Latest Blog

Life Skills: Is This Our Responsibility?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Aug 10, 2026

Critical Note: We don’t elevate an industry by fixing more cars. We elevate an industry by developing better people.  I hear it all the time. “Kids today just don’t have soft skills.” Some people blame schools. Others blame parents. Many blame social media. While there may be some truth in…

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We Should be Rivaled

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/19/2021

We have amazingly smart people in our industry. If anyone would ever say that the independent automotive aftermarket is…

Ask Your Customers

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/12/2021

Ever ask your customer why they come to your shop? Why they are loyal to your shop? What is…

A Dream Has No Limits

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/07/2021

I heard a quote from Barry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. “A Dream Has No Limits.” My mind…

Dinner Talk – Everyone’s An Expert

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/16/2021

When I go to dinner with friends, I enjoy listening, just like I do on my podcasts. I hear…

Imagine

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/27/2021

Imagine infecting today’s youth with a love of automobiles? Years ago so many of us learned to love cars…

You Can Help – Will You?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/21/2021

When I need to get up on my soapbox, I will. Here goes. You’ve gotten to know me over…

Developing Talent

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/15/2021

I had the privilege to hear from a friend this past week on his commitment to developing the talent…

Tires Go Round and in the Bank

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/11/2021

When I host and produce the weekly single subject Town Hall Academy, it gives me great reward to get…

Why Are You Loyal?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/17/2021

We needed a few groceries so we decided to pull into one of these megastores in the suburbs. To…

Are You Playing Checkers or Chess with your Resources?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/08/2021

I learned the game of chess years ago but never got into it, but rekindled my knowledge about chess…

Charging What You Are Worth – Part 2

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/07/2021

We presented a Town Hall Academy on ‘Charging What You Are Worth’. It is amazing how many listens we…

Only Real Maple Syrup on My Pancakes

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/23/2021

I will not order pancakes at a restaurant that doesn’t serve real maple syrup. I always wanted to understand…

Shop Fire – Protect Yourself

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/14/2021

Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t comment in my blog about an episode recently released. I’ve got no…

Rant From a Listener

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/21/2021

I get emails and messages regarding the awesomeness of the work we do in building a learning library of…

Beyond the Awards. The Story Behind the Story.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/07/2021

Early in 2021, I interviewed the recipients of the first annual AAPEX 2020 Awards; Shop Owner of the Year,…

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Mastering Shop Flow with Online Scheduling and AI Communication [THA 497]

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Why Employees Disengage and How Leaders Reconnect Them [RR 1103]

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Get Out of Your Own Way: Leadership Lessons for Shop Owners [RR 1102]

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The “Kohl’s Cash” of Auto Repair: Turning Customer Rewards Into Repeat Business [THA 495]

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Deferred Work: The Most Overlooked Growth Opportunity in Auto Repair [RR 1101]

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The Truth About ADAS Calibrations Every Shop Needs to Hear [THA 494]

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Curing Organizational Drag: The Courage to Fire a Non-Fit Employee [RR 1100]

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Maximizing Profit Through Effective Labor Rate Strategy [THA 493]

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Selling to the Curb: How AI Turned More Calls into Customers [RR 1099]

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AI Search Visibility: How Customers Find Your Auto Repair Shop [THA 492]

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Building a Winning Scoreboard For Your Auto Repair Shop [RR 1098]

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How a Purple Heart Veteran Became a 6-Shop Auto Repair Owner [RR 1097]

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Why Auto Repair Specialists Leave Our Industry (And How Shop Owners Can Keep Them) [THA 490]

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2026 Automotive Training Trends Every Professional Shop Owner Needs to Know [RR 1096]

06/16/2026

Motor Oil supply Crisis: Fact, Friction, and What Happens Next [THA 489]

06/12/2026

Anyone Can Teach, But Not Everyone Can Educate: Lessons from 30 Years in Automotive Training [RR 1095]

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From Data to Loyalty: How AI and Hospitality Are Redefining Shop Growth [THA 488]

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Stop Hiring in Panic Mode: Build a Recruiting Pipeline for Your Shop [RR 1094]

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When Personal Stress Walks Into the Shop: How Leaders Protect Performance [THA 487]

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From Guesswork to Process: Modern Diagnostic Strategies for Auto Repair Shops [RR 1093]

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Failing at Retirement: Building Eight Shops in Eight Years [THA 486]

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The AI-Driven Auto Repair Leader: Using Technology as Your Strategic Thought Partner [RR 1092]

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