I refer to my Chapter, LeTip of Sacramento, as my “LeTip Family.” We’ve been through a lot together in the last 11 years.
I’ve been repairing, restoring and modifying cars since I was 12. In my early 20s I restored and modified a 1956 Ford F-100, took First Place at Autorama in Sacramento and had it featured on the centerfold of Truckin’ magazine. After working for other people for too many years, I decided to open my own shop in 2007, Nor Cal Auto Body in Citrus Heights, CA, so I could run things my way – putting my customers first over the insurance companies. My reputation fed my business for a few years, but I wanted more. In 2014, on a quest to find a way to grow our network, my wife at that time found LeTip of Citrus Heights through a Google search and became a member. The Citrus Heights Chapter was small and ended up dissolving, so she migrated to LeTip of Sacramento.
In 2016, after outgrowing my first shop and moving my business to a larger shop, my wife filed for divorce. Of course, she turned to an attorney in LeTip of Sacramento, to represent her. My ex-wife left me to figure out how to run my business on my own, she stopped attending LeTip, and her attorney sent me some very scary letters! I didn’t know what to do.
In time, I figured out how to pull up my bootstraps, run my business on my own and put together a plan to dig myself out of the debt of my divorce. I knew the value of LeTip, and realized I needed to attend. But I had such a fear of public speaking and facing “the opposing counsel,” that there were many morning meetings where I would pull into the parking lot, get sick to my stomach, break out into a cold sweat, turn around and go back to my shop. How could I speak to all of them… or even face them professionally while I was struggling?
One morning, I finally said “**** it” and went in, clammy hands and all. I waited for the “opposing council” to take a seat at the meeting and then I sat at the opposite end of the room. The most I could manage for my commercial was, “I’m Chad Riffe, Nor Cal Auto Body, I fix smashed cars,” and promptly sit back down. But everyone got a kick out of it and said it was my “shtick”. They were so patient with me. My ex-wife’s attorney, who was no longer representing my ex-wife, was so great and professional. She taught me a lot about professionalism, for sure. She ultimately ended up becoming one of my biggest cheerleaders. The whole Chapter welcomed me in, just let me be me, and allowed me the time and space to grow.
I received “the best tip ever” in 2019 when our banker in the group, Kymla Birchett, referred her assistant manager, Brenda, to me after a car accident. I had never experienced love at first sight before, so I didn’t really know what was happening when I met her at my shop. I thought I was having a heart attack! Long story short, I fixed her truck, and she took my last name in 2021. We joke that we met by accident.
In 2022, against my better judgement, I held my first board position in our Chapter as Secretary. This forced me to speak a little more in front of everyone each week. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the additional speaking time gave my fellow members the chance to get to know me better, and as a result, the number of tips I received increased.
The following year, Kymla requested that I throw my hat in the ring to be Vice President, as she would most likely be President and knew we would work well together. She did introduce me to the woman who became my wife. So how could I say, “no?”
I ended up serving as Vice President for the 2023-2024 LeTip year, which further increased my confidence in speaking to this great group of business professionals and allowed everyone the opportunity to know me even better. Again, the number of tips I received increased.
On May 1, 2024, my very first day as President of LeTip of Sacramento (then, 44 members strong), I realized what an incredible honor and responsibility it was to be chosen to lead this amazing group. I learned the Bylaws, inside and out, which gave my Chapter confidence in me. It was a fantastic learning and growth experience that I highly recommend everyone go through. The level-headedness and encouraging support that I got from Summer Middleton, my Chapter’s Past-Presidents, Kymla, and the rest of my amazing Board of Directors, was second to none. Summer really gave us a lot of her time and guidance during the beginning of my presidency. Over the rest of my LeTip Year, we lost a few members and gained quite a few more members. This positive-energy Chapter that I am so fortunate to be a part of – currently 54 members strong – is responsible for over 25% of my shop’s total annual income, which has grown by 75% since joining LeTip. Some of my business continues to come from people who are no longer even in LeTip.
There is also a certain confidence I get to walk through life with by having so many different services to call on that I, or someone I know, may need. I don’t have to try to find a great “Tire Guy” or Chiropractor or Banker or Electrician or Attorney or… and just pray that whoever I choose from a Google search works out. There are some LeTip members I refer to every month, some less often, but I’m always grateful they’re there when I or someone I know needs them.
It takes time to build that network. You just have to put in the time. Your network is your net worth. You can ask any of my Chapter members – I tell everyone, “Give love, receive love.” I have grown so much because of LeTip. My business has grown so much because of LeTip. Every time I wanted to say “no” out of fear and this group has made me say “yes,” there has been growth. You never know what the people you know will bring to your life. I not only fix smashed cars for my Chapter members, but also for their families, friends and clients. Know as many quality people as you can. LeTip has been an amazing way for me to do that… and I will be forever grateful.
