"If you're not early, you're late!" If you've ever had the opportunity to spend time with Kurt Mueller, founder of CARSTAR Maryville, there's a good chance you've heard those words! Kurt is now retired, with the second generation leading the business, but his passion for excellence, leadership and developing young people hasn't slowed down one bit.
Every year, our Gateway CEO students have the opportunity to visit CARSTAR Maryville, and I have to admit, this is one of those visits where I soak in just as much as the students do. An hour in Kurt's presence always leaves me with something to think about, something to improve and usually a few good laughs along the way!
Kurt has a gift for sharing his story with humor, brutal honesty and a whole lot of wisdom. He kicked off our morning with a reminder:
"Everybody does the big things. It's the little things you do better that make you successful."
This year, however, another question became a recurring theme throughout his stories: "Was I lucky, or did I create my own luck?"
It's a question Kurt returned to again and again as he shared the experiences, decisions and opportunities that shaped his life and business. From a young boy working at age 8, to leading a team on a farm by 14, to getting married and opening his own auto body shop before graduating high school, Kurt's entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary.
One of my favorite stories involves those early days on the farm. As a young supervisor, Kurt once sent his crew home and tried to finish the work himself, ultimately suffering from heat exhaustion. When he returned, he asked his boss, Spooney, how he was supposed to keep everyone working and moving forward.
Spooney's response? "I've never seen a horse pushing a cart."
What a lesson in leadership!
Kurt realized his job wasn't to do everyone's work. It was to lead, recognize strengths, build relationships and help others become successful. With a change in his approach, his team began producing more than ever before.
And once again, Kurt challenged us: Was he lucky to have a boss who shared that wisdom, or did he create his own luck by asking the right question and being willing to learn?
As Kurt continued sharing his journey, that question became even more meaningful. Drawing from Life Is Luck and Think and Grow Rich, he challenged our students to consider how mindset, preparation, persistence and action influence the opportunities that come our way.
From a tiny garage to one of the region's most successful collision repair businesses, Kurt has demonstrated what happens when you combine vision with relentless attention to detail. Finding efficiencies. Building the right partnerships, including CARSTAR. Setting clear expectations. Investing in employees. Continually improving.
Was it luck that the business grew? Or was it the result of countless decisions to do the little things better than everyone else? Excellence isn't one big decision. It's a thousand little decisions made consistently over time. Kurt also shared his Top 13 Words to Live By, and they're worth passing along:
Thoughts are things.
Success is built on "I can."
Failure is built on "I can't."
Everybody does the big things. The little things make you stand out.
Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
Dream big. Have a clear mental picture and a plan to succeed.
Write it down. Without a written plan, it's just a dream.
Treat everybody the way you want to be treated.
Believe in yourself. If you don't, nobody else will.
Beginning is being half done—combine it with persistence and the desire to succeed.
Don't be afraid to succeed.
The difference between $1,000,000 and $10 is five zeros.
Go for it! Nobody can stop you as long as you believe in yourself.
What I appreciate most about Kurt is that he doesn't simply talk about excellence. He lives it. From greeting us as we pulled in, to having donuts and water ready, providing books and handouts, and giving our students an incredible behind-the-scenes tour of the business, every detail reflected the very lessons he was teaching.
And yes, Kurt, I heard you loud and clear about ALWAYS having my name tag! 😉 Another great reminder that we lead from the front, and the little things matter!
These are the moments that make Gateway CEO so valuable. Our students aren't just hearing about business success. They're standing in the middle of a business built through decades of hard work, learning directly from someone who has lived the challenges, made the decisions and continued to raise the bar.
And perhaps the biggest question our students took away wasn't simply how Kurt built a successful business. It was this: "Was I lucky, or did I create my own luck?" Because while we may not control every opportunity that comes our way, we certainly have a role in how prepared we are, what we do with it and whether we're willing to put in the work.
Kurt, THANK YOU for another incredible morning, for your continued investment in our students and for reminding all of us that success begins with what we believe, how we lead and what we're willing to do every single day.
The Class of 2027—and their facilitator—left a little better because of the time you invested in us! ❤️
#GatewayCEO #ClassOf2027 #CARSTARMaryville #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Mentorship #Excellence #InvestInTheNextGeneration
