Workplace reviews and discussion: 普洛吉村有限公司

I joined in 2011 and worked there until 2015.

I started as an apprentice for a little over a year (at age 21), then worked as a semi-skilled technician for almost two years, and as a full technician for nearly one year (this calculation follows the salary-increase records).

Then I went abroad and left ProLo (because I wanted to learn about vehicles from other parts of the world; I was only 25 at the time), also to meet my elders’ expectations.

As a poorly educated punk who did not like studying, all I liked back then was riding motorcycles. Over time, I became curious and wanted to modify my own motorcycle with my own hands.

That mindset led me to ProLo (I feel very honored). Everyone called ProLo a famous shop. My goodness, I got hired.

At the time, Brother Braised Egg was the supervisor of the repair department. Brother Baozi handled sales and warehouse management...

During the interview, I sat down with the boss (Brother Hsueh) and talked about everything from my youth. Wow! (Inside: Can I start work right away?)

Every vehicle in the shop was modified perfectly. As a rookie, I was really excited.

The first three months after joining were truly busy. The modified vehicles we worked on every day were genuinely one of a kind, and I also met quite a few major business owners.

I learned more than just being a mechanic. Beside Brother Braised Egg, I also learned from his EQ—how to talk with customers and discuss vehicle modifications, and how to serve customers professionally. We talked about modifying vehicles while smoking. Brother Braised Egg said, “When I first came here, I didn’t know how to talk to customers either. Brother Hsueh kept lecturing me, and after being lectured for a long time... I don’t even know when I became the repair department supervisor. People only grow under pressure. You—ask less, observe more, and keep your eyes open and follow along. Most importantly! There are many valuable skills to learn during overtime... stop going on dates over there and work hard to learn, okay~~~~”

At the time, I found it annoying and felt I was constantly being ordered around. Now I understand: “Learn the right attitude toward repairing vehicles first, then learn how to repair them.” That was often said in meetings.

It was not until I became a semi-skilled technician that I grew closer to Brother Hsueh (because Brother Braised Egg had left ProLo and returned to Hualien to open a shop).

Brother Hsueh’s rule was that when things were busy, don’t ask him too many questions—do more, keep your eyes sharp, and keep up. Most importantly! Tools could not be left on the ground. Every day, at the beginning and end of work, the repair department had to be as clean as the storefront. If you forgot, he would scold you without mercy! But Brother Hsueh was a different person at work. At dinners, he was the life of the party, as if he had two different personalities 😊

After returning to Taiwan, I had my own workshop (my main job was helping my family run their shop). Repairing vehicles was my dream, so I could not give it up. I also really enjoyed going on drives with Brother Hsueh and Brother Baozi—it was a lot of fun.

Even now, when I occasionally have free time, I still go over to help when Brother Hsueh needs me, because I still want to repair ProLo’s vehicles and enjoy doing it 😃

So, anyone can become a mechanic because the work itself is simple. But becoming a “great mechanic,” like Brother Hsueh, and “spending a lifetime repairing vehicles” is not easy.

Thank you, Brother Hsueh, for teaching me everything. Thank you, Brother Braised Egg, for treating me like one of your own and scolding me every day for my own good (I was often late).

Thank you, ProLo, for helping me grow—from someone who did not even know how to change engine oil into someone who can now modify and repair vehicles. I will keep repairing vehicles and will not give up. This is my dream!

If you are in a hurry to become a technician, you may leave before completing your probationary period because you need to make a living. It takes time to become familiar with the people and inner workings at Braised Egg’s shop. Wherever there are people, “relationships” are always needed. Only after building relationships can you open your heart; then the boss and supervisor will open up and teach you all the procedures and skills.

Brother Hsueh’s usual order was noodles with kimchi, thin noodles, and the soup served separately. (When I first arrived, I often bought it wrong and got scolded, then had to make a second trip to buy it again. In any case, I had to get it right and make sure Brother Hsueh could eat at exactly 18:30.) These tasks were originally rotated among the staff, rather than being assigned entirely to a newcomer.

When you are learning while earning a salary, you are learning other people’s skills. In ancient times, people said you had to become an apprentice. Without understanding the customs between teacher and apprentice, and without enough human connection, who would teach someone who does not understand them?

At the time, I thought buying meals, purchasing materials... whatever task the boss or supervisor assigned was important. If you worry too much about fairness, you will fail to learn anything.

I personally liked dogs, but I was also afraid of them when I first arrived. Brother Hsueh usually rode his bicycle early in the morning with several dogs for a lap, and at night it was our turn as employees to help take the dogs out to poop. The black dog was very smart, and Brother Hsueh walked it without a leash. What about us? Without a leash, it would run and make me chase after it~~~~ It even made a mess right at the beer shop entrance. It took about a month of getting to know the dogs before things became normal.

When things were busy in the afternoon, Brother Hsueh usually bought freshly baked pastries sold by mainlanders and called us over to eat.

Don’t even get me started on group dinners: the liquor had to go around one cup at a time. Only after drinking could we work up the courage to give feedback to the supervisor @@

Brother Hsueh disliked technicians who chewed betel nuts. He would only scold them @&@. Brother Hsueh was also very sensitive to the foul, rotten smell of sweat. If the smell was strong while repairing vehicles, we did not dare stand near him, or he would scold us terribly.

When repairing vehicles, even refueling could not be spilled on the ground—not even a little.

After a technician finished repairing a vehicle, they had to wash it personally before handing it back to the customer. After washing it, Brother Hsueh would inspect it. If he rejected it, we had to wash it again. In any case, we kept washing until he said it was acceptable. He had very high standards.

Every shop has advantages and disadvantages. If you only see its disadvantages—complain, get angry, and feel sad—none of that does anything for you.

There are not many people who live only among the advantages, either. Human beings never remember the good side, but if something unpleasant happens even once, they remember it for a lifetime. That is just how people are.

So, when I was a full-time employee at ProLo, if the pressure became too much, I would take a day off, calm down, think 🤔 about what I should do next, and then decide.

During meetings, communicate more!