Latest Blog

Words Matter: Why ‘Installer’ Doesn’t Define Our Profession

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Jun 8, 2026

Another critical shift we must champion is retiring the term installer when referring to professional automotive service. We do far more than install parts. Roofers install roofs. Window companies install windows. Flooring contractors install carpet and tile. Modern automotive professionals diagnose, analyze, calibrate, verify, interpret data, and solve increasingly complex…

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All Articles and Blog Posts

 Fix it. Make it Happen. Let it play out.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/22/2025

Work problems. Sure, you have them. Don’t deny it. We often face various challenges in the workplace, from looming…

 Get a Little Braggadocious!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/12/2025

Here is an excellent suggestion for enhancing your “About Us” page on your website. You should showcase your specialist’s…

Education is Being Curious

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/05/2025

You know I’ve been highlighting a massive language shift for our industry. Just in case you need the latest…

Automotive Service: Where Procedures Save Lives and Reputations

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/28/2025

When clients entrust you with their vehicles, they’re also entrusting their safety. Minor oversights can have catastrophic consequences, making…

Different Isn’t Wrong

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/21/2025

When my friends hire a coach, an expert for their business, and they allow their new accountability partner to…

 The Stark Reality of Pricing

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/17/2025

  On a recent road trip I could not help to realize what we pay for water and yogurt…

 Improve your CX

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/11/2025

I’ve discussed, on the podcast, hiring for a new position: the CXO, or Client Experience Officer. Most automotive repair…

Remember That Spark? Reconnecting with Your Business Dream

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/03/2025

  Every business begins with a dream – a vision of what could be.  You’re in the automotive repair…

Courage and Professionalism Must RULE.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 02/26/2025

As 2025 dawns upon us, the quiet moments between the past holiday celebrations offer us a precious opportunity for…

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…

Latest Episodic Education

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

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]

04/24/2026

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

04/21/2026

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]

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