There are no two ways about it. If you work on cars, you love cars. This means that whatever you say about hating cars because you face problems with them every day you cannot deny that what got you into this business in the first place was the shear love of these machines that move people from place to place. So, if an alien visits earth and asked me what the biggest invention of the human race was I would certainly point them to the dinosaur burning machines on wheels that take us places. By the way, I would like to say that even though new cars are safe and cool we have to say that any normal person would be happy in one but I am talking about the emotional classic cars we all crave.
Anyway, I remember it as bright as day. It was 1996. Summer of 1996 when it all clicked for me. My parents took me to the Cinema here in Sofia, I was 7. It was a warm summer day, late June – early July. We went and saw Independence Day – a great film for a 7-year-old, I know. It had the coolest guy at the time – Will Smith (before his Chris Rock punching days). On the way, back we stopped at a toy store. My parents said that today was a wonderful day and decided to treat their son to a toy. They said – pick one thing you like. There it was – a 1:24 Bburago model of a first-generation Dodge Viper R/T10. I never knew what that was and although neither of us knew it at the time – this sealed my envelope. A lifetime obsession had just begun. I had always been into cars, even before that – right after the fall of communism in Bulgaria my dad bought a W123 Mercedes with a full AMG kit on it and I have vivid memories of that car – bear in mind that until then everything was Ladas and Volgas and Moskviches here. Nothing much. The orange Skoda was literally the exotic on the roads. So in 1996 seeing a Viper was literally the equivalent of seeing a spaceship. This pathway lead me to being a thoroughbred petrol head. All of us have the same story. I would like to hear it. Email us your story at blog@abrites.com and we will publish it.
So yes, this one small thing, this one-day lead me to where I am today. Constantly looking at cars, every single car trouble there ever was, many regretful car purchases and even more regretful car sales but here I am, 36, working for the number one company in its automotive field – Abrites. I have been working here for 12 years and have been through all of our abilities – standard diagnostics, key programming and my personal favorite – module adaptation. Automotive diagnostics became my life – everything relating to it became my interest – all of that because of that one day 30 years ago. This is the butterfly effect in action. Anyway. I would really like to know your story.
Sometimes we are allowed to take a step back and reflect on the things that caused us and our paths to intertwine to the location where we are today.
Until then I have to remind you that we should try to have fun at work and remember the moment when Will Smith welcomed that alien to earth. Until next week,
Alek
