I called my wife from the convention in Orlando recently. I told her there was a guy with gray hair and wrinkles looking back at me when I was shaving. When did this happen? I have been in this industry since I was 22 years old. Next week I turn 50. I remember being one of the young guys at the show. Now, I’m just one of the guys at the show. My mind still thinks I’m 22 but the body is telling me differently.

I was telling my father this story when we got home and he brought me a picture of him and my mother. Dad is 81 now, but was 50 in the picture. He was going on about how great he looked in the picture and then I told him as far as I was concerned he was always old! His reaction surprised me. He began laughing. He asked “How old is James?” (James is one of my four children). I responded “18.” He said “Right. You and he share the same difference in age as you and I. Trust me – he thinks you’re old too!” I had never thought about that in those terms. It put some things in a different perspective and made me think. I began to wonder if I had given them what dad gave to me and my three siblings.

Dad taught us well. Growing up in the car wash business we learned early how to save for a rainy day. The rainy day may come in the form of actual weather or in a business down turn. Either way, we were taught to put money back into the business when times were good, and to make sure we could survive when times were less than desirable. We were taught how to make decisions quickly and effectively to protect the business. If you ask my wife, especially in our early years of marriage (which coincided with the early years of my career), she would tell you the business came first. I wish I could tell you she was wrong. But it was what I felt I needed to do to support my family. Dad drilled into us a set of beliefs, values and a work ethic that have made all of his kids successful. None of it came from books. It was just the way he felt things were supposed to be done. He constantly referred to all this stuff as common sense. We knew differently.

In the 28 years that make up my career, this is the third economic down turn I have seen. Remember the old – “Plan your work and work your plan!” If you are like me, you still have to get up everyday and head to work. You can choose to be worried and have it eat you alive, or you can assess the situation and act accordingly. I choose to assess and act. I find it keeps me healthier than worrying to death. There is still business out there. Your job is to go get it. It certainly can be challenging. If times like these don’t get your blood flowing, nothing will.

I know I will not only make it through these times, but I will come out the other end stronger, and better at what I do. Dad still has lunch with me several times a week and to this day continues to drill this stuff into my head. I hope I have his drive at 81. Sometimes he makes me crazy. Other times I know I got here because of what he taught me; Get back to basics, make the tough decisions, take care of the customer, and keep moving forward.

Thanks Dad.

Your son,

Paul

Paul Fazio is the CEO of SONNY’S The Car Wash Factory. His career represents 28 years of conveyorized operating expertise. Prior to taking the helm at SONNY’S, Paul was an owner / operator of (2) self-serve, (1) exterior, and (11) full-serve wash locations, in addition to (6) gas stations with convenience stores as well as several detail shops and lube centers. He can be reached at 800-327-8723 or via email at PFazio@SonnysDirect.com

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