Latest Blog

Continuing the Language Shift – BTW Don’t Skip This!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Apr 6, 2026

The language shift in business isn’t coming—it’s already here. More and more, I find validation in the evolving job titles across industries. Roles are being redefined. Words are being elevated. And with that shift comes a change in how professionals see themselves—and how customers perceive them. I’ve also been receiving…

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Vibrant Collaboration: Unveiling Insights Through Invoice Auditing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/17/2025

It was about understanding communication, design, and the client experience from multiple angles. Remember, there were no competitors in the room, even though all the shops were from the local marketplace.

Modern Auto Repair: Far Beyond the ‘Mom-and-Pop’ Shop.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/10/2025

  I get hot under the collar when independent automotive repair service businesses are called mom-and-pop. The term “mom-and-pop…

Success Leaves Clues: Are You Reading the Signs of Your Success?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/27/2025

Think of success like a detective story. Each achievement leaves behind subtle traces—breadcrumbs of what’s working and what isn’t.…

You Want to be Pushed Out of Your Comfort Zone

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/19/2025

Leadership is often romanticized as a journey of self-motivation and personal drive. However, a powerful, often overlooked strategy can…

 I wished I’d Known Then What I Know Now

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 01/13/2025

Yes, I’m sure you’ve said this hundreds of times: “I Wished I’d Know Then What I Know Now”. Having…

Stop Stopping

That Is The Way I’ve Always Done It! Or Stop Stopping.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/29/2024

Ever wonder what others are doing to enhance their business, how others find technicians, or what real profits look…

Comparing Veterinary Care to Auto Service Care

The Parallels Between an Automotive Repair Shop and Veterinary Care

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/21/2024

When we think about care and maintenance, two professions might seem worlds apart at first glance: the automotive repair shop owner and the veterinarian. Yet, these professionals share a remarkable similarity in their fundamental mission – caring for cherished members of the family, whether they have four wheels or four legs.

The Training Paradox: When Actions Don’t Match Beliefs

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 12/09/2024

We’ve all been there. We sit at our desks, nodding in agreement as we read another article about the…

Who Is Your …?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/24/2024

While at AAPEX 2024, I had a revelation. It happens a lot. It hit me while doing what I…

Be Like A Bakery

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 11/11/2024

Images of warm, freshly baked bread and delightful pastries instantly come to mind when you think of a bakery.…

Anticipation

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 10/28/2024

Anticipation is a powerful tool that significantly enhances the justification for training and education initiatives.  Professional auto service businesses…

There Is No Finish Line

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/30/2024

About 20 years ago I attended a conference where the trainer put up Nike’s 1977 ad campaign, “There is…

A Reservation, A Must You Say!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 09/09/2024

Making a Reservation for Your Client We know what a reservation is. You must make a reservation for many…

A Sophisticated Client Experience

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/19/2024

I recently chatted with Seth Thorson from Eurotech Auto Service in Minneapolis about the topic of Sophisticated Service. I…

All Fired Up!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 08/12/2024

Have you ever come back from a conference all fired up? I’m sure you have. If not it is…

Latest Episodic Education

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

Mastering Your Shop Finance: The Power of Specialized Automotive Accounting [THA 468]

01/16/2026

Do You Own a Business or a Job? [RR 1074]

01/13/2026