Latest Blog

A Brainiac Celebration

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | Mar 30, 2026

Working in the professional automotive repair industry requires intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving. Every day in our shops there are “smart” or even brainiac moments that deserve to be recognized — or at least talked about. Here’s the rub: if you’re a smart shop, great ideas happen all the time. You…

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Have Your Manager Present Your P & L Back to You

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/12/2023

A few weeks ago, Tracy and I had the honor to hang out with a group of Operations Directors…

Wake Up Call

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 07/04/2023

When I get a feeling about an important topic to discuss on the podcast, there is always the hope…

It’s About Parenting

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/27/2023

It was Coach Rod Olson who said ‘It’s About Parenting’. Rod Olson is the coach’s coach. Sports and even…

I Challenge You: Brakes For Breasts

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/19/2023

I’m asking you to step to the plate for Brakes for Breasts. Tracy and I continue to support Brakes…

Five Guidelines for Making Dispatch Work in Your Shop

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 06/08/2023

As someone who works in the automotive industry, I’m sure you are very interested in learning more about how…

I’ll Get To It!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/26/2023

A busy person lives in an “I’ll get to it” world. I may be guilty of this.🙂 Is it…

Turning Struggle Into Success

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/15/2023

I know that our podcast ‘Ministry’ of the last eight years has helped many people hear great stories of…

Do You Listen to your Gut?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 05/09/2023

Have you ever wondered how you get feelings about people and situations? It happens to me all the time.…

Are You Investing in Tuition for Your People?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/30/2023

Last week I attended a breakfast for all Technology Advisory Councils at our local community college. I sit on…

Stuck? Get Your MOJO Back.

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/23/2023

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in a rut, unable to make progress? Where are your creative juices?…

The Willingness to Train

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/10/2023

In a recent episode with shop owner Tomi Oliva, he said the words ‘Willingness to Train’. It is a…

 The Power of Courage

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 04/03/2023

In recent episodes, the words fear and courage came up. No doubt, we need to deal with fear in…

Seven Strategies to Retain Great Employees

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/26/2023

Employee retention is challenging for many organizations. Organizations want to keep the best employees, but it can be difficult…

Shaping Careers, You Must!

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/12/2023

Are You a Career Counselor? Many shop owners know most of their team wants to see how they fit…

Are We Ready to Become the Master Communicator?

By Carm Capriotto, AAP | 03/06/2023

We Must Communicate That We Are a High-Tech Industry. We must get up on our soap box and communicate…

Latest Episodic Education

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

Future-Proofing the Automotive Industry: Consolidation, AI, and Career Evolution [THA 467]

01/09/2026

The Four Defining Roles in Your Business Story: Victim, Villain, Hero, and Guide [RR 1073]

01/06/2026