How To Catch And Solve Problems Before The Cost Is Too Great

Ay Ay Ay! I learned a valuable lesson last week. I was going on a road trip to the South Padre Island KOA with my family and we were ready for an unforgettable adventure.

Well… almost ready.

I knew I had been procrastinating taking my car for a checkup, and I decided I couldn’t get on the road without first making sure everything was A-okay. I visited my local Christian Brothers Automotive in Fort Worth, because they offer a complimentary brake check and a complimentary courtesy inspection on every visit (with your permission) so you can stay safe on the road.

At the 190 locations of Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, you can find trusted mechanics who pride themselves on not only providing reliable, top-quality auto repair work, but also on the high standards they set for transparency and customer service. Their mission is “to love our neighbors as ourselves—and care for them by taking care of their cars.”

I got the honor and opportunity to chat with Kevin Simmons, the franchise owner at 6501 Old Denton Rd, and I was impressed with his humility, his love of family, and his strong faith. I resonated with his leadership because he equips people with tools to be successful but allows them to take ownership of what they do. He hires people who have integrity, are self-motivated, and demonstrate good work ethic.

He’s been a part of the Christian Brothers Automotive family for 11 years now, and he has a wall full of thank you notes to remind him that they’re doing good in the community.

After chatting about his most recent mission trip, I understood why he loves his role at Christian Brothers Automotive. Christian Brothers Automotive actively gives back through sponsorships, donations, and being involved in community service. They also do giveaways and I met one of the winners!

My favorite initiative is giving free oil changes to single moms at the Joy Women’s Event, which is a ministry organized by Milestone Church in Keller. 

As I waited for my inspection to be done, I also chatted with some of the employees at Christian Brothers Automotive. Many of them speak Spanish, because it is a diverse workplace, which you know I love. Kevin Simmons said he likes to have a woman be the face of the establishment because women are often more in tune with people’s needs and he values caring for more than people’s cars. He’s on location to connect with customers, as well.

Even though I had no reason to believe anything was malfunctioning in my car, the inspection revealed that it was low in oil and that the battery was about to give up on us. Can you imagine embarking on a 9-hour road trip to a gorgeous destination with kids and the battery failing on us, the car breaking down leaving us stranded, or God forbid, running the risk of an accident?

I approved the recommended maintenance after the inspection: the battery needed to be replaced, the oil filled up, and filter changed. Even though my road trip was the next day, I didn’t stress because I knew my car repairs would be done in a timely and trustworthy manner.

Car inspections keep us informed about maintenance issues before they become major problems. They visually inspect the major systems on your vehicle to ensure family safety while driving, including:

• Instrument clusters and gauges
• Manufacturer-scheduled maintenance items
• Parking brake
• Timing belt or timing chain
• Drive belts
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Coolant
• Power steering fluid
• Radiator and hoses
• Heater hoses
• Battery, battery terminals, and battery cables
• Tuning components
• Engine oil
• Under-hood leaks
• Headlights and taillights
• Wiper blades
• Washer operation
• Air conditioning
• Air filter
• Cabin air filter
• Tires
• Alignment
• Axle shafts, axle boots, and U-joints
• Shocks and struts
• Exhaust system
• Steering gear, power steering pump, and hoses
• Suspension components
• Brakes, rotors, and caliper

This may seem like a lot, but thankfully, you just show up and wait, and a report will be prepared (and e-mailed to you) so you know what was done.

As we discussed the issue with my battery, Kevin Simmons told me how many engine and major system failures are the results of poor preventative maintenance. In the same sense, many health issues become critical and even lethal because they are not caught on time, many relationships die because small issues are not openly discussed or brought to light until it seems too late, and financial situations start out as preventable situations.

Sometimes it seems easier to deny or ignore problems. We tell ourselves we are too busy, we don’t have the money, or we don’t have the energy to deal with it. Left unsolved, a tiny problem will become a massive problem. And those small problems can cause irritation, frustration, and stress, which can take a toll on our self-esteem, our relationships, and even our mental health.

As moms, we must embrace the art of preventing, finding, and solving problems. Simple checkups can alert us as to simple issues before they become costly repair jobs (or irreparable damage). And sometimes they are so easy to solve.

For example, a battery for my car is very expensive, but because we caught the problem early, my Christian Brothers Automotive ASE-certified technician figured out the battery was still under warranty so I didn’t have to incur that expense! It’s comforting to know that no one at Christian Brothers Automotive will recommend work or parts that are unnecessary.

Kevin Simmons’ advice to all moms is to inspect your car at least twice a year and not bypass the car maintenance process. Inspecting your car will keep you and your family safe and it will also save you lots of time, energy, and money!

So how do you catch and solve problems before the cost is too great? The key is anticipation. We can’t possibly anticipate everything, but many problems can be avoided by taking a proactive approach and identifying problems before they start. In many cases, it’s about fixing the process, not the problem.

I came up with 3 C’s to make the process easier to remember: communication, collaboration, and commitment.

This process will work in all areas of your life. As we anticipate problems that may happen, we are more prepared when they arise. By communicating our problems with transparency, collaborating with others to solve them, and committing to following up to the necessary steps to solve them, we can live a healthier, happier, and safer life.

How do you solve and catch problems before the cost is too great? Be sure to visit cbac.com and follow Christian Brothers Automotive on Twitter, on Facebook, and Instagram.

[ela]