Written by Sean Gill, Owner of The TintMan Gill in Sumter, S.C.; Edited by Chris Collier, Editorial Director of Loop Magazine
Your grind, and your mind, deserve a break.
With the demands of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle mentality. As a small shop owner, I don’t have the luxury of stepping away and watching my business function without me.
If I’m not in the shop, no work gets done. If no work gets done, no money comes in. And even when money isn’t coming in, it’s always going out. For years, that realization kept me handcuffed to my shop, refusing to take a break.
“Sean is Always at the Shop”
At some point, the stress became overwhelming. The 16-hour workdays started taking their toll, and I didn’t even realize it. My attitude toward customers suffered. I wasn’t smiling anymore. My relationship with my family was strained. My social life? Nonexistent.
My wife, Jamil, had been telling me for years that she and the kids needed more than just a provider. They needed me. While my shop got the best of me, they were left with whatever was left of me. I was drained, stubborn, and exhausted. I was no longer the involved husband she married in 2003 or the attentive father my children had grown up loving. I was doing a great job paying bills, but I was missing out on life.
Jamil was stuck attending school events alone. My absence wasn’t even questioned anymore, it was a given. “Sean is always at the shop.”
A Wake-Up Call
Jamil and I had the same discussion repeatedly. She wanted me to work less. And every time, it triggered frustration in me. How could she expect me to work less while also expecting me to help pay the bills? In my mind, it was all or nothing.
For years, I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in the shop. I believed that if I didn’t take every opportunity to make money, the opportunity would vanish. I unknowingly worshipped my business, prioritizing it above all else. Then, Jamil gave me an ultimatum: Spend more time with my family or lose my family.
That hit hard. I had spent so much time believing that providing was my only role that I failed to see what I was losing in the process. Still, I was terrified. If I stepped back, would my shop survive? I had built this business from the ground up. Without it, who was I?
Deep down, I knew I had value beyond my shop, but my mind struggled to accept it.
Re-Connecting Relationships
I finally realized I couldn’t find balance alone. I had to swallow my pride and apologize, to my family and to God. I had put my business at the center of my life for too long, and I needed their help to make a change. It wasn’t easy, but we figured it out.
We started going to church together again instead of them going while I stayed at the shop. We started eating dinner as a family instead of them eating at a decent hour while I reheated leftovers late at night.
We started taking trips without me obsessing over whether my shop would survive being closed for a few days. That part took time, but it happened. And we were happy again.
The Power of Taking a Break
For my mental and family stability, I’ve learned that taking a break is essential. Every quarter, we step away. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. We might rent an Airbnb 30 minutes away just to disconnect for a weekend. Other times, we take a full week off and jump on a cruise.
And yes, I sometimes stop by a fellow tinter’s shop while on vacation. Some might think it’s crazy to take a break from tinting just to go tint somewhere else, but for me, it’s about fellowship. I enjoy connecting with other professionals without stressing over my own shop.
We also look forward to tint conventions and competitions. Even though they’re business-related, they still give us a break from the daily grind. Events like the International Window Film Conference & Tint-Off (WFCT), Tinter Battles, and Window Film Revolution’s Family Reunion have become staples in our yearly calendar.
We attended Autobahn and Edge's Dealer Conference in Atlanta, Ga., and we’re already counting down to the next one in Dallas, Texas, coming up in March 2027.
My Family’s Favorite Escape
Our absolute favorite getaway? Daytona Bike Week.
Every year, we rent an Airbnb, load up the Harleys, and ride down. My dad and brother meet us there from Mississippi, and we spend four or five days cruising the open road. There’s nothing like it. The stress melts away with every mile.
This year, I had two bike projects lined up for Daytona. I customized my Harley-Davidson Road Glide (nicknamed Family Ties) and Jamil’s Harley-Davidson Sportster trike (Roxy). We even set up our son, Eric, with his own Sportster.
A Community That Understands
Recently, I’ve been talking with my good friend, Avery Wells, Owner of Preferred Window Tinting in Valdosta, Ga., about putting together a Window Tinter’s Cruise. Just imagine: tons of tinters, all brands, all together, relaxing and winding down on a ship.
I can picture it perfectly. Different tint brands on different shirts, but at the end of the day, we’re all one family.
And in case you’re wondering if the shift has been worth it. Just ask my daughter, Elise. She recently told Jamil that she loves having more access to me. Even with her off at college, we talk more now than ever before.
Finding balance isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Take the break. Make the memories. Your business will survive. But more importantly, your family and your peace of mind will, too.
