By Bob Cox

Just when I thought I knew and accepted almost everything about myself, I read a book called Live Your Dreams and realized just how far I still had to go to live mine. While this book by Les Brown was thoroughly enjoyable, especially the parts where the author shares a myriad of obstacles he had faced and overcome in life, it was the contents in the final segment that really got me thinking and digging deeper.

At the end of the book is an action planner, which asks a variety of self reflective questions. The most provocative question that got the wheels turning was this: List 10 things I’m good at and then list 10 things I need to improve. When I shared this with my wife Diana, she eagerly grabbed a pen and paper and took vigorous notes as we explored some surprisingly uncharted territory.

When we started, I expected to breeze through it in a matter of a few minutes. An hour later, I was still grappling to answer those 20 simple questions. After I finished, Diana turned to me and was shocked and excited about a pattern that became obvious to her. But before she shared her revelation with me, she asked me what I thought the answers disclosed.

After examining all her notes carefully, a stunning pattern emerged. Number one on my list of things I was good at was promoting peace while on the other side of the proverbial coin regarding the things needed to improve was a fear of conflict. As I carefully examined the answers on the negative side of the ledger, I realized that my fear, which was buried beneath the surface, had lead directly to several other areas I needed to improve. Rounding out the top four areas that needed improvement were staying consistently enthusiastic while working, having more endurance while working and having more fun while working. My overwhelming fear of conflict was covered up by years of chronic fatigue during the majority of my hours at work.

What I learned from this exercise was that all the answers relating to the areas in need of improvement were merely symptoms of my number one fear, conflict. I came to this epiphany as I carefully slid this specimen of fear under my mental microscope. Upon closer examination, it was revealed that I’m at my very best when I’m in a safe and peaceful environment. I can think clearly and answers to life’s most vexing problems come effortlessly. Conversely, I’m at my absolute worst while I’m in a dangerous and volatile situation. My mind shuts down and I cannot think my way out of a paper bag, no matter how many times I metaphorically breathe into it!

While Diana agreed with my personal evaluation, she summed up her assessment of my strengths and weaknesses in just three words: home and work. While at home, all my positive attributes shine brightly while at work, a cloud of darkness descends and the battle to overcome my shortcomings rages on.

Strangely enough, the day before we did this exercise on a crisp and sunny autumn morning, I had a mini breakthrough. While working on the last day of my deadline to sell ads, I pretended as if it was my last day on earth and resolved to enjoy it to the fullest. Much to my amazement, my chronic fatigue fell asleep and was replaced with a light hearted enthusiasm that lasted the entire day.

If you’re falling short of living your dreams, wake yourself up and answer those 20 simple questions. You may be blown away by the secrets that are revealed. As for me, it was a real wake up call!

Falling in Love with Valley Motorwerks

By Bob Cox

When Debra Tuoto purchased her 2008 BMW 335i convertible coupe from a friend last year, she had mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was excited about the look, feel and reputation of her newest acquisition. On the other hand, she was nervous about purchasing a vehicle that was nearly a decade old and had a plethora of mechanical issues that needed to be fixed. “It’s very scary to buy a used BMW because the work can be quite extensive and extremely expensive, so I wanted to really find out what was going on with it”, explained Debra.

Under those challenging circumstances, Debra knew that they key to tackling the problems and keeping her car well maintained down the road was finding an honest and competent service and repair facility. “I’m a commercial insurance agent, so I know the shops in the area. I bought my car from a friend that’s another insurance agent who I trust and he is the one that sent me over to Valley Motorwerks”, Debra said.

Debra’s initial impression of Valley Motorwerks was like love at first sight, especially when she compared them to her previous experiences with other facilities. “I felt like the previous shop was trying to take advantage of me because I’m a woman and it was blatant. I have a background as a mechanic, which they didn’t know and the things that they wanted me to repair weren’t necessary. When I challenged them, they got real snotty, so I couldn’t go there anymore”, Debra recalled.

Debra’s experience with Valley Motorwerks was like making an abrupt u-turn off misery lane and onto the highway to happiness. “I felt honesty from them right away. I didn’t feel like they were trying to gouge me and they were clear about only doing the things that needed to be done right away. They took my budget into consideration and gave me several options, which I greatly appreciated”, said Debra.

Debra was equally impressed with the cleanliness of Valley Motorwerks, from the front counter to the back of their expansive building. “I loved how clean it was and that you could see back into the shop. I could tell they specialized in BMW’s and I knew my car was in good hands”, Debra said.

Another thing that Debra has appreciated about Valley Motorwerks was getting to know the owner of the shop, Dave Trux. Dave is a very committed hands-on owner who cultivates healthy relationships with everyone that walks through his front door. “I like that Dave is knowledgeable but he doesn’t talk to me in a demeaning way about what needs to be done on the car. That is very hard to find. Everybody wants an honest mechanic but I also wanted to be treated respectfully, as if I was a friend and that’s the way they roll at Valley Motorwerks”, explained Debra.

I asked Dave Trux what his secret was to winning over his female customers, especially those who’ve been burned in the past. “Women probably account for half the cars driven in the country and they deserve to be treated with honesty and respect. We created some core values here at the shop and the most important one is treating everyone that walks through the door like a member of our family. That treatment doesn't just extend to our customers; it includes everyone, from the guy who picks up our waste oil to the gal who delivers our parts”, Dave explained.

Another crucial component to the success of Valley Motorwerks, which has been in business over 13 years, is superior communication skills. Dave and his service technicians take the time to accurately diagnose each vehicle and then carefully explain their findings to the vehicle’s owner. “One of the things I ask most often is, “Does that make sense? This is what we’re doing, this is why we’re doing it, this is what needs to happen, does that makes sense to you?” said Dave.

Valley Motorwerks is focused on the service and repair of four types of vehicles: BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Mini Cooper. “When it comes to servicing and repairing German automobiles, we truly are Sacramento's original dealership alternative. You will get the same high level of service that you would get at the dealership without the expense of a dealership. We have factory trained technicians, a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty and install OEM parts. It's just like going to the dealership but you get to keep a lot more money in your pocket”, explained Dave.

Another advantage that Valley Motorwerks enjoys over traditional dealerships is the freedom to install superior aftermarket parts. “Dealers have to meet strict franchise agreements, so the dealerships have their hands tied in many instances. We have the ability to install a variety of superior aftermarket items, including exhaust systems, suspension and brakes. We offer brakes that give you the stopping power of a factory pad without the excessive brake dust”, Dave said.

Dave is a very passionate advocate of honesty and transparency. For those reasons, he has several large windows that make his entire shop visible. “We wanted a seamless look, from the front of our shop to the back of our shop. Customers absolutely love the fact that they can watch their car while it's being worked on. That transparency also keeps us on our game and encourages us to keep the shop clean and orderly. If I had a dollar for every time somebody said they loved being able to look out into the shop, we probably would have closed the doors a long time ago”, laughed Dave.

Editor’s notes: If you need another reason to fall in love with Valley Motorwerks, be sure to ask them how they can honor your extended warranty! Valley Motorwerks is located at 11403 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, CA. For more information about them, contact Dave Trux at (916) 636-9526 or visit their website at www.vmwerks.com.

Blazing His Own Trail

By Bob Cox

How does a typical 16 year-old American male spend his time? If you answered obsessing over girls, sports, cars or all of the above, you won’t get an argument from me.

Moe Abba, the owner of Capital Whole in Rancho Cordova, chose to blaze his own trail when he left his home, family and friends behind in Persia and traveled half way around the world to advance his education.

The first year in America would be the toughest time of Moe’s life. Despite going to college full time and working seven days a week, Moe was homeless. He and his friend managed to buy a car they used for their sleeping quarters for the next six months.

Moe realized early on that the key to his success would be learning English and a brand new culture. Because of his unstoppable drive, Moe was able to buy his first home at the ripe old age of 19 and graduated early from college with a degree in engineering and today his company manufactures lamps and chandeliers.

Q: How did you endure homelessness and the enormous challenges of adapting to a new country?

A: Well, we all have the gift and it’s a matter of wanting to use that talent that is provided by our Almighty God. I believe everything is possible. My dad was self employed and he went from nothing to reaching a better position in his life.

Q: Will you tell us a little about your business, Capital Wholesale?

A: Capital Wholesale is a company that’s been around for 65 years. We’re a one stop shop for appliances, lighting, plumbing, fixtures, flooring, cabinet door hardware and a variety of home accessories.

Q: What’s the advantage to coming here versus a big box home improvement store?

A: You will not find the unique premium quality products we carry in a big box store and our service is very knowledgeable. We will take the lowest competitors printed price and knock 15% off that amount on any lighting, flooring or cabinet door hardware product, no questions asked!

Capital Wholesale is located at 2990 Sunrise Bl. in Rancho Cordova and their phone number is (916) 446-5500.

5 Things Successful People Commit Themselves to Doing

By Sonia Thompson

When you’re trying to reach a goal, spend time learning from the people who’ve already achieved what you want to do because sometimes it’s better to learn from the battle scars of others than earn your own.

Over the last two years, I’ve picked the brains of people at the top of their field for my podcast. I’ve interviewed more than 100 entrepreneurs, and in each episode, I ask my guests for the keys to their success.

Not surprisingly, there were many interesting answers. But there were a few principles I heard repeatedly that were critical to getting these business owners where they wanted to go. Their advice is so universal, it transcends beyond entrepreneurship to anyone working to achieve a goal.

So, without further ado, here are the top five things I learned that successful people commit themselves to doing, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

1. Be persistent.

There’s an old Japanese proverb that says, “Fall seven, rise eight.” Failure, obstacles and setbacks are an inevitable aspect of the journey to achieving anything meaningful. In fact, it’s those failures that propel you forward. Failure gives you the clues to know what works and what doesn’t, so you can adjust as needed.

But failure scares people; it prevents them from even trying. For others, after a few slammed doors, they decide they are done. Successful people commit themselves to not giving up, no matter how many times they fall on their face.

A growing body of research backs up the benefits of persistence. In her New York Times best-selling book Grit, Angela Duckworth presents numerous sources that whittle down the essence of the mindset it takes to break through:

 “Grit depends on a different kind of hope. It rests on the expectation that our own efforts can improve our future. ‘I have a feeling tomorrow’ will be better is different from ‘I resolve to make tomorrow better.’ The hope that gritty people have has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with getting up again.”

Commit to achieving your goal in advance. Relentlessly pursue it, knowing that you will not stop until you win.

2. Hang out with the right people.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when embarking on a new challenge is trying to take their journey alone. You will go much farther, faster, when you have the right people by your side. Scientific data bears this out as well.

Daniel F. Chambliss, Ph.D., a professor of sociology at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, spent years studying Olympic swimmers to understand the nature of excellence. One of his observations on how to achieve greatness is to hang around others who will push you to go farther. “The real way to become a great swimmer is to join a great team,” he says. Chambliss notes that the drive to fit in and measure up to the norms of those in your circle is what drives you to improve.

Surround yourself with people who will help you be great. For some, that means hiring a coach. For others, that means joining a mastermind group, or linking up with an accountability partner who is working toward a similar goal. Invest the time to discover who the right people are to have by your side.

3. Do the work.

People spend countless time dreaming about success but rarely do anything to make it a reality. You must put in the work, consistently. Do it when you’re motivated. Do it when you’re not. Do it when you can’t see any visible progress. Do it when it isn’t convenient.

Gary Vaynerchuk is a household name in business, but he’s quick to remind people he started at zero. He credits his success to committing himself to this principle:

“I hear people say, ‘Well how do I get in the New York Times?’ or ‘How do I get that meeting with that CEO?’ And oftentimes I just say, ‘One is better than zero.... The concept around one is better than zero is simply a call to action to do.... It’s the patience and willingness to do 500 interviews, and conference calls and meetings over coffee that never turns into anything. I mean hell; I did Wine Library TV shows every day for an entire year before anyone said a thing!”

Prepare yourself to do a lot of work. It isn’t always glamorous, but it will pay off.

4. Be self-aware.

You have to know what your strengths are and how you can leverage them to accelerate your progress. Conversely, you also have to know your weaker areas so you can figure out how to prevent them from derailing you.

Fashion designer Tina Lobondi told me she prefers focusing on the creative side of her business rather than thinking about money. But to advance her fashion label, she quickly realized that sales and finances had to be at the forefront of her mind, even though she hated it. The changes she made as a result have enabled her business to grow.

Take an honest inventory of your skills. Then make a plan for how to improve, or get help where needed.

5. Learn constantly.

You don’t know what you don’t know. But the more you dig in and do the work, the more you will gain an understanding of the areas in which you can improve.

Sometimes that means learning things outside your wheelhouse. Dr. Marc Smith is a veterinarian and co-founder of PetTao, a holistic line of pet food. He told me he discovered it was necessary to become a student again for him to grow:

 “I can be the best veterinarian that’s ever walked the face of the Earth, I can have 400 degrees behind my name, but if people don’t know that, it doesn’t matter. And so I’ve embraced this idea of I have to become an excellent marketer, not only to help my business, but first and foremost to help people and their pets.”

Never stop learning. Determine the skills you need to acquire to get to the next step in your journey.

Successful people have figured out how to reach their goals through trial and error. Science has tested and proven how to do it, as well. Now all you have to do is commit yourself to these five principles so you can be the success you know you can be.