Latest Blog

 From Mediterranean Ave to Boardwalk

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Jul 20, 2026

Yes, that is a reference to the game Monopoly. I’ll go out on a limb and believe that 90% of us have played this game at least once in our lives. It is a game of strategy, decisions, risk, and, of course, the roll of the dice. Recently, I started…

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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,…

Do Your Customers Know They Can Call You and Ask You Anything?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/29/2025

When we want answers today, we turn to the Godfather—Google. In seconds, we get an avalanche of opinions, theories,…

Five Ways to Bring Caring Into the Workplace

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/22/2025

 Five Ways to Bring Caring into the Workplace.  Would you have read this post if you had seen ‘Love’…

Get Your Appetite for Our APP

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/15/2025

This little labor of love has been cooking for about a year—slow and steady, with plenty of life’s raindrops…

Big News and a Big Honor for Tracy!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/08/2025

We’re back from AAPEX 2025, and what an incredible event it was! Tracy and I had the chance to…

Professional Careers In The Making

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/25/2025

This is the first time I’ve heard of a simple, measurable standard around apprenticeship in our industry, and Murray…

Latest Episodic Education

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

07/24/2026

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

07/21/2026

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

07/17/2026

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

07/14/2026

Maximizing Profit Through Effective Labor Rate Strategy [THA 493]

07/10/2026

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

07/07/2026

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

07/03/2026

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

06/30/2026

How to Sell Your Auto Repair Shop for Maximum Value [THA 491]

06/26/2026

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

06/23/2026

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

06/19/2026

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]

06/09/2026

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

06/05/2026

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

06/02/2026

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

05/29/2026

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

05/26/2026

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

05/22/2026

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

05/19/2026

The Rise of the Specialist: Redefining Automotive Professionalism [THA 485]

05/15/2026

15 Headlines in 30 Minutes: Rapid Fire Automotive News For Shop Owners [RR 1091]

05/12/2026

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