Feedback – Enjoy the Process
Be flexible, ask questions, try new things and—most of all—have fun. Ron Venable, C.J. Silvey, Austin Moore and Ben Freeman offer advice based on lessons learned.
“Sharing your thoughts, opinions and lessons can help someone else avoid a mistake or inspire them to try something new. If I could do anything differently in my career, I would listen more. Listening is one of the most powerful tools in business, and it’s something I continue to work on every day. My advice for other retailers is simple: Be open to doing multiple things instead of just sticking to just one lane. The more flexible and versatile you are, the more opportunities you create for yourself and your customers.” Ron Venable, Traffic Jams Motorsports, Buford, Ga.
“Never let a ‘dumb’ question go unasked. Some of my best installs started with, ‘Hey, what if…?’ Listen like your paycheck depends on it, show up to every training (free food is just a bonus) and learn from everyone around you. The magic fix you’ve been hunting might come from the new guy, or from the coffee machine. Step up, speak up and always double-check polarity. You’ll thank me when nothing catches fire.” C.J. Silvey, Foss Audio and Tint, Puyallup, Wash.
“I once crafted a custom one-piece headliner for a Nova build. I started by taping the whole outside roof, laying down plastic and then applying four layers of fiberglass. The layup went smoothly, and I was pleased with the results! However, all the heat from the curing resin caused the paint on the roof to blister and peel. It took three sprays of root beer metallic paint to perfectly match the original finish.” Austin Moore, Team Witt Customs, Madison, Tenn.
“One build stands out to me because the customer had some quirky and specific requests that pushed me outside my normal comfort zone. At first, I was frustrated trying to make it all make sense—but eventually I realized it wasn’t about my vision, it was about theirs. Once I leaned into that and had fun with it, the project became something truly unique and the customer loved it. This reminded me that at the end of the day, we’re building these vehicles for our customers, not for ourselves. Every project is a chance to bring someone’s dream to life. Take pride in that, enjoy the process and don’t lose sight of the fact that this is supposed to be fun.” Ben Freeman, Traffic Jams Motorsports, Buford, Ga.
