Latest Blog

Advice That Makes You Uncomfortable May Be The Very Advice You Need To Hear

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Oct 31, 2026

Have you ever asked a question on social media hoping someone would confirm what you already believe? Think about that for a moment. In the echo chamber of social media, you can ask just about anything and find someone who agrees with you. You’ll also find people who strongly disagree.…

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Brining Attention To Sometimes Invisible Thoughts or Issues

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

Mastering Shop Flow Part 2: Capacity Planning and Proactive Service Proposals [THA 510]

11/06/2026

Lost in Translation: Why Customers Ignore Deferred Work [RR 1116]

11/03/2026

Are You Diagnosing Vehicles or Just Throwing Parts at Them? [THA 509]

10/30/2026

You Don’t Have to Be a Programmer to Build AI Tools for Your Shop [RR 1115]

10/27/2026

Why Electrical Fundamentals, Service Information, and Technician Training Matter [THA 508]

10/23/2026

Shop Succession Without Retirement: How Three Employees Became Owners [RR 1114]

10/20/2026

From Technician to Shop Owner: The Challenges You Never Saw Coming [THA 507]

10/16/2026

Authenticity Is Your Shop’s Best Marketing Strategy [RR 1113]

10/13/2026

The Human Side of Auto Repair: Emotional Intelligence, Mentorship, and Leadership [THA 506]

10/09/2026

AAPEX 2026: What to See, Learn, and Experience [RR 1112]

10/06/2026

How to Turn Call Recordings Into Coaching, Conversions, and Customers [THA 505]

10/02/2026

Stop Losing Price Shoppers: Give Them a Price Range [RR 1111]

09/29/2026

Work Together, Thrive Together, Build a Business You Can Sell [THA 504]

09/25/2026

Inside the Role of a Performance and Accountability Team Leader [RR 1110]

09/22/2026

How to Develop a General Manager for Your Auto Repair Shop [THA 503]

09/18/2026

From Daily Profit to Long-Term Business Value [RR 1109]

09/15/2026

The Automotive Hiring Cycle: When and How to Recruit Top Technicians [THA 502]

09/11/2026

The Power of Financing: A Growth Tool for Auto Repair Shops [RR 1108]

09/08/2026

Daily Habits That Build a Stronger Auto Repair Shop Culture [THA 501]

09/04/2026

Rapid-Fire Automotive News: AI, EVs, Autonomous Vehicles, and the $19B Trade School Boom [RR 1107]

09/01/2026

Brakes for Breasts: How Auto Repair Shops Are Fighting Breast Cancer [THA 500]

08/28/2026

Top 5 Qualities of a Genuine Service Advisor [RR 1106]

08/25/2026

Your Shop’s Toughest Competitor Is in the Mirror [THA 499]

08/21/2026

Bring the Classroom to the Shop: Raising the Bar For On-Site Training [RR 1105]

08/18/2026

Engage, Educate, Reward: How Today’s Class Is Changing Auto Repair Training [THA 498]

08/14/2026