Latest Blog

Advice That Makes You Uncomfortable May Be The Very Advice You Need To Hear

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Oct 31, 2026

Have you ever asked a question on social media hoping someone would confirm what you already believe? Think about that for a moment. In the echo chamber of social media, you can ask just about anything and find someone who agrees with you. You’ll also find people who strongly disagree.…

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Brining Attention To Sometimes Invisible Thoughts or Issues

Repair Order Audit

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/12/2022

I listened to Hunt Demarest’s episode on Shady Service Advisor, where he discussed how things could go wrong managing…

Top of Your Listen List

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/27/2022

Every shop owner in North America has the privilege of not letting their education get in the way of…

One Choice: Fix the Business or You First!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/09/2022

The strongest recurring theme when I talk to top shop operators is that every business needs a clear goal…

Training as a Required Pillar

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/27/2022

So many discussions lately, both on and off the podcast microphone, have prompted me to drive a training strategy…

Paycheck to Paycheck

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/24/2022

We are all feeling the pinch of inflation. In the last gas crunch, there were many on the expressways…

Motorist Assurance Program: A Listening Challenge

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/27/2022

A Listening Challenge A challenge: After you listen to the entire episode, please let me know why you would…

From Employment to Ownership

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/19/2022

Many shop owners would like to find a path to retirement, and they are sitting on the sidelines waiting…

The Undeniable Power of Processes

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/31/2022

Call it procedures, operations, methods, actions, approaches or techniques … great processes win wars. Great processes are the true…

Five Must Dos to Make Your Ethics Rule

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/16/2022

The word ‘ethics’ is derived from the Greek word ethos, which means ‘custom’ or ‘habit’. It is a system…

Know Your Strengths

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/09/2022

Recently we released a Town Hall Webinar on Knowing Your Strengths. My panel really helped set up the power…

Get Your Shop Lean – Implementing Six Sigma

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/29/2022

I believe that taking a deep dive into your procedures will become an important strategy to growing a stronger…

We Fix Cars and Trucks … All Makes and Models. Is This a Strategy for the Future?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/25/2022

Are you a Euro Specialist?  Are you known for high-level diagnostics? Have you ever considered mobile diagnostics? Will you…

Five Excuses Not to Hire a Business Coach

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/17/2022

Excuses abound for not hiring a business coach. It is usually all about the owner who keeps making excuses…

Preventing Apathy in Your Business

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/19/2022

Apathy is a common problem in businesses because it leads to low productivity and low customer satisfaction. This can…

Seven Strategies to Retain Great Employees

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/16/2022

Employee retention is challenging for many organizations. Organizations want to keep the best employees, but it can be difficult…

Latest Episodic Education

Lost in Translation: Why Customers Ignore Deferred Work [RR 1116]

11/03/2026

Are You Diagnosing Vehicles or Just Throwing Parts at Them? [THA 509]

10/30/2026

You Don’t Have to Be a Programmer to Build AI Tools for Your Shop [RR 1115]

10/27/2026

Why Electrical Fundamentals, Service Information, and Technician Training Matter [THA 508]

10/23/2026

Shop Succession Without Retirement: How Three Employees Became Owners [RR 1114]

10/20/2026

From Technician to Shop Owner: The Challenges You Never Saw Coming [THA 507]

10/16/2026

Authenticity Is Your Shop’s Best Marketing Strategy [RR 1113]

10/13/2026

The Human Side of Auto Repair: Emotional Intelligence, Mentorship, and Leadership [THA 506]

10/09/2026

AAPEX 2026: What to See, Learn, and Experience [RR 1112]

10/06/2026

How to Turn Call Recordings Into Coaching, Conversions, and Customers [THA 505]

10/02/2026

Stop Losing Price Shoppers: Give Them a Price Range [RR 1111]

09/29/2026

Work Together, Thrive Together, Build a Business You Can Sell [THA 504]

09/25/2026

Inside the Role of a Performance and Accountability Team Leader [RR 1110]

09/22/2026

How to Develop a General Manager for Your Auto Repair Shop [THA 503]

09/18/2026

From Daily Profit to Long-Term Business Value [RR 1109]

09/15/2026

The Automotive Hiring Cycle: When and How to Recruit Top Technicians [THA 502]

09/11/2026

The Power of Financing: A Growth Tool for Auto Repair Shops [RR 1108]

09/08/2026

Daily Habits That Build a Stronger Auto Repair Shop Culture [THA 501]

09/04/2026

Rapid-Fire Automotive News: AI, EVs, Autonomous Vehicles, and the $19B Trade School Boom [RR 1107]

09/01/2026

Brakes for Breasts: How Auto Repair Shops Are Fighting Breast Cancer [THA 500]

08/28/2026

Top 5 Qualities of a Genuine Service Advisor [RR 1106]

08/25/2026

Your Shop’s Toughest Competitor Is in the Mirror [THA 499]

08/21/2026

Bring the Classroom to the Shop: Raising the Bar For On-Site Training [RR 1105]

08/18/2026

Engage, Educate, Reward: How Today’s Class Is Changing Auto Repair Training [THA 498]

08/14/2026

Inside the ASTA Expo 2026: Training, Technology, and Tribal Networking [RR 1104]

08/11/2026