Latest Blog

Are you exploring?  Imagining?  Being creative and curious?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Mar 23, 2026

Or are you simply reacting to what’s happening around you? Change is not optional — in life or in business. Especially in our industry. Technology evolves. Vehicles evolve. Client expectations evolve. There is no hiding from it, dodging it, or refusing it. But there is a choice in how you…

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Really… a Certified Financial Planner?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/04/2026

You’ve probably been bombarded lately with ads reminding you to trust only a Certified Financial Planner with your investments…

Digital Detox

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/27/2026

On the way home from a conference, I sat in the airport thinking about all the conversations I’d just…

Attention Client Advocates: Stop Sounding Like a Technician: Translate, Don’t Transfer

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/20/2026

There’s a difference between sharing information and creating understanding—and too often, we confuse the two. Service advisors hear the…

Every Repair Order Has 3 Stories—Which One Are You Telling?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/13/2026

As an industry, we are working hard to improve what appears on the repair order. I’ve sat through repair…

Continuing the Language Shift – BTW Don’t Skip This!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/06/2026

The language shift in business isn’t coming—it’s already here. More and more, I find validation in the evolving job…

A Brainiac Celebration

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/30/2026

Working in the professional automotive repair industry requires intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving. Every day in our shops there are…

Are you exploring?  Imagining?  Being creative and curious?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/23/2026

Or are you simply reacting to what’s happening around you? Change is not optional — in life or in…

Who is Looking for Your Top Talent?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/09/2026

Top shop operators realize their greatest competitor is not the shop across town—it’s themselves. They build a reputation. They…

When Is Later?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/01/2026

I know you’ll read this later. No, you won’t. “Later” is where good intentions go to die. Not just…

Wasted Bandwidth

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/22/2026

“I never have enough time.” “I can’t believe I didn’t finish that project.” “When will I ever get to…

Assemble the Team – Meetings That Matter

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/16/2026

If you’re holding regular team meetings—whether daily huddles or weekly sit-downs—that’s a great start. I don’t know a single…

You Just Fix Cars? Right!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/09/2026

Below, find an important and smart overview of what I call ‘Confident Professionalism.’ Understanding and knowing how important it…

What If I’m Personally Not Busy – Maybe That is a Good Thing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/01/2026

In our hyper-connected world, there’s an unspoken expectation that we should always be busy. Our worth seems measured by…

Processes Win Wars — Or Maybe It’s Protocols

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/25/2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about a phrase I’ve used for years: Processes win wars. Just about everyone I…

Forensic DVI: Bringing Crime-Scene Discipline to Vehicle Care

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/08/2026

After watching a few Forensic Files-style shows, I was struck by how investigators solve cases: strict protocols, detailed documentation,…

Latest Episodic Education

Why ADAS Calibrations Are Being Ignored in Auto Repair Shops [THA 484]

05/08/2026

Auto Repair Marketing Isn’t What You Think (AI Is Changing Everything) [RR 1090]

05/05/2026

Turn Your Parts Spend Into Team Rewards with the NAPA Team Tool Rebate [THA 483]

05/01/2026

Detective Mind Mapping: A Forensic Approach to Automotive Diagnostics [RR 1089]

04/28/2026

The Dealer Alternative Advantage in Today’s Auto Repair Industry [THA 482]

04/24/2026

Build Customer Loyalty: Branding, Event Planning, and Community [RR 1088]

04/21/2026

Meet Paige: The Auto Repair Industry’s First 24/7 AI Recruiter [THA 481]

04/17/2026

Your Shop Might Need Marriage Counseling: Fixing Communication in Auto Repair [RR 1087]

04/14/2026

How to Get Unstuck When Your Auto Repair Business Stops Growing [THA 480]

04/10/2026

The “Monster” in Your Head Is Costing Your Shop Money [RR 1086]

04/07/2026

Batman Needs a Robin: Meet Your Shop’s New Sidekick Ninja App [THA 479]

04/03/2026

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: How to Master Your Shop Management System [RR 1085]

03/31/2026

Smart Glasses in the Shop: Inside NAPA Autotech’s XcceleratoR Training [THA 478]

03/27/2026

Is Your Shop the Problem? Hard Truths from the Voice of the Technician Survey Results [RR 1084]

03/24/2026

General Service Technician Academy: Building Educational Foundation For Tomorrow’s Careers [THA 477]

03/20/2026

Own the Technician Shortage: How One Shop Owner is Transforming Industry Recruitment [RR 1083]

03/17/2026

The Affordability Myth in Auto Repair: Rethinking How Service Advisors Present Repairs [THA 476]

03/13/2026

Stop Winging Human Resources in Your Auto Repair Shop [RR 1082]

03/10/2026

The 250K Mile Maintenance Mindset: Mastering the Art of Vehicle Delivery [THA 475]

03/06/2026

Why Employee Reviews Are Broken and What to Do Instead [RR 1081]

03/03/2026

Why Women are the Secret Weapon in Auto Repair Shop Hospitality [THA 474]

02/27/2026

The New Economics of Auto Repair: Rising Rates, Fewer Cars, Higher Profits [RR 1080]

02/24/2026

The Superhighway to Estimating: Canned Jobs and Categories For Shop Efficiency [THA 473]

02/20/2026

Beyond Service Advisors: Embracing the ‘Repairathist’ Mindset [RR 1079]

02/17/2026

Looking Rich VS Living Free: The Hidden Truth About Success and Money [THA 472]

02/13/2026