September | 2015 | Dan Varoy

Something that we all have to handle, some more than others, and some can handle more than others! The secret, I must stress, is to embrace that adrenalin producing emotion as part of your life! Nothing like being put under stress to produce the best results!

My Dad at age 46 put himself under extreme stress by studying, in order to obtain a diploma in construction engineering that would guarantee him a better job position. The lessons were quite complex and included things such as pre stressed concrete used in building construction. Here stress is introduced into concrete with the clever use of high tensile rods or cables!

That high bridge you drove over had these pre-stressed concrete babies supporting your weight!

Dad, whose early years and education was in pre war Norway, struggled a little with English and us kids had to often help him with his projects! His homework though, would often come back with many red lines and written in red corrections. He did teach us something called tenacity, and went on to obtain his diploma and gained his promotion!

Dad's test papers and homework often looked like this! — Dad’s test papers and homework often looked like this!

Two examples of stress producing good results!

With today’s high tech motor vehicles, and extended service recommendations, the oil change periods are often extended even further by people too busy in their lives to worry about mundane things like your car’s oil! Here is where stress within an engine becomes excessive as the oil starts breaking down leaving deposits of carbon which blocks the oil supply. Sadly the engine components, unlike us homo sapiens, (we thrive on stress), are unable to handle the stress of insufficient oil supply, succumb to the lack of lubricant and cry enough, going on to burn an even larger hole in your pocket!

A perfect example of old oil turned into carbon, blocking the oil supply that is vital to keep your engine turning, and you, down the road burning!

All of which places more stress on the likes of your favourite mechanic who, although insisting on regular oil changes, can only pick up the pieces once the game play has changed. On top of that is the added stress of having to work to a budget, do a second hand repair after another party has “had a go” and obviously time!

A recent spate of engines that failed due to being stressed out by insufficient oil supply came at a very stressful time in my workshop. A Ford Fiesta, followed by a vintage Mercedes V8, and then a very stressed Chev Aveo whose oil pump pickup was allowing only enough oil through to keep the engine quiet. All three of these engines cried enough and in each case I had become the chosen one to pick up the pieces, spend much time cleaning out built up sludge, and drop off the components at my engineer, who gave me as dirty look as the components I had dumped at his feet!

This engine let go in a big way! That is not hail damage on the top of that piston!

My engineer has a less stressed attitude toward the likes of me and my ilk! “I’ll let you know when its ready”, is always his parting shot! I suppose you have to give me my due, I have also adopted a similar attitude! My cheekiest response being, when asked by one client, “How am I going to get around town?” was “I don’t know! I fix cars! I am not in logistics!”

I am not in logistics! Do what the rest of us must do, hire a car!

Profit often goes by the wayside when the problem cars just seem to roll in, one after the other, placing stress not only on the cash flow, but also my time management! It easy to say, “Just do the next thing!” but sadly my passion for solving anything thrown my way sucks me into the maelstrom, or vortex of deciphering and pleasing! Specialists, who would seem to have far better business heads on their shoulders, often adopt a don’t get involved attitude, and another stress inducing problem child is dumped on my doorstep!

The bottom line is often jeopardised when the stress of pleasing your client takes hold!

So there you go stressed out by clients desperate for their wheels back, suppliers somehow getting the order wrong, or missing the courier, an excellent engineer who ignores my desperate pleas, the Prince of Darkness, Escom, (South Africa’s most times supplier of electricity), and a telephone that will not answer itself, your stressed out motor car is passionately attended to by the King of Stress! My heart pumps chocolates just to solve the many problems you bring me! Just don’t chase me for time!