Latest Blog

Go Silent

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Jun 29, 2026

Do you have an app that silences your phone for a set period of time? I do. Whenever I record a podcast, and every recording is important, I put my phone into silent mode for the exact amount of time I need. No interruptions. No distractions. No temptation. The best…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

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…

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…

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06/23/2026

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]

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

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

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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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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]

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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]

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Turn Your Parts Spend Into Team Rewards with the NAPA Team Tool Rebate [THA 483]

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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]

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Build Customer Loyalty: Branding, Event Planning, and Community [RR 1088]

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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]

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How to Get Unstuck When Your Auto Repair Business Stops Growing [THA 480]

04/10/2026