Latest Blog

Is Knowing a Little About a Lot Good?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Sep 28, 2026

We live in an information-overload society—or maybe it is more like an information playground. We are bombarded by commercials, videos, documentaries, social media posts, opinions, rants, and endless commentary. We can spend hours scrolling, watching, and listening without ever applying what we have learned. There is a big difference between…

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Brining Attention To Sometimes Invisible Thoughts or Issues

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…

Let’s Honor Our Peers

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/29/2024

I need your help. We have so many outstanding professional automotive service specialists in our midst. We know them…

 Making Music

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/22/2024

I’m fascinated to watch documentaries on, ‘The Making of an Album’. I’ve seen some on Pink Floyd and Queen,…

Are you Done Trying?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/15/2024

You put in the hard work, the late nights, and the inevitable 2 AM wake-up. You are trying your…

Get to Night School

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/03/2024

Recently, I got to thinking about night school, or what is commonly called today’s adult learning. Why would you…

Leadership Lessons – Quiet Confidence and Unwavering Presence

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/24/2024

As a leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you need to be a larger-than-life…

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

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

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Mastering Shop Flow with Online Scheduling and AI Communication [THA 497]

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Why Employees Disengage and How Leaders Reconnect Them [RR 1103]

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The AI-Informed Customer Has Arrived: What It Means For Auto Repair [THA 496]

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The “Kohl’s Cash” of Auto Repair: Turning Customer Rewards Into Repeat Business [THA 495]

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Deferred Work: The Most Overlooked Growth Opportunity in Auto Repair [RR 1101]

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The Truth About ADAS Calibrations Every Shop Needs to Hear [THA 494]

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Curing Organizational Drag: The Courage to Fire a Non-Fit Employee [RR 1100]

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Maximizing Profit Through Effective Labor Rate Strategy [THA 493]

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Selling to the Curb: How AI Turned More Calls into Customers [RR 1099]

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