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SPRING FORWARD: Expert RV Prep Tips from Matt Sain, Owner of Central Body
May 7, 2025
By Matt Sain, CEO of Central Body Company
Leadership doesn’t come with a manual, especially not in the collision repair industry. For me, it’s been a journey of learning, unlearning, and getting my hands dirty (literally and figuratively). Central Body has been my classroom since I was twelve years old, and every ding, dent, and difficult day has shaped the leader I am today.
Here are the lessons that have stuck with me the most—and maybe they'll help someone else steering their own team forward.
1. Leadership Looked Different When I Was 12
When I first stepped into Central Body as a kid, leadership meant being the biggest, boldest guy in the room—just like my dad. He was a giant in every way: six-foot-six, handlebar mustache, cowboy boots, booming laugh. When he walked into a room, people listened. But as I grew older and eventually took the reins, I realized leadership isn’t about being loud. It’s about listening, empowering, and earning respect—not demanding it.
I didn’t want to be “the boss’s kid.” I worked hard, full-time, while going through college because I needed to prove to myself—and the team—that I belonged. That mindset still drives me today.
2. Collision Repair Taught Me the Art of the Pivot
There’s no industry that requires more adaptability than this one. We’re constantly reacting to shifts, from government policy like “Cash for Clunkers” to massive changes in traffic flow during COVID-19. What I’ve learned is that survival depends on your ability to pivot quickly without losing sight of your long game. For us, that meant expanding, diversifying, and preparing for what’s next—before we’re forced to.
3. Trust Is Earned by Giving It
If you want a team that trusts you, you have to be the first to give trust away. That means handing off real responsibility, supporting your people when they make mistakes, and showing them you’ll never ask them to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. I’ve swept the floors, answered the phones, and crawled under RVs, still will. That kind of presence matters. Transparency, humility, and accountability go a long way.
4. My Breaking Point Made Me a Better Leader
After my dad passed in 2006, I felt like I was failing professionally, personally, and financially. We were losing $10–20K a month, and I seriously considered shutting the business down. I even thought about going back to school to become a pediatrician. But something told me to double down. So I did. I built a more resilient company brick by brick, one that could weather recessions, pandemics, and everything in between.
5. Letting Go Is One of the Hardest Things I’ve Had to Learn
I’ve done every job at Central Body. So, stepping back and letting others lead is... hard. Like, really hard, especially in ops meetings, I want to jump in and take over. But I’ve had to train myself to mute my mic, let my team think it through, and only offer feedback afterward. That’s growth, for them and me.
6. Small Habits Matter More Than You Think
Every morning starts the same for me: quiet time, coffee, prayer, and a devotional. It centers me. I also take mid-day walks when I can to clear my head, and I try to visit at least one shop a week to stay connected to the people who make it all happen. These aren’t flashy habits, but they keep me grounded and sharp.
7. Hire for Heart, Train for Skill
We follow EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) principles when it comes to hiring: right person, right seat. That means hiring people who live our core values. We use screening calls, in-depth interviews, and DISC assessments, and we pair new hires with mentors. We also invest in leadership development, from book clubs to external training. Talent matters, but mindset is everything.
8. Motivation in Hard Times Comes from Clarity and Consistency
During COVID-19, we didn’t lay off a single person. We cut overtime, yes, but we made it clear from day one that our goal was to keep everyone employed. We communicated constantly. We used the downtime to train, clean, organize, and strengthen our culture. And we were honest; we didn’t sugarcoat the pain, but we showed a path forward.
9. The Myth? That Leaders Have to Be Perfect
The biggest lie? That leaders are born, not made, or that they can’t show vulnerability. The truth is, good leaders don’t have all the answers. They ask great questions. They create other leaders. They own their mistakes. I don’t focus on my weaknesses, I focus on amplifying my strengths and helping my team do the same.
10. If I Could Talk to 20-Year-Old Matt…
I’d say: Enter the danger. Run toward the things that scare you. Speak up, even when your voice shakes. Try public speaking. Be curious. Surround yourself with people who are better than you in every way, and learn from them. But let’s be real: I probably wouldn’t have listened back then. Still, I hope someone else does now.
Central Body is my family’s legacy, but it’s also my leadership lab. It’s where I’ve failed, grown, evolved, and watched others do the same. Leadership here isn’t about titles or tenure. It’s about trust, humility, and service.
If there’s one thing I know for sure, the real work of leadership happens when no one’s watching—and it’s worth every dent and scratch along the way.
