Does your Check Engine light ever appear at an opportune time?

By Rick Vohrer, TCV Growth Partner -

How about the last time you experienced a flat tire? Did it happen when you had an extra hour to deal with it or on the way to an important appointment?

Do you view the check engine light, the slight grinding sound when you break, or the shimmy in the steering wheel as something to deal with … LATER?

There is a rapidly growing business in extended warranties and insurance for repairs. Apparently, a large portion of the driving population believes it is better to pay for things when they break rather than prevent the breakdown in the first place.

Do you run your business that way?

Hopefully, the answer is no. But from my observations (primarily simply listening) via comments made by business owners I encounter through networking events, round-tables and related business functions, many issues get neglected until a breakdown occurs.

I get it. I’ve owned several businesses and / or been a member of business leadership teams. We always had a plan, invested many hours in creating it and then meetings to discuss and review how well we were executing and adjusting along the way. But still, the crisis du jour, coupled with the fact that both my team and I wore a multitude of hats, many that simply did not fit, tended to overwhelm the best plans. And then we scrambled when the “Check Engine Light” for the business came on.

It is next to impossible to function these days without a vehicle. Every manufacturer issues detailed instructions and schedules for maintenance tasks that are necessary to keep the vehicle running effectively. There are additional recommendations for peak performance. The manufacturers also realize that the speed and chaos of life can sidetrack the best intentions of the vehicle user. To bridge the gap, they have created “DUMMY LIGHTS” that illuminate on the dashboard, reminding the driver that something is amiss. The creation of the “Check Engine Light” is the catch all notice. Many times, the issue that causes the light to illuminate has nothing to do with the actual engine. It is simply the warning that you need to get the vehicle checked out.

Formula ONE and NASCAR drivers would not consider getting on the track without a strong Pit Crew. They know that winning involves having a support team of experts in the pit. The pit crew oversees keeping a racecar running in top form safely, and capable of dealing with any situations that may arise. In addition, they must be capable of quickly and accurately filling the tanks of the cars, as well as changing the tires quickly and safely. In addition to quick thinking and problem-solving abilities, pit crew members must be dependable. Their tasks include coming up with solutions to any problems that may arise, as well as communicating effectively with the drivers and other pit crew members. 

Businesses have much in common with the vehicles we drive.

Some are high performing, some have specialized uses, some perform certain tasks repeatedly, many attempt to do it all, others go out each day and just get stuck in traffic. Regardless, they all need to have routine maintenance performed. Even when the maintenance is meticulously met, there still can be occasional breakdowns. And it is rarely, if ever, at an opportune time.

What are you doing to keep your business running at peak performance? How do you respond when your business Check Engine Light comes on? Do you have a maintenance plan? Does your business have a pit crew? Is it capable of not only keeping you in the race but giving you an above average chance of consistently taking the checkered flag? Contact me if you need assistance for either preventative maintenance or an unanticipated breakdown! Rick@TCV-Growth.Partner