THA 110: Charging What We Are Worth
Charging What We Are Worth
We talk professional courtesy, labor rates, training, having the right value proposition for your customer so you can charge accordingly, the labor rate spread in our communities, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to charge what you are worth. You’ve invested a lot in your business and need to be paid for this. Listen to why confidence in your skills and abilities will help you charge accordingly.
With me on this Academy panel is Tom Palermo, Preferred Automotive Specialties, Philadelphia, PA and former NAPA ASE Technician of the year in 2015, David Justice, President Repair Shop Of Tomorrow, Asset Management Technology and Mark Colaw, Seymours’ Garage, San Antonio, TX and founder of Carfest.
THA 109: How to Handle the Overload of Information, Workload and All That You Have to Learn.
How to Handle the Overload of Information, Workload and All That You Have to Learn
We are in deep talking about how they deal with getting things done, keeping up on their learning curve, dealing with an overstuffed ‘In-Box’, prioritizing, delegating, learning, neural pathways, and exercise, just to name a few.
With me in studio talking ‘Information Overload’ is Donny Seyfer, Executive officer of NASTF and co-owner of Seyfer Automotive, Wheat Ridge, CO, Rob Rowsell, Family Auto Service La Mesa, CA (4 shop group) author of ‘Addicted to Life; How I Went From Homeless to Extraordinary Success and Happiness in a Short Period of Time.” and serial entrepreneur Mark Roberts, managing partner at Schertz Auto Service, Schertz TX
Guaranteed you’ll pick up at least one thing on helping you become a more organized and effective person.
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THA 108: The Value of a Professional HR Support Company
The Value of a Professional HR Support Company
OK Let’s Talk HR and Professional Employer Organizations (PEO). The Academy team includes Kevin & Lisa Eckler, Foreign Car Specialists, Poughkeepsie, and PEO specialists; Jim Belliveau, from Acadia HR and Greg Bauer, from ESC Employer Services
Shop owners Kevin and Lisa Eckler brought me this topic because it has made a huge difference in their business. As Kevin says he wants control and trusts no-one. The sheer fact that he brought on a PEO company to be his HR department is a testament to the fact that he is still in control and has a ton of trust.
As Kevin says, they started on his handbook, it needs to work legally because if there is a problem the policy will be carefully scrutinized. Benefits are another huge option in a PEO. So many in the industry have told me that this is the year they are going to expand their team benefits so they can have a competitive advantage and also to become a retention tool. A PEO can help with your benefits program.
THA 107: Discover How To Keep Your Women Customers For Life
Discover How To Keep Your Women Customers For Life
We heard the stats that the female makes up over 50% of your customer base. That is based on certain geographies and demographics. Some are higher, some are lower. But no matter your mix you’ve got to have important tactics in place in order to create loyalty in your women customer.
We’re going to serve up a strong discussion building loyalty from your women customers. My panel includes Kim Auernheimer, Co-Owner of CS Automotive, Brentwood TN, Kathleen Jarosik, Xpertech Auto Repair, Englewood, FL, and Jonathan Ortiz, Foreign Affairs Auto, West Palm Beach, FL.
They bring their A game and serve up the important issues, from their perspective, that will help you create the right environment so you can have a long and lasting relationship with all your women customers. We talk about trust, safety, relationship, environment, and amenities among many others.
THA 106: Managing a Negative Online Review
Managing a Negative Online Review
The Academy panel will go over a 5 step process and go above and beyond by sharing their personal experiences.
So you got a “NEGATIVE” Review now what? Here is a 5 step process we are going to discuss: 1/ Two negatives don’t make a positive, 2. Find out what the heck really happened, 3. Take advantage of the learning opportunity, 4. Finalize a resolution, respond and over deliver, and 5. Review with staff and MOVE ON!
The Academy panel will go over this 5 step process and go above and beyond by sharing their personal experiences. Besides digging into these five steps we get into soliciting reviews, the four types of reviews, and sometimes a negative review can be an advertisement for your shop based on how you handle it and so much more
THA 105: Catering to the Millennial Customer
Catering to the Millennial Customer
We are talking with three millennial aftermarket successors, they are each involved in the family service business. The panel: Lauren Anderson, Victory Auto Service & Glass Minneapolis, MN, Jacquie Hower, from Zimmerman’s Automotive, Mechanicsburg, PA and Carley Paiva, Elite Auto Repair in Warwick, RI
The ladies talk social media, transparency, that millennials have no patience, ‘they should know’, their view on video marketing, and where Instagram fits among other topics.
THA 104: Business Coaches Lab: The Art of Implementation – How to Get Things Done
The Business Coaches LAB: The Art of Implementation: How To Get Things Done.
In our continuing series of the Business Coaches Lab, we work to help you get into gear. The coaches mostly agree that there a few key problems for inaction.
The discussion includes finding your momentum, your one thing, planning, reflecting and the fact that you are trying to do too much, you wear too many hats. If you want to be a better leader, CEO and all-around good person you need to give these coaches a listen. A ton of free advice for you.
I’m joined by Rick White from 180 Biz, Cecil Bullard, with the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, Jude Larson from the ACT Group, and Murray Voth, from RPM Training. Key Talking points, already written for you that will give you a bulleted plan for improvement. Also, find my guest’s bio’s links to their coaching companies and links to their previous episodes at remarkaberesults.biz/a104
THA 103: Turn Price Shopping Callers Into Customers.
Turn Phone Price Shoppers into Customers
We bring light to the service adviser/manager position as the toughest job in the company. It is very possible that your caller may not be looking for a price because they don’t know what else to ask. We talk about getting your value story told and the power of the smile among about a dozen other great lessons from this episode. It is suggested to get in your appointment making mode every time the phone rings.
On the Academy panel is Emily Sundstrom, Service Manager at Valley Auto Electric from Covington, WA and Business Coach Bill Haas, AAM from Haas Performance Consulting.
THA 102: Second Chance – Working with and Supporting Addiction
Second Chance – Working with and Supporting Addiction
We cover a lot of ground in this episode that will open your eyes to addiction including the way out, living life without, the law of exposure, the reward system, opioids, alcohol, and other addictions and the signs of relapse.
The panel: Matt Fanslow, Eric Ziegler, Rob Rowsell, and Tanner Brandt.
Here is a myth: People who struggle with addition come from a bad or broken home and have no support. And here is some truth: Until an addict says ‘Done’ no one can help them. Your heart may say you are done but your actions must demonstrate it.
At least one-third of you have an experience with addiction or have a close friend, family or significant other who is struggling. Use this episode to help in your desire to help yourself or someone you love with addiction.
THA 101: Ghosting – Minimizing New Hire No Shows
Ghosting: Minimizing New Hire No Shows.
When ghosting happens, you are always wondering what you did wrong. For many, you are always improving your HR recruitment processes. We talk red carpet, culture, branding, and clear and tight communication. I guarantee you’ll be overwhelmed with the discussion.
The panel: Jonathan Ortiz from Foreign Affairs Auto, West Palm Beach, FL, Carlo Sabucco from Sils Complete Auto Care Centre, Oakville, Ontario and Peter Foreman from Integra Tire, Langley, BC
THA 100: Up Your Game: Become a Level Five Leader and Improve, You, Your Business and the Aftermarket
Up Your Game: Become a Level Five Leader and Improve You and the Aftermarket
Think of this podcast like 9 five minute Ted Talks. Here are the topics covered, Listening, Resilience, Learn to be a CEO, Perseverance, Invest in your Staff, Delegate and Get Out of the Way, Be Your Word, Have High Expectations of your Team and Train Within.
My guests each chose their topic and were given five minutes to present a succinct narrative for you.
Vic Tarasik, Major Accounts Director with RLO Training, Maryann Croce of Croce Transmissions in Norwalk, CT and smallbizvantage.com, Bob Greenwood, AMAM, is President and CEO of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre, Greg Buckley is the CEO Buckley’s Personalized Auto Care in Wilmington, DE, Shari Pheasant and her husband Jeff own A Master Mechanic, and she is known as the Queen of Horsepower, Chris Cloutier is co-owner of Golden Rule Auto Care and CEO of AutoText ME, Brian Walker is the founder and CEO of 5 Stones Media, a marketing agency and former shop owner, Bill Hill owner of Mighty Auto Pro from Medina, OH and Brett Bohlmann of HWY 7 Service Center, Newel, IA
THA 099: The New Tax Law Impact on the Service Professional
The Impact of the New 2018 Tax Law on the Service Professional
Join Reed Meils, Financial Therapist and Partner in Paar, Melis and Assoc., Mt. Airy, MD, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar, Melis and Assoc and shop owner Gerry Frank, Shop and coach at Repair Shop Coach.
The highlight of the conversation is the discussion on the New Federal 20% Deduction for Qualified Small Business Income. 100% depreciation available for most asset purchases. Expanded Child and Dependent Tax Credits. Tax credits are better than a tax deduction. It is like getting cash. Technicians that have written off their equipment purchases off their taxes are no longer allowed.
This episode is not intended to give advice on the tax law or accounting principles. Please check with a professional for all your tax or accounting requirements.
THA 098: Daytime Training vs Night Time Training – A Discussion of Ideas
Your Learning Curve Never Sounded So Good Chris Chesney is the Senior Director of Customer Training, CARQUEST Technical Institute, and a NASTF board member and a member of the ‘Road To Great Technician’ project. Listen to Chris’s previous episodes HERE. Lucas Underwood is an Automotive diagnostic specialist, shop owner, and foreman. He owns L & N…
THA 097: Service Professional Loyalty: A Supplier Perspective
Service Professional Loyalty: A Supplier Perspective
On the panel is Brad Hartline, from Hyde Villa Auto Parts President and Pottsville Auto Parts in the Reading PA markets and Trevor Martin, President, Vaca Valley Auto Parts, Fairfield, CA and Mark Stabelfeldt, from Fairfax Auto Parts.
If you are a service professional you have a supplier or three and most likely have a great relationship with your number one call because they are a supply partner with and for you. A lot of your success comes from your supplier providing you the parts and service you need to keep your customers happy and coming back.
THA 096: Engaging Kids in the Automotive
Engage our Kids in the Automotive
This episode is a call to action to step up and get involved in your high school or college advisory boards and your community. Stop by a school and offer your help to the instructors or department chair or speak to your local rotary, PTA or career day. I guarantee they’ll welcome you with open arms.
The panel: Frank Leutz from Desert Car Care in Chandler, AZ., and host of the top-rated Wrench Nation radio show and podcast. Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue in Richmond, VA who has created a middle school STEM class he offers at his shop. And John Gustafson the president and CEO of Gustafson Brothers Huntington Beach, California Who holds three student Boot Camps each year and Steve Ford an auto industry veteran and award-winning broadcast journalist and educator. You’ll find Steve doing volunteer work, as he contributes to skilled trades and youth, career outreach programs.
See the show notes page to find important resources and downloads mentioned on the broadcast. This episode will give you many ideas on how and what to do / from volunteering // to creating your own personal initiative in your business and community.
If we don’t reach out, we fail because we didn’t take the steps necessary to engage and help our education system and enlighten the students to the high tech and awesome careers in the automotive. They will only know about it from you.
THA 095: Taking Good DVI Pictures
Taking Great DVI Pictures
Taking quality DVI pictures reflects on your brand and helps the customers builds trust. The power of demonstrating work needed and future maintenance concerns in the art of picture documentation is how we are going to do business in the future.
This wide-ranging conversation is brought to you by Scott Brown from Connie and Dicks and Diag.net, Greg Buckley from Buckley’s Auto Care, Jim Fleishman from Automotive Alley and JR Portmen from 5 Stones Media.
Videos must be included in the repertoire of good documentation and when you are in marketing mode.
THA 094: ASE – The Industry Credential and YOU!
ASE: The Industry Credential and You
It is time to best understand “your” role in bringing the value of ASE to your technician, your customer, and the industry. It’s time we, you, stepped to the plate and used ASE for what it does for you.
Since ASE is a non-for-profit it is not their role to promote your people’s certifications. They do want to do more, but it is your role to promote your technician’s credentials in all your marketing, and on uniforms and inside your shop. ASE must become an ingrained part of your training program and used as an assessment to that means.
We had some candid dialogue, with some great input from the ZOOM chat stream. We also learned of some long-awaited improvements to the ASE program from Mike Coley, the Sr. Vice President at the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence(ASE). You’ll be happy to hear about them.
Also with us is Jeff Walker President of Walker’s Automotive Service of Pleasantville, New Jersey a current ASE board member and ASE past chairman and Amy Mattinat, President of Autocraftsmen, Montpelier, VT who shares a bunch of ideas on how to market and ingrain ASE into your business culture.
THA 093: How Not To Be a Micro Manager
Stop Being a Micro Manager
Have you ever said I need to give my people the freedom to spread their wings and make more decisions? Ever wondered why they won’t. It could be because you are a micro manager.
If you are a micro manager discover why you need to stop. Sharing their first-hand experience is Maryann Croce of Croce Transmissions in Norwalk, CT, and smalllbizvantage.com, Dennis McCarron, Executive Director of Dealer Strategic Planning and Tom Lambert, President of Shadetree Automotive. These three have the experience to share with you how and why you need to stop being a micro manager and become a strategic leader and get your team totally engaged in your mission, vision, and purpose.
Warning this academy episode just may change your life.
THA 092: The Extreme Value of Shop Tours
The Extreme Value of Shop Tours
Recorded live at Franks European in Las Vegas, NV, listen to Frank Scandura, Vinnie Lucido, Andy Bizub, Deb Van Batenburg, Greg Bunch, Jimmy Lea, Bill Nalu, Shari Pheasant, and Vic Tarasik all providing their wisdom and insights on shop tours. We had fun and you’ll learn about what these professionals value by taking and giving shop tours.
You not only need to get a shop tour but also give them and ask for feedback. Sometimes you do not see things that your peers will see. Take their ideas and give your feedback constructively.
This team believes that shop tours are a very important tool in your perpetual improvement strategy. Growing your business comes from the ideas of others. As Frank Scandura says do R & D …. Rip off and Duplicate. Learn from your network and from shop tours.
THA 091: Workshop – Service Adviser Roleplay – Part 2
Service Adviser Role Play Part 2
Again this team digs deep to help aftermarket professionals learn more about the service advisor position. This is one of the most important and challenging jobs in the industry. The service adviser is the face of the business and is faced with building trust and strong relationships while generating profitable revenue.
Enjoy four different role plays and the ensuing discussion. Critique each role play yourself and enjoy the comments from this team. With me is Barry Barrett, Director of Training at RLO, Clint White, shop manager at Coopers Auto Repair Specialists in Tacoma, WA and John Vasquez, Service Adviser at Los Gators Auto Service Campbell, CA.
THA 090: Business Coaches Lab: Five Dysfunctions of a CEO
The Business Coaches LAB: The Five Dysfunctions of a CEO. Becoming a Better Leader.
Learn about these Dysfunctions: the Absence of Trust, the Fear of Conflict, the Lack of Commitment, the Avoidance of Accountability and the Inattention to Results.
In the LAB is Bob Greenwood from the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Center, Cecil Bullard, with the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, Jude Larson from the ACT Group, Rick White from 180 Biz and Murray Voth, from RPM Training.
There is a large amount of bonus material and links to their firms and their previous episodes on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a090.
THA 089: Open Four, Five or Six Days a Week. You Decide.
Open Four, Five, Six Days a Week. Listen to the Debate.
The panel includes Tom Piippo Tri-County Motors, Rudyard, MI, Bill Nalu, Interstate Auto Care Madison Heights, MI, and Alan ‘Ollie’ Gelfand, from German Car Depot, Hollywood, FL.
Learn how each defines or defends their days open and outlines the challenges each has in hiring, serving and making money.
Tom is a four day a week shop, however, Bill and Alan have their thoughts on how to create a four day work week for their team and still be there to serve their customer’s busy lives. Each day of the week takes on a different personality such as Saturday’s helps feed Monday and Tuesday. And Saturday’s can be a big maintenance day.
THA 088: Everything I Did Wrong and What I Learned
Everything I Did Wrong and What I Learned
If you are a person who thinks you can do everything yourself, then you need to listen to this trio explain their knock upside the head ‘V8’ moments when they realized it was the worse thing they could have ever done. Learn about this panels school of hard knocks so you don’t spend too much time in the places they were and accelerate your business because you now have the proof of what to do to prevent your business from being stuck in neutral.
It is not what you don’t know it is also about what your people don’t know. We talk micromanaging, training, business models, KPI’s and empowering your people and yes they will make mistakes just like you did.
With me for this Academy is Bambi Crozier, Car Clinic in Lowell, AR, // Frank Scandura, from Franks European in Las Vegas, NV and Tom Lambert, from Shadetree Automotive, Layton, UT
THA 087: Automotive Career’s Starts in High School and in the Home!
An Automotive Career Starts in High School and in the Home!l
We, as a collective aftermarket, need to stop talking about the need for quality automotive training and the technician shortage and get involved. It will be our fault for the lack of young people joining our industry.
The schools are there for industry. Superintendents and presidents need to hear from industry. A good advisory board will make a huge difference in the quality of instruction, investment from the school and placement of students.
The panel includes James Halderman, ASE Master Technician, and author of 18 Automotive Textbooks and James Pressly, Trade and Industrial Specialist, Career and Technical Education with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and Shane Hawkins, East Gaston High School in Mount Holly, NC and adjunct instructor for Gaston College. Also an impromptu visit from Kyle Holt of S/P2.
THA 086: Stop Being Busy and Improve Your Productivity!
Stop Being Busy and Improve Your Productivity
The panel includes Dennis McCarran, Executive Director of Dealer Strategic Planning, Justin Galsgow, Performance Tire & Wheel, Topeka, KS and Darren McClea from McClea’s Tire and Automotive, Santa Rosa, CA.
We talk your to-do-list, delegating, emails, time wasters, texts, finishing, priorities, and making time to get things done. A suggestion to get into work early and review your day and prioritize the critical task.
Consider batching your projects. Seeing reps; consider Tuesdays are the day for reps. This tightens up your planning efforts.