RR 462: Paul McCarthy – AASA President Has the Back of the Service Professional

Paul McCarthy – The importance of Marketing and Relationship Building

I’m having a conversation with AASA’s President, Paul McCarthy. Our discussion went wide and we covered important topics that positively affect the aftermarket service industry. I walked away with a good feeling that Paul and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association have a handle on the opportunities and challenges of the service professional.

Paul McCarthy explains what AASA is doing to help bridge the connections with OE’s, suppliers and the service professional. You get to hear the latest trending talking points being discussed at all levels of our industry like the fears surrounding OEs support of the aftermarket, rideshare in NYC, consumer attitude due to the overcharged talk of recession, and the access and security of our data and more. It is good to see that Paul McCarthy and AASA are all over this and we benefit.

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THA 134: Market Changes and What I’m Doing About Them

THA 134 – Market Changes and What I’m Doing About Them

We are dropping topics on Hybrid repair and marketing, building technician, avoiding a viral social goof, customer ADAS training, and communication tactics among others.

With me in this episode are three shop owners who really enjoyed sharing their battle scars of success, for that matter they continue to earn their scars as we all do. From Xpertech Auto Repair is Kathleen Jarsik, from Englewood, FL, Kurt Valvis, Co-Owner, Guys Foreign Car Repair, Metairie, La and Brent Robinson, Co-owner with his brother Brian in Snellville Auto Center, Snellville, GA and Loganville Auto Center, in Loganville, GA.

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RR 461: Dan Taylor – Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Leads to High Performance Shops – Part 1

Dan Taylor – Emotional Intelligence Leads To High Performance

In the business of the aftermarket, we are always in search of leadership qualities to take our business and team to the next level. It is not necessarily how smart you are but how you manage your and your team’s emotions.

Let me set the stage; here is a quote from noted author Daniel Goleman: In a study of skills that distinguish star performers in every field from entry-level jobs to executive positions, the single most important factor was not IQ, advanced degrees, or technical experience, it was EQ: Emotional Intelligence.

This episode has the right ingredients to make you emotionally aware of the properties of your own emotions and how to incorporate them into problem-solving and to the overall emotional health of a shop. My guest today is Dan Taylor. He is the Senior Business Advisor of Transformers institute. Dan will help you understand the importance of Emotional Intelligence in leadership as a huge factor in team and customer retention.

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RR 460: Erick Bock – How to Quit Your Job and Face your FEARS – Go Where Your Passion Resides!

Erick Bock – How to Quit Your Job and Face your FEARS – Go Where Your Passion Resides!

I’m with Erick Bock of Bock Auto, Amagansett, NY, Long Island. Erick is very passionate about cars and he dreamed he was going to own a shop one day. His dreams came true when he overcame his fears and started to face them head-on.

We all know that fear is a huge wall to overcome. Listen to how Eric did it. Learn from it and maybe share this episode with a colleague who is also weighed down with the fear of making decisions and achieving your goals

His shop boasts a full-service preventive maintenance and automotive repair center. The shop performs high quality, guaranteed service you can trust at a fair price.

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THA 133: Why Soft or Life Skills Training Matters for Business Success

THA 133 The Value of Soft Skills Training

The panel says that soft skills training helps build a stronger, flexible and harmonious organization. Leadership training is not just for the leader today. Everyone can benefit from being a better listener, which is the #1 soft skills or life skills training we all need to have.

Join Judi Haglin owner with her husband Dana in Haglin Automotive, Boulder, CO, Kyle Holt, President of SP/2 andJeff Peevy, AMAM, President | Automotive Management Institute.

Change your attitude Soft (Life) Skills Training. It must include everyone in your business. Training in communication, critical thinking, finding and keeping a positive attitude, teamwork and work ethic, to name a few. Everyone benefits including family life.

In support of your work to build an enduring business culture one of the best tactics you can implement is soft skills or life skills training. Consider the message in this episode as an important component to building your enduring business culture.

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RR 459: Standards And Values Foster a United Purpose for Your Team

Standards And Values Foster a United Purpose For Your Team

My friend Kevin Donahoe from Pacific Motor Service with two shops in Monterey, CA
And Pacific Grove, CA along with his general manager Jim Hayes go deep into their culture. They have a set of standards and values that drive their organization’s behavior.

You’ll learn about the creation of these standards and values, we’ll discuss the origins of a few and how these standards and values are the anchors in their enduring business culture.

You are about to listen in on a conversation that could be the impulsion to get you started. I believe once you’ve listened you’ll want to start your work on building your enduring business culture.

You are going to learn a lot, I believe you’ll have a clearer picture of the power of an enduring business culture and you just may walk away with enough motivation to get started and to find some juice to improve what you currently have.

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FTR 059: Greg Buckley on LYFT

Greg Buckley on Lyft

Greg Buckley posted a video he did when he visited a LYFT Service Center in Philadelphia and shared his observations. No doubt this business model from LYFT is a disruptor and what can we learn from it and what should you know.

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RR 458: John Passante and Rob Tinson – Is Face To Face Communications Gone?

Fundamental Communicating and Selling. Is Face To Face Communications Gone?

Guests Dr. John Passante is a legacy automotive aftermarket Human Resource Professional and President/CEO of the Organizational Development Group. He is an adjunct professor at the University of the Aftermarket, listed in Who’s Who in Training and Development and in the Automotive Hall of Fame. John is also an Executive Coach to many aftermarket leaders.

Rob Tinson has held key sales and marketing roles in the industry. Rob is Director of Sales for North America at Schrader TPMS Solutions a leading manufacturer of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, a part of Sensata Technologies.

Do you understand the basics of communicating and selling? Learn the intricacies of creating a partnership before making a sale. Understand the importance of humanizing a lot of things which were oversimplified by the use of technology.

Life works better when we communicate either using tech or better yet face to face. (Do you remember how to do that?) Communication is very important because it is where we build trust and credibility and how partnerships are built.

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THA 132: Business Coaches Lab: Building an Enduring Business Culture

THA 132 Business Coaches Lab – Building an Enduring Business Culture

Culture is one of the most important business strategies you need to work on. Building a strong and vibrant business culture is required today. Learn how to get started and start to build your business culture.

The panel Murray Voth, RPM Training, Rick White 180 Biz, Cecil Bullard, The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence and Bob Greenwood, Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Center.

Top aftermarket shops have a strong culture in place and are always tweaking and improving it. It is the foundation and ground zero for hiring and keeping the right people. And also in attracting and providing a great customer experience.

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RR 457: Justin Allen – Working Too Hard? Feel Burned Out?

RR 457: Justin Allen – We are working too hard. Do you feel burned out?

Justin Allen is a sales specialist with Hunter Engineering. His observation: We are working too hard. Do you feel burned out? Listen to Justin tell it like sees it. Justin supports the service professional in his role with Hunter. He’s got a keen eye on our opportunities and challenges and points out some critical needs we have. He is even an advocate of a 4 day work week.

Have you focused on your techs burn out and the quality of their family life? His responsibilities with Hunter give him a 360-degree view of the business side of the aftermarket and the rigorous efforts it takes to run a successful shop.

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RR 456: Jennifer Grady ESQ – Harassment Training Required by Law

Jennifer Grady ESQ – Harassment Training Required by Law

Jennifer A. Grady, Esq. is the founder of the law firm The Grady Firm, P.C. Ms. Grady is an attorney, corporate trainer, and international speaker. She founded the firm in 2012 with a passion for helping business owners, entrepreneurs, and their families achieve the American Dream of freedom, opportunity, self-sufficiency, and success.

Are you aware that the lion share of small businesses must have required harassment training for their employees? In this episode, you have a chance to be personally updated on harassment training and the change in the law that requires training if you have 5 or more employees.

This episode helps you understand the serious issues of sexual harassment in the workplace. Never discount the fact that your business is resistant to a harassment claim. We rarely talk about this topic and it is time.

Learn how you can improve your position or understand what you need to do to implement strong policy in your company so you can minimize your exposure and also be compliant to the letter of the law.

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THA 131: Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five and Ten Years

THA 131 The Future – Preparing Your Shop For the Next Five to Ten Years

What is your future? Have you planned it? What are you doing to ensure your success in the next 5, 10 or 15 years? If you do nothing you get what you currently have and that may not sustain you to far into the future.

Your panel: Kelli Weatherby, co-owner, with husband Lee, in Accurate Automotive, Inc. in Mesa, AZ., Bill Nalu, owner of Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI and AJ Nealey, Nealey Auto Service, Edgewater MD. This diverse group has some similar yet some different strategies for their future. It is so refreshing to hear the dialogue and then compare their tactics to your current or long term plans.
We are in a dynamic industry that is in a heightened change curve. Keeping up at all levels will bring you spoils. And keeping your eye on your business with the future in sight is an important responsibility you have to your employees and your family.

We talk BHAG’s, Debt, Branches, Succession, Training, refinancing, and SWOT among others.

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RR 455: Scott Shotton – Building Quality Trainers of Tomorrow

RR 455: Scott Shotton – Building Quality Trainers of Tomorrow

Scott Shotton has over 25 years of technical experience in automotive repair shops. As the owner of The Driveability Guys, Scott performs mobile diagnostics and reprogramming for local repair shops. In his second interview, Scott talks about building classes and that our future trainers are a must and a priority!

In this episode, find out what are the important prerequisites of becoming a trainer. Learn the values of preparation, research, classes, case studies and more to become a successful automotive aftermarket trainer.

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FTR 057: Carm Capriotto – Get Involved In This National Cancer Research Program – Brakes For Breasts

FTR 057: Carm Capriotto – Get Involved In This National Cancer Research Program

I’ve got a big ask for you. In the next few minutes, I’m going to set up a compelling reason to get involved with the Brakes for Breasts national program. This is a strong program that is nearing the $1M donation milestone. I feel it may happen soon. This year could be the year B4B hits this huge goal.

My respect and admiration for Laura Frank and Leigh Anne Best, who started brakes for breasts with a hand full of shops in the state of Ohio. Two lady service professionals have created a jewel of a program that continues to grow in support and influence in the industry. The program is Brakes For Breasts and it happens every October. Laura and Leigh Anne are independent service professionals and therefore know your business and can relate to the value Brakes For Breasts can bring to your business and for cancer research.

Total donated to Dr. Vincent Touhy at the Cleveland Clinic for his research on a Breast Cancer Vaccine is $747,771, since 2011. The $1M milestone is not too far away and to get there, your help is needed. www.brakesforbreasts.com is where you can sign up.

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RR 454: Danny Durbin – Integrating the Third Generation

Danny Durbin – Integrating the Third Generation

Danny Durbin is the second generation owner of Durbin Auto Parts, in Prattville, AL. He is now integrating the third generation into the business. You’ve heard the stats about the third generation? Only about 12% survive.

You decide, but I believe Danny has the right strategy to defy the survival statistics. He knows the procedure and the adaptations it takes for the survival of the generations (having been there done that). Danny is planning to pass the torch to his son, however, he decided that Andrew first needed to work outside the business.

You will benefit from this story as many service professionals are family businesses. Find out the core values needed and the mindset of what it takes to keep the family business afloat for many years to come.

Danny is an active member of the Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAS) and holds a seat on the Board of Directors.

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THA 130: Service Advisor Role Play #3

THA 130 Service Advisor Role Play

My guests are role-playing these three situations: #1: Brakes- the client knows what is wrong and the car has been inspected somewhere else, $2: Oil change- just looking for a price and #3: The Check Engine Light is on – how much to replace the catalytic converter?

My panel includes Rena Rennebohm CEO of Empowered Advisor, Dave Nelson From Antero’s Automotive, Greenwood Village, Colorado and RJ Milnes from DK Automotive Repair, Antioch, CA
Let features and benefits be the service advisors strong tools and during a call, you are interviewing the customer and they are interviewing you, both looking for a good fit. If cheep is what they want and you can’t deliver you’ve learned.

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