Latest Blog

Really… a Certified Financial Planner?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | May 4, 2026

You’ve probably been bombarded lately with ads reminding you to trust only a Certified Financial Planner with your investments and retirement. Why? Because that designation means something. It represents a standard of education, examination, experience, and ethics. Now imagine this… You’ve built a great professional automotive repair business. Strong culture.…

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I Just Want a Simple Cup of Black Coffee!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/25/2017

How impatient are you? When you are in a coffee shop looking for a cup of black coffee, a…

What does it take to find a great work/life balance?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/22/2017

That time of the year is upon us when we reflect on the current year regarding family, self, work…

Do You Need a Quick New Idea That Will Give You a Competitive Edge?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/12/2017

When your business is running at top performance, you look back and realize all the hard work it took…

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/15/2017

Where Should You Invest Your Marketing Dollars? Marketing for customer retention and recruitment can be a daunting task. I’ve…

Simple Solution to Minimize Cooling System Comebacks

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/23/2017

Simple Solution to Minimize Cooling System Comebacks Bobby Bassett, the Manager of Training North America for Gates Corporation shares…

What about that old journal?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/18/2015

A great discovery in Oklahoma City when chalkboard drawings from 1917 were found at a high school. While remodeling…

Gold Mine

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/29/2015

There has been a lot of pictures of cabin air filters on social media lately and many blogs written…

Retention: Six To-Do’s for Customer Retention

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/13/2015

Just as much effort is needed into finding new customers as it is to keeping your current customer base.…

Do you suffer from Situational Awareness?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/30/2015

Did you hear the news? American distance runner Molly Huddle lost the bronze medal in the world championships in…

WOW

Nine differentiators to make your customers say WOWW!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/25/2015

Southwest is different and continues to be. What other airline has copied or mimicked what they do that makes them a…

Chart

Six Month Evaluation!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/11/2015

What have I learned, so far, this year … or my half year checkup. You can do something you are passionate…

Five Reasons to Love Podcasts

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/05/2015

Podcasting is on fire. Guess who just started a podcast? Jack Welch, former chairman of GE has launched. Mark…

Explaining Social Media to your Chamber of Commerce

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/21/2015

You got a phone call from the local chamber because you are a very active member of your community…

Hungry? Where’s the Food Truck?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/06/2015

The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach (That also applies to women). Growing up I…

Darwin Martin

How Frank Lloyd Wright got me going for Broke!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/27/2015

It was a rainy weekend with close friends visiting from Florida. This summer has been very rainy so far;…

Latest Episodic Education

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

Executing a 25 Year Plan: Retired at 47 [RR 1078]

02/10/2026