Latest Blog

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

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Apr 13, 2026

As an industry, we are working hard to improve what appears on the repair order. I’ve sat through repair order audit workshops, and one thing becomes very clear: The same information can be interpreted ten different ways. Sometimes it goes from A to Z… and somehow back again. So it…

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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…

Sloppy Success

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/24/2025

When we look back on our success in the shop, we rarely see one big defining moment. There’s usually…

Be a Sponge!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/17/2025

Be a Sponge! A wild thought. You’re heading to AAPEX, VISION, or ASTA. You’ve got your schedule packed —…

Fix the List That Never Ends

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/10/2025

We love getting things done. There’s nothing better than checking off a task and feeling that little hit of…

Your Challenges Change You

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/01/2025

If you let them, your challenges will change you. Stop and think about that. Actually, stop is the keyword.…

Fear Makes You Stupid

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/27/2025

I’ve realized that many times it wasn’t a lack of skill or opportunity that held me back—it was fear.

 Are We Celebrating Enough

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/13/2025

Shop owners who work hard to build and maintain a strong culture of behavior and values also know that…

In Search of Professionalism and Perfection

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/05/2025

A quick story about a large retail chain that illustrates the importance of seamless customer service. My friend needed…

Why Do We Get Great Ideas in the Shower?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/29/2025

I get awesome ideas in the shower. I’ve always wondered how I come up with so many ideas while in the shower. Is it because of the relaxed state we are in? Does the warm water help reduce stress and anxiety, allowing our brains to enter a more creative and open mindset?

Have You Peaked?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/22/2025

Are you afraid to take your automotive repair shop to a new level because you’re broke? Has the lack…

You Have Currency

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/15/2025

What if I told you that you’re already wealthy beyond measure? Not in dollars or gold, but in something…

Business is Tough

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/08/2025

Breaking Through When Business Gets Overwhelming You know business is tough—that’s not news to anyone running an automotive repair…

The Power of Meshing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/02/2025

Here’s what struck me: meshing isn’t just a noun describing how gears work together. It’s a verb. It’s an active choice we make every day as leaders.

Brakes For Breasts

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/25/2025

Join the Fight: Why Every Auto Professional Should Support Brakes for Breasts After our latest podcast episode about Brakes…

Do We Need All This Content?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/18/2025

From audio and video to webinars and YouTube, we are taking in more content than ever before. But how…

Latest Episodic Education

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

The Digital Front Door For Auto Repair: SEO, Google, and Website Marketing [THA 471]

02/06/2026

Beyond the Repair Order: The Strategy of Customer Loyalty [RR 1077]

02/03/2026

The 250K Mile Mindset: Selling Maintenance Without Selling Fear [THA 470]

01/30/2026

Beyond Babysitters: Developing Strong Managers and Financial Transparency [RR 1076]

01/27/2026

Streamlining the Mundane: How Automation Buys Back Time [THA 469]

01/23/2026

The Capacity Crisis: What If It Didn’t Have To Be So Hard? [RR 1075]

01/20/2026