“Change Your State, Change your Story, Then Change your Strategy”

You may have noticed that I’ve been radio silent for a little while. Part of that is because I’ve been focusing on improving my own mindset by taking a mindset recalibration and technology fast (as much as that is possible while still being employed in the automotive world, lol).

A little while ago, I sat through a Tony Robbins seminar — not for hype, but to get my own head straight. I expected motivation. What I got was a gut check.

I realized we often try to solve the wrong problem — we’re all chasing better strategies to make the automotive service industry better, when the real fix starts inside: change your state, rewrite your story, and the strategy takes care of itself.

We think the answer is always a better strategy.

Better workflow, better equipment, better pay plan, better leadership.

But here’s the truth Tony laid out — and once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it:

"Strategy comes last. To really change results, you first change your state, then your story, and only then your strategy." - Tony Robbins

Let's break that down in shop-floor terms.

1. STATE — How You Show Up

Your state is your physical and emotional condition — your breathing, your posture, your energy, your focus.

If you roll into work already frustrated, tired, and mentally fried, it doesn’t matter what strategy you use — your brain’s running on low voltage.

Before you touch a tool, check your own system first.

Take 30 seconds to reset.

Straighten up. Breathe deep. Move your body. Take a walk.

You can’t fix a car when your own “control module” is in a logic-lock state.

Professionals know this: when your state changes, your thinking changes.

2. STORY — The Narrative You’re Running

The story is the meaning you assign to what’s happening.

“I’ll never figure this out.”

“Nobody here respects my time.”

“This customer’s impossible.”

Sound familiar? We all tell ourselves stories like this — but those stories decide what we see and what we miss.

Try this instead:

“This is data I haven’t connected yet.”

“I’m the kind of tech who always finds the answer — no matter what.”

“This customer just wants clarity — I can give them that.”

Same situation. Different story. Totally different outcome.

3. STRATEGY — The Plan You Choose

The best diagnostic tree in the world is useless if your mindset is shorted out. Once your state and story are right, now you’re ready for strategy.

In a calm state and with a constructive story, suddenly the strategy becomes obvious. You think clearer. You communicate better. You troubleshoot faster.

Tony said it best:

“It’s never about resources — it’s about resourcefulness.”

In our world, that means the most powerful tool in the bay isn’t the scope, or the scan tool, or even the lift — it’s the technician who knows how to control their own state and story before turning that wrench.

Takeaway:

Before you ask, “What’s the best way to fix this?” Ask yourself: