What a NASCAR Pit Stop Taught Me About Running a Retail Team

This week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the NASCAR Michigan race as a VIP.

Pitlane access and all, thanks to a generous friend in my retail mastermind group.

Standing trackside, just feet from the action, I watched in awe as the pit crews performed precision pit stops.

Tyres changed, fuel in and back out in seconds.

But on one stop, something slipped.

The team needed two fuel canisters.

The first went in like clockwork.

The second?

A split-second delay in handover - just one second, and the car dropped nine places in the race.

Ouch.

The pit boss was fuming.

I could see why.

These teams train for this moment all week.

Everyone has one job, and it needs to be executed with focus, speed, and accuracy.

Sound familiar?

That’s your business.

That’s your team.

Race day is your everyday.

You’ve got to train.

You’ve got to rehearse.

And when things go wrong - and they will, you debrief, adjust, and get sharper.

In retail, as in racing, the tiniest detail can cost you.

But with a trained team, clear roles, and daily discipline, you give yourself the best chance of winning.

Is your training driving your standards?

Something to reflect on this weekend.

Have a great week.

Mark