When Problems are No Problem

By Bob Cox

Chris Barr didn’t realize he had been living life on auto pilot without any genuine sense of purpose until two major events jolted him back into the game of life. Shortly after celebrating his 65^th birthday, Chris’s store had been robbed, which initially left him feeling violated, disheartened and directionless. Instead of caving in to self pity, Chris, who is the franchise owner of Granite Transformations in Rancho Cordova, used these opportunities to dig deeper into his soul for some much needed self examination.

He also reached out to a few trusted friends and colleagues to get some constructive feedback, which affirmed what he suspected. He had become bored after completing his mission of resurrecting a failing franchise and transforming it into a shining success. Six years earlier, he had heard about the growing problems of a distant franchise over 3,000 miles from the comfortable corporate office where he worked in Florida for Granite Transformations.

When Chris heard that the franchise had been vacated and was in serious need of steady leadership in every facet of the business, the challenge and potential opportunities were simply too tempting for Chris to pass up. So, he and his family hopped on a plane and embraced a brand new adventure. “One of the things that I have learned about myself over the years is that I am most motivated by problem solving. My biggest adrenaline generator is when there’s something that needs to be fixed or some hurdle that has to be overcome. And as I look back, that’s been true my whole life,” explained Chris.

Under Chris’s sage stewardship, within a few months, the dying franchise experienced a resurrection of optimism and passion. Chris was able to restore trust and confidence in the loyal workforce that had hung in through the toughest of times and they all teamed up to give their customers the care and attention they deserved. Several years after all the substantial problems had been rectified, Chris found himself in the uncharted territory of malaise and apathy.

“Because we had solved all those specific problems and the business had been humming along for years, I found myself just sitting and watching it happen. Letting that evolve without direction wasn’t just status quo, it was a negative thing because you start to lose momentum. And when I lost momentum personally, the rest of the business reflected that. My salespeople were not quite as energetic and creative, my install crews were a little bit less put together and the whole business suffered from that lack of forward momentum,” Chris recalled.

After a brief period of self reflection and crucial feedback from his friends and colleagues, Chris was able to spring forward by gathering a renewed sense of purpose and passion. “There was a moment this January when that switch just got flipped. I personally transitioned to a place where I was motivated not by fixing the business but by focusing on rebuilding it from where we were, which was a healthy place,” said Chris.

From that brief low spot, the franchise has thrived while experiencing another positive transformation. “There are some specific things we did but this is fundamentally a reflection of the change in energy level here. I also got more involved with customers and received a lot of positive feedback about the quality of our work, which gave me even more energy. I feel grateful that we recognized what we needed to do and we got a lot of personal satisfaction and validation out of making it happen and then seeing the results.

Year over year, Granite Transformations is now up over 25% in sales and the future looks extremely bright. I spoke with Chris about some of the other great things that are happening with his business.

Q: What have been the greatest rewards of owning this franchise?

A: There are two things I find greatly rewarding. The first is the incredibly positive feedback we get from our customers. Everybody that we do work for fills out a review form and we get enthusiastic feedback 99.9% of the time. The second thing has to do with the team we have here. I've come to know and respect these people and their families. They are an astonishingly great group of people.

Q: Can you tell us more about the feedback?

A: There are at least four things that we hear consistently. First, most people love the idea we can do all of the messy part at our place and then install in a day instead of several weeks of downtime, mess, noise and confusion. Second, our product is the most durable product on the market and it is zero maintenance with a lifetime warranty. Third, our products are beautiful, so our customers love showing off their transformation. Finally, our customers love the overall professional, no-stress experience of working with us.

Q: What sets Granite Transformations apart from other countertop companies?

A: We're the only company that can install a brand new counter in one day. The other thing that sets us apart is the actual finished quality of the product. There are some other good quality products available but ours is really quite special, which is why we offer a lifetime warranty where other companies do not.

Q: How are you able to transform a kitchen in just one day?

A: We go over the existing counter surface, so there’s no demolition to live through. Once we’ve built a physical template of all the surfaces that we’re going to cover, we do all of the construction work in our shop here in Rancho Cordova.

Q: What are the core principals you follow to achieve success in business and in life?

A: I don’t want to sound sanctimonious about this but we believe as a company in being fair. We treat our employees and our customers well. If there’s a problem, we fix it. It’s that simple.

Q: Is there anything else new at Granite Transformations?

Yes, two things. We have a line is called Trascenda. It’s a product we manufacture that looks like natural stone with the movement of marble but has absolutely none of the downside that natural stone has. It’s completely non porous, durable, low maintenance and it has the lifetime warranty plus it’s just gorgeous. Second, we’re offering a greater focus on delivering the same speed and quality of our cabinet refacing projects. With cabinet refacing, instead of ripping out old cabinets, we start with the basic skeleton of your cabinets. Everything that’s visible is new, including the doors, the drawers and the hardware. We have expanded our staff and now have a fantastic new cabinet crew.

Editor’s notes: Granite Transformations is located at 11367 Trade Center Dr. # 130 in Rancho Cordova. Their phone number is (916) 851-9745 and their website is www.granitetransformations.com. 

The JMJ Philosophy Lights the Way

By Bob Cox

Life is long and incredibly boring in stretches, especially if you were a fat little munchkin like me growing up in the 1960’s. Those were practically the stone ages; long before the internet, video games and cable TV. The highlight of long summer days was getting under the skin of one or more of my three older sisters. In those crazy days of my youth and boy were they crazy, boredom was a fate worse than death, or so I thought since no one I’d ever truly loved and cared about had ever passed away. Now that I’m a lot older and a brain cell or two wiser, I know better as I’ve felt the unbearable sting of saying farewell to a loved one forever. I can honestly acknowledge how truly short and precious life is.

Annie Graham, a partner for JMJ Natural Lighting in Rancho Cordova understands that feeling all too well. Her brother in-law Tony passed away very unexpectedly from an accidental drowning four years ago at the age of 41, leaving behind a wife, three children and a large number of bereaved family members. “That opens your eyes about life being really short and every day is supposed to be a gift,” explained Annie.

From the first time we met, I’ve always felt completely at ease while in Annie’s presence, which is a rare occurrence in an oftentimes cold business world. What’s even more impressive about Annie is she’s always been upbeat while very much at peace, in spite of the fact that she’s travelling through life at warp speed, working tirelessly while raising four energetic young girls and one boy and basically cramming in a week’s worth of activities into a single day every day! Even when she took her girls out on an all day shopping extravaganza, she made the experience more meaningful by taking a much needed break in the park for a picnic lunch.

On those occasions when Annie is not at her best, she finds solace by simply looking at the enormous challenges that so many other people around the world have to deal with every day. “I really try to put things in perspective a lot of days and think long term. As terrible as it might sound, comparing your circumstances to other people, we could be so much worse off. We are really very blessed, even when things are hard and times are stressful, it still could be so much worse,” said Annie.

When I asked Annie if she had any other tips on how to stay so optimistic, I was impressed by her authentically heartfelt and tender reply. “I feel like I’m not the one to be giving advice and I sometimes feel like I’m not a very nice person, even though I try to be nice to everybody. This is really hard for me because you represent such good things, and it’s not that I’m a bad person. I am a good person but sometimes I feel bad about my thoughts and feelings,” Annie confessed.

Being able to express your true thoughts and feelings is crucial when the goal is to establish deep, powerful and enduring relationships with cherished loved ones. Anything less than pure honesty becomes a barrier to real intimacy and genuine connections. Fortunately, Annie’s personal philosophy is shared by her close knit family; many of who are integral participants in this very special family owned and operated business.

I asked Annie what it was like to be a vital part of this very unique family business.

Q: How have you incorporated your personal philosophy into the business at JMJ Natural Lighting?

A: We are very honest people. We’ve never, ever tried to gain for ourselves by taking advantage of other people. According to our religion, that’s the opposite of how you’re supposed to live your life. Our business model is always to offer a really great product with really great customer service, with honesty and integrity. What you put out there is what we’re hoping to get back eventually.

Q: Do you have any specific examples of how your business practices genuine honesty?

A: Sure. When our guys go out, for example, if a customer thinks they need two Solatubes but they really don’t, they will always tell them that instead of just installing two and taking the extra money. We strive to be trustworthy in every regard.

Q: What does JMJ Natural Lighting offer?

A: We sell and install Solatube brand tubular solar skylights, which are guaranteed to be the brightest on the market. We offer a lifetime installation warranty on our installs and this is our 23^rd year in business.

Q: Why do people buy solar skylights in general and Solatubes in particular?

A: We do have an excellent reputation and Solatube is guaranteed to be the best and brightest tubular skylight on the market. Tubular skylights are a fantastic option when compared to traditional skylights because they’re installed quickly and they are significantly less expensive.

Q: Why are solar lights less expensive than traditional skylights?

A: Because there is usually no permits required when installing Solatubes. Solatubes go between the rafters, so there are no structural changes. With traditional skylights, you have to cut through the rafters and install a box, which means that you have to have a permit, which drives up the costs and extends the timeline.

Q: How long does it take to install a Solatube system?

A: Solatubes are generally installed in an afternoon. Usually, if it’s just a really simple install, they can do it in an hour to an hour and a half.

Q: Do Solatubes change the look and feel of your home?

A: Yes, there’s a huge change to the look and feel of your home. It brings in more natural light and there are a lot of studies out there that show how good natural light is for our physical and mental well being. Unlike skylights, Solatubes don’t have heat or cold transfer coming down into your home because the tubing is made of aluminum.

Q: How did your business begin?

My parents Jerry and Joann Buckman opened the dealership in 1994 and then my husband Damen started working for my dad back in 2001. Four years later, Damen’s parents, Stacy and Sandy Graham, saw what a great business it was and purchased it in 2005. My father retired and they have been doing it ever since. I started working in the office after Tony passed, because his wife Shannon, my sister-in-law had been doing it for years and then she actually needed to get a paying job. So, it’s safe to say that we are truly a family run business.

Q: Does JMJ Lighting do anything else besides installing Solatubes?

A: Yes, we’ve done a lot of skylight replacements lately. We work with Sun Optics, Velux and JC Berry Manufacturing up in Redding, who do a lot of fabrication for us as well.

Editor’s notes: For more information about JMJ Natural Lighting, check out their website at jmjnaturallighting.com, call (916) 635-7652 or visit their showroom at 11255 Sunrise Gold Cir. in Rancho Cordova.

Passing it on

By Bob Cox

One day last month while getting ready to go to the gym for a quick cardio workout, I reached for my favorite distraction, the newest edition of Sports Illustrated. A small wave of disappointment swept over me when I realized that my subscription had lapsed and I was fresh out of mindless reading material. How would I endure the next 30 monotonous minutes of huffing and puffing, which would surely feel more like 30 days without something to take my mind away from the agony of it all.

Fortunately, the solution came quickly enough to assuage my anxiety as I remembered a small stockpile of books I had purchased a few years earlier. I grabbed the one that stood out and bounded out the front door. As I was driving to the gym, I reminisced about the days long ago when I made the commitment to read something inspiring every day for 30 minutes and how empowered I felt while challenging all my preconceived notions about the limitations of myself and others.

Before I reached the parking lot, I realized how much I missed reading right after waking up, so I resolved then and there to again take the best advice I’ve ever heard nearly three decades ago. That advice was to read something positive and inspiring every day. When you do this, you will surely be blown away by how much better you feel as you read about how other people that have found creative new ways to reduce misery while adding more joy in their lives.

That’s when an unwelcome intruder, a negative little thought that lurks in the dark crevices of my mind had to ruin my Kumbaya moment by throwing in its two cents about how expensive it would be to purchase brand new books every week or so. That’s when I reassured the little worry wart that I could patronize our neighborhood used book store and get what I needed for a fraction of the cost. I would also feel good about keeping our dollars in the community, which would help improve local employment opportunities and enhance our infrastructure.

Seconds later, a close cousin of the previous thought had to whisper sweet nothings in my ear, and believe me they were nothing, by saying how impractical it would be to start a new book collection in our small living space which could easily feel cluttered. Moments passed when another solution presented itself as I resolved to pass on each book to someone I care about and then ask them to do the same.

As I reread my first book by Chris Prentiss titled “Be Who You Want, Have What You Want”, my mind drifted towards my business and I suddenly realized what was missing from our magazine, which was a larger selection of inspiring articles. A few years back, I had written several articles about famous people from the past, but after a few months I had lost my passion for it.

A short while later, another fresh idea emerged and I was feeling more excited than I had in years when I decided to ask the local people I meet in my daily business travels about their unique and untold experiences and the various ways they have gathered insights into finding deeper levels of peace and happiness. From here on out, that’s exactly what we’ll be doing, starting with this edition.

In this month’s edition of Go For It Magazine, you will find four powerful and compelling articles about local business people who have dealt with everything from ordinary to extraordinary challenges while sharing what they’ve learned about life and themselves. You may feel deeply motivated after hearing about how these folks emerged from their self doubts to become stronger, wiser and more confident.

If you want to help your loved ones experience more joy and happiness, read something positive and inspiring like this magazine, and then pass it on. When they’re finished reading, ask them to pass it on and so forth. You’ll never know how many lives you will transform. 

Broken Neck...Unbreakable Spirit

By Bob Cox

While working as an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, Jim Vierra’s entire world was literally turned upside down in a matter of seconds. After graduating college and getting a job as a mechanical engineer, Jim quickly realized he wasn’t cut out for working indoors from morning till night. His cousin told him that the Santa Fe Railroad was hiring, so he followed up and got a job on the ground floor as a brakeman in Richmond, CA.

Just 18 months later, Jim ascended the ranks and became one of the youngest engineers in the company’s history. His astonishing promotion happened because he never missed a shift while eagerly accepting every call for work when the railroad was shorthanded.

For the first couple of years, Jim was living the dream, riding the rails from one spectacular adventure to another and getting paid well for it. Jim soaked in the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and canyons that most people would never get to observe. One full moon night, while slowly crossing a bridge at Fraser Canyon, he saw a majestic white owl flying silently outside his window in search of a meal. The raptor was wise to glide nearby as the ground beneath the train shook like an earthquake, causing small critters to scatter about.

The fateful day that changed Jim’s life forever began just like any other day. After five long years on the railroad, the novelty had worn off and the reality of life separated from family and friends sunk in. He drove a hotshot train from Calway to Richmond, clueless to the dangers that lied ahead. Near the small town of Fleur, an unreported incident occurred when the engineer of the previous train damaged a switch and tried in vain to repair it.

By the time Jim’s mile long train reached that point while zipping through the darkness at 80 mph, it was three in the morning and the conductor was fast asleep. When the train hit the jimmy rigged switch, the first four cars made it through unscathed but the fifth car clipped the switch and flipped the entire train on its side. Jim was thrown violently headfirst into the thick bulletproof glass window. Minutes felt like hours as he waited motionless for help to arrive.

After several MRI’s, Jim’s neck was broken and would require a risky surgery that could leave him paralyzed from the neck down for life. If that news wasn’t grim enough, another patient sharing the same room had just been through the same surgery and was paralyzed! Jim was in such a precarious state that if he did something as simple as sneeze, it could’ve broken his spine and possibly killed him.

After a complicated and gruesome surgery, Jim came through as good as possible with no paralysis. After three weeks in the hospital, Jim was released and began regular physical therapy treatments. The doctors told him that he would have to avoid all activities that involved any kind of impact forever because the metal in his neck could be broken, which could cause him to drown in his own blood. Many of the things that Jim loved to do, like weight lifting, wakeboarding, snowboarding and dirt biking would be off the table for the rest of his life.

While Jim was extremely grateful for all the skilled medical professionals who helped him during his recovery, he also confessed that he just couldn’t follow doctor’s orders. “I think I was just stubborn. I’ve been so active my whole life, to have someone telling me that I’d never be able to do anything again, I just didn’t accept that. After watching that guy become paralyzed, it really made an impact on me. The idea that I was going to live a full life but not be able to do so many of the things I enjoy, I might as well have been in that guy’s shoes”, recalled Jim.

Today, Jim is the picture of health, strength and vitality, and he thoroughly enjoys an active and healthy lifestyle. He also has an amazing attitude and actually credits the accident for being a very good thing because it became the catalyst for embarking on a new career that he had a lifelong passion for: motorcycles. After retiring from the railroad, Jim purchased Nor Cal Scooters and he loves his work and his life. I asked Jim a few questions about Nor Cal Scooters.

Q: How long he stayed at home before getting back out into the work world?

A: Not long. I ran into a buddy of mine who opened this shop and he ran out of capital. He asked me if I wanted to invest, so I came in as a 50-50 partner and I eventually bought him out.

Q: When did you start selling scooters?

A: Several years ago, we started selling scooters and quads and it was actually more rewarding. Growing up, you couldn’t separate me from my motorcycle. When we started selling scooters, I realized that most of the people that were coming in were first time riders and they had that same passion that I had when I first started riding.

Q: Do people really love riding their scooters?

A: Yes, I’ve even had people with cancer tell me that riding their scooter is like medicine for them. I’ve had older people say they can’t believe how much fun it is and how they wish they had a scooter when they were younger. It’s amazing and actually very enjoyable to watch people light up.

Q: Are scooters a good alternative for people who are reluctant to ride a motorcycle?

The scooter is perfect for people who have never driven a motorcycle. They’re easier to control because they are light, easy to maneuver and they stop quickly. Plus you don’t have to learn how to shift gears.

Q: Why should people buy a scooter from Nor Cal Scooters?

A: Our scooters are a fraction of the cost of other new scooters and are built even better. A new Vespa scooter can retail for over $5,000 and your first service is around $240. Our scooters start at just $1,299 and we offer free oil changes and basic service for the first five years!

Q: How does your service department compare to other scooter shops?

A: Our service is amazing. We started out fixing Harley’s and sport bikes, so our mechanic JJ is incredible. Our guys are real motorcycle guys, so you’re not going to find someone that can fix scooters as fast, inexpensively or as well. 

Tooting Our Horn on a White Horse

By Dave Trux

One of the greatest challenges of promoting your own business is getting people to believe that you’re sincerely committed to putting your customer’s needs first and foremost. Why, because the average person is inundated by sales people hyping their products as being the latest and greatest or new and improved. If that’s really the case, have we been settling old and crummy products all these years?

For those reasons, I was thrilled when I discovered the glowing five star review we received recently from one of our customers, Michelle Lowe, who was told by another shop that the repair bill on her 2007 Audi A6 could wind up being in the neighborhood of $4,000. She was wise enough to not cave into the pressure of accepting their diagnosis and came to us for a second opinion and we’re all glad that she did. Here’s Michelle’s experience in her own words, slightly edited to fit this space.

Valley Motorwerks stepped up to be my 'Prince Charming' in this matter, but true to form, I had to kiss a frog first, which was another shop who'd misdiagnosed my car's issue. I won't name the 'frog' here, but the owner estimated that my check engine light had come on as a result of a 'drive chain' issue. He advised the cost would be somewhere around $3,900-$4,300. Yeah, dollars. I realized that this is an Audi and therefore repairs would be expensive, but really?
Enter Valley Motorwerks on their white horse. I knew of them because they'd successfully completed a previous unrelated repair on my car. The following Monday afternoon, Justin advised that after consulting the issue with another master mechanic in his shop, they deduced that because the car was drivable and I had not experienced any mechanical noises nor engine hesitation, his good news was this was definitely NOT a drive chain issue.

He advised me that my car didn't have enough miles to have this part malfunction or deteriorate. Justin then gave me even better news when he told me his shop felt the issue was related to a faulty cam position sensor, which would cost approximately (wait for it...) only $300! Bottom line, the diagnosis cost, two cam sensor parts replaced, labor and an oil change cost me a total of $650!

I'd prayed to be led to an Audi mechanic with integrity, kindness and empathy, and this has been answered at Valley Motorwerks. If you have an issue with your BMW, Mini, VW or Audi, please give Valley Motorwerks a chance to treat you right. They are fast too, as they only took three days to repair my ride and have it back to me.
I was treated very respectfully (historically, sometimes a chore for male mechanics when dealing with female customers) throughout this diagnosis and repair process, and I was kept apprised of my car's status at every turn.

It’s true, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can find your Prince Charming, but personally I prefer my frog (legs) fried crispy, served hot and that's the end of that!

-Michelle Lowe

A Kid at Heart

By Bob Cox

If you were to ask a room full of kids from ages one to 92 if they would like to experience more joy and happiness in life to raise their hands, I imagine that all but one would do so. The one that didn’t would be the crazy guy shouting back at the voices in his head while being escorted out in a straight jacket.

Sadly, the vast majority of people worldwide are less than happy when it comes to how they spend a significant portion of their waking hours. Only 13 percent of people on earth actually like going to work and less than one in three American workers are happy (29%), according to a recent poll by Gallup. That’s almost as shocking as it is sad, especially when you hark back to the days of your childhood when adults asked what you wanted to be when you grew up. Unhappy, disenchanted and unappreciated was not your answer.

With those statistics in mind, it is rare to find people like Morris Qurraa who truly love their work. Morris is the owner of two spectacular indoor play parks in the Sacramento area (Roseville and Rancho Cordova), and it’s something he’s joyously shared with the public for over 30 years. When I asked him why he always seemed so upbeat and optimistic, his reply was refreshingly simple: “I just love kids! Whenever I see them playing and having so much fun, it always leaves me smiling,” replied Morris.

From the time he opened the first Wacky Tacky back in 1985, Morris has thrived from the experience of observing kids and their parents light up from the moment they step inside one of his facilities. “I think the parents love it even more than the kids! They love to see the joy and excitement their kids have while playing, exploring and bonding with new friends,” Morris said.

Morris is convinced that a few hours of play at Wacky Tacky is much more than just idle fun, its excellent therapy for the entire family. “This is so good physically and mentally for kids and their parents. Too many kids these days sit at home playing a variety of electronic devices, like Xbox, TV, computers and games on cell phones. When kids come to Wacky Tacky, they leave their electronic devices behind,” explained Morris.

Now that the scorching days of summer are here, Wacky Tacky is a great alternative to outdoor parks. They offer children a cool, safe and comfortable place to run, jump and explore. Kids of all ages will have a blast and that includes all you parents out there who are just itching to jump into the action and set your spirit free. Children also reap all the physical and emotional benefits of burning off pent up energy while engaging their imaginations, and without the risks of sunburn, dehydration and heatstroke. Parents can kick back in comfortable seats and glorious air conditioning while watching their kids be kids. It just doesn’t get any cooler than Wacky Tacky.

Wacky Tacky is the ultimate indoor playground, featuring over 24,000 square feet of soft and safe play space, along with a cafeteria for refueling. Your little ones will surely have a blast exploring 3 story jungle gyms and enormous slides while navigating through the mouth of a great white shark. Not to worry; however, as his teeth are as soft as they are pearly white!

I asked Morris a few questions about his two thriving indoor play parks and here’s what he had to say.

Q: What makes Wacky Tacky superior to other indoor play parks?

A: Wacky Tacky is the safest and cleanest place for kids. What makes us different from other kid’s facilities is that we are a family owned small business and we care about our customers. Also, Wacky Tacky is a new concept around our area and I was the first one to have a jungle gym style birthday facility for kids in our area.

Q: Aside from loving kids, was there any other reason you decided to open Wacky Tacky?

A: Yes, I opened it because I have three kids and one was still young at the time. There weren’t any good indoor play parks for kids; the ones that existed were old, dirty and super expensive. I wanted to open a place that was fun, clean and safe for kids. Most importantly, I wanted a location that was one of a kind.

Q: Why is this a great place to host a party for kids?

A: Wacky Tacky is very safe, super clean and a place where kids and parents can play together in very big and fun jungle gyms. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of things which are provided and the staff is very friendly. This is the perfect place to host a birthday party, with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Q: What’s new and exciting at Wacky Tacky?

A: In Roseville, we’re going to upgrade all the play space and have more activities for the kids. In Rancho Cordova, we will be adding new rides and a state-of-the-art 5D theatre, which is something very special and really exciting. I don’t want to talk about it too much and spoil the surprise for everyone.

Q: Can you tell us about the new café and nursing room that opened in Rancho Cordova?

A: The Wacky Tacky Café opened about four weeks ago and we offer a variety of healthy food, like sandwiches. We also have a variety of snacks and we make everything fresh from scratch. The café has large windows so that you can keep an eye on your kids while enjoying a moment of quiet. We also just opened a new nursing room here in Rancho Cordova, which is a very quiet and private room for mom’s and their babies.

For more information about Wacky Tacky’s two exciting locations in Rancho Cordova and Roseville, call (916) 476-3260 or (916) 783-3355. Their website is www.wackytacky.net. Also, be sure to ask them about their rewards program. Become a Wacky Tacky Member and enjoy future savings, special offers and exciting updates via text message.