I had to pull it on the rack three separate times. It's weird to think about that many cars coming through and how many little tricks I picked up along the way. Anybody else ever count up their total and feel a little thrown off by it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jason8d ago

Man that "hit me different" part really sticks with me. When I hit 300 I thought I'd be proud but instead I just felt this weird mix of tired and grateful. What worked for me was taking a day to just flip through old job photos and notes I kept on tricky repairs. Seeing the progress from the early hack jobs to stuff I'd actually be proud to show off helped put it in perspective. Its not just about the number but how much you leveled up without even realizing it.

the_taylor8d ago

Whoa @the_jason, maybe overthinking it a bit for a number on a screen.