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

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

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

Inside the ASTA Expo 2026: Training, Technology, and Tribal Networking [RR 1104]

08/11/2026