We recently connected with Nikita and have shared our conversation below.

Nikita, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

“Take the risk or lose the chance.”

I opened an auto repair shop with $43 in the bank account, not to mention the $22,000 worth of debt I paid off this year. I graduated from NASCAR Technical Institute in 2020, and 100 miles into the 900-mile trip back to my hometown, my school bus home broke down. It needed a major repair that couldn’t be fixed on the side of the road.

So, I did the logical thing and bought another old, questionable school bus. Then, I transferred my clothes, furniture, and pets from one bus to the other in front of a towing-enforced sign. I was living in that bare-bones bus with no running water (and not in the glamorous off-grid way) when I decided to open the shop.

And work where? I’m glad you asked, in the middle of a field, down a dirt road, past the bugger hole. Some would call that risky, but the real risk came later when my boyfriend told me he would quit his government job to work for me if I rented a shop (haha, idiot).

After the first month of rent was paid, I had $43 left, which I used to buy a thermostat housing. It turns out that $43 went a long way.

Nikita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started working on cars when I was twelve and bought my first car, a 1981 Pontiac Firebird, which I taught myself to work on before I could legally drive. I’ve always been a bookworm, and the local librarian was one of my closest friends. When she heard about my car, she asked if I was “the Bandit.” I watched Smokey and the Bandit per her recommendation and decided I wanted to race cars. But I couldn’t afford a mechanic, so I figured I’d have to become one.

Not long after, I taught myself how to change power steering lines, make brake lines, and rebuild a transmission. I started with American classics, but during college, I worked at both a transmission shop and an import repair shop. It was at Taylor’s Sport n’ Import where I realized how much I loved working on European cars and found my passion as a technician.

When I lived in the Ozark Mountains, I had to drive twenty-five miles to the nearest parts store. I made that drive twice because the caliper sliding pins didn’t match in color. For those who don’t know, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re the same style, and no one can even see them. But I knew, and I wanted it done the “correct” way. That’s part of what makes me a great technician and business owner. I care about the details no one else sees, the parts that are cleaned, measured, and torqued to spec.

I decided to open an auto repair shop without an actual shop. I had a 10×16-foot shed where I built my first engine under the name Knucklebusters Garage and a hayfield where I did the rest of the work. Amazon was founded in a garage, and the first Harley-Davidson prototype was built in someone’s backyard. No matter how small your beginnings, you can achieve anything.

Despite the badass name, Knucklebusters Garage is a female-owned import repair shop that specializes in European vehicles like BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Mini. We do everything from advanced testing and routine maintenance, like oil changes, brakes, and inspections, to major engine and transmission repairs.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I asked my shop foreman, also my boyfriend, which question I should answer, he said this one. I asked how I was resilient, and he said, “Dealing with difficult customers and bringing the bank account back from the dead.” I told him I don’t feel resilient; I feel like a wet napkin.

I’m sure there are pivotal life events that I’ve faced that would make most people quit, like breaking my back at eighteen. But resilience is small actions that compound over time. When you’re so cooked you can’t see straight, but you write the estimate anyway. When you’re concussed, but call the customer anyway. When you’ve got the flu, but you work on the Audi anyway. Entrepreneurship is built ten minutes at a time.

I still get comments like, “It must be nice to sit in the office all day,” or “Daddy’s money.” Like the quote says, “When you’re on your way up, everyone roots for you because you remind them of their dreams. When you’re at the top, everyone tears you down because you remind them that they gave up on theirs.”

Every day, I add to the list of undeniable proof that I am who I say I am. When other people’s opinions of me start to get under my skin, I focus on adding to that list. I follow up with customers or finish a car that has been on the job board for weeks. I prove to myself that I am not who they think I am. When someone says something that hurts you, it’s because you believe it about yourself.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Many books and videos have inspired me and changed how I run my business and life, but there are two that I revisit from time to time. My first instructor at NASCAR Tech played a speech by Admiral William H. McRaven called Make Your Bed. This taught me that sometimes you have to be a sugar cookie, how powerful we are, and to always make your bed.

Second is the book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. It taught me to take responsibility for every aspect of my life, because what you’re not changing, you’re choosing. Life is hard, so pick your hard. As my lock screen says, “Pain of discipline or pain of regret?”

And a special shoutout to every video ever posted by Ali Abdaal and all the Winter Arc sparkly edits on TikTok!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.knucklebustersgarage.us/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knucklebuster_nikita/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnucklebusterNikita/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@knucklebusternikita