Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Women looking in mirrors have received a bum rap for ages and ages, in literature and art. In paintings from the Middle Ages, a woman gazing at her reflection was the symbol of what the Medieval world considered the worst of the Seven Deadly Sins - Pride. Snow White’s evil stepmother did her vain reality check before her talking mirror, starting a deadly competition for “the fairest of them all” crown.

Times change and meanings evolve. In our time, a mirror can reveal the image of reality, warts and all, for the careful looker; a starting point for needed change; and a device able to measure and evaluate progress made toward a new, improved image - in which the observer can take justifiable pride.

As anyone who has begun a self-improvement quest in a gym surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mirrors can tell you, changing your image is a long, hard process.

Our Collision Repair Industry, spearheaded by the endeavors of the NABC, has made great strides in improving its image. The work is not done, and this month’s feature article gives us a look in the mirror to see what we can continue to do. This is a timely discussion, especially after the February CBS Evening News segment (See the March INSIGHT for details.) on body shops.

Mark Claypool’s Mentors at Work continues to address apprenticeship training needs in the industry, an essential ingredient for an improved industry image. Read about his participation in an international e-conference on page 9.

Also on page 9, take note of 3M CEO W. James McNerney’s look in the mirror. He points to a great staff, outstanding customer dedication, and a commitment to innovation as the keys to a successful company. Sounds like an image for which to aim in any business, doesn’t it?

INSIGHT is looking forward to news from the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) this month. Organized once again by Chris Mann, publisher of Bodyshop Magazine in the UK, the event gathers together participants from the international collision repair community for a truly global look in the mirror.