CEO Margaret Palango Takes the Lead [RR 692]
CEO Margaret Palango Takes the Lead [RR 692]
I’m so honored to be speaking with the new CEO of Auto Shop Solutions, Margaret Palango. In this episode, Margaret shares how she went from a stay-at-home mom to her newly appointed position as CEO. You have to create opportunities for yourself and go for what you want. Her new role will encourage more women to join our industry. Listen and be inspired and strive to grow your confidence so you can reach your goals, take big leaps and make a difference.
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Rethink Your Compensation Plans – Darrin Barney [RR 691]
Rethink Your Compensation Plans [RR 691]
In this episode, Darrin Barney discusses an overview of a class he presented at ASTE 2021 titled “Pay Plans Used by the Top Shops in America.” Some excellent ideas and insights that every shop owner can use in their business. As your business and employees change, so should your compensation plan. Darrin also explains the importance of guiding principals, goals, and employee retention.
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Do You Have Financial Peace of Mind? – Bill Haas [RR 690]
Do You Have Financial Peace of Mind? [RR 690]
This episode highlights Bill Haas’s ASTE training class titled “Advanced Financial Strategies for Peace of Mind.” Do you go to bed at night with your head spinning, thinking about numbers, finances, profit and stability? Bill discusses simple financial tactics to ease that worry and stress. Stop hiding behind the phrase “I’m not a numbers person” and start taking control of your numbers.
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“Give Me 10” Internship Program – Sue Dickson [RR 689]
“Give Me 10” Internship Program [RR 689]
Did you know donating 10 hours a week of your time can make a difference in a student’s life? In this episode, Sue Dickson explains a simple internship program coined “Give me 10.” 10 hours a week divided into 5 days. We all can spare that time, especially when it can blossom into a new technician in our industry. It sets an example for your community, their parents, and your business culture. Don’t assume that someone else will do it. You must act. Call or stop by your local high school. Sue explains the how and why.
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From Shadowing to Apprentice Graduate – Bridgette Johnson [RR 688]
From Shadowing to Apprentice Graduate [RR 688]
We hear over and over again that high school students happen to stumble upon a shadowing field trip in school and realize the automotive industry has endless career opportunities for them. This happened with Bridgette Johnson, when are we going to start spreading the word to our local schools instead of sitting on the sidelines?
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Jimmy Lea’s Top 7 Proven Marketing Methods [RR 687]
Jimmy Lea’s Top 7 Proven Marketing Methods [RR 687]
The online realm of marketing can be overwhelming by just thinking about it. How do you successfully market your business online? Stop spending money on methods that don’t produce or may even work against you. You need to measure and manage your marketing for the most significant results possible. I’m in the ASTE 2021 studio with Jimmy Lea, Kukui evangelist, to discuss the top 7 methods you can implement in your shop today that are proven to put your shop on top.
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Implementing EOS with Barry Barrett: Four Shop Owners Share Their Success [RR 686]
Implementing EOS with Barry Barrett: 4 Shop Owners Share Their Success [RR 686]
The Entrepreneurial Operating System has been highlighted on the podcast with a 7 part series featuring Barry Barrett, a certified EOS Implementor. The EOS system enables owners to get the most out of their business using six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. It’s easy to discuss and learn, but how does it work with real people in different levels of business? In this episode, you’ll hear from 4 shop owners that have implemented EOS in their business and their success stories from it.
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We Are Signal Intelligence Specialists – Gary Smith [RR 685]
We Are Signal Intelligence Specialists – Gary Smith [RR 685]
Trainer Gary Smith loves to diagnose tough challenges. He is going to touch, in this episode, on the importance of computer and mechanical data in finding carbon and deposit fouling when diagnosing driveability concerns. He is also going to talk about a new definition of technicians saying that they are “Signal Intelligence Specialists.” A unique approach to a technician’s skill set. We discuss the skills necessary to play in this new field of automotive tradecraft.
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Creating Lifetime Customers – Brittany Schindler [RR 684]
Creating Lifetime Customers [RR 684]
Establishing a connection with your customers and being able to keep them coming back is always a challenge for the automotive industry. How do you build loyalty and ensure customers are educated properly? In this episode, Brittany Schindler answers that question with easy-to-follow steps her service advisors implement every day, including a lifetime warranty for customers. Keep listening and brainstorm what you could change in your business.
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Growing Pains When Scaling Your Business [RR 683]
Growing Pains When Scaling Your Business [RR 683]
We all know growing pains happen when expanding your business to more locations. It’s tough, necessary, and normal. But wouldn’t it be nice to skip some of the known challenges? Consider this episode your “How to Scale” road map if you’ve been considering opening more locations. Listen and learn from a shop owner and one of his Directors, as they share some tactics to controlled chaos.
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Why Can’t Every Shop Owner Be Profitable? [RR 682]
Why Can’t Every Shop Owner Be Profitable? [RR 682]
Too many business owners are silently struggling and think they are the only ones. Or maybe they do want to elevate their business to the next level but have been stuck in the day to day…that leads to month to month and then year over year struggle. Before you know it, the only thing progressing forward is time. And the only constant is change. In this episode Scott Wheeler highlights the key foundations needed for a successful automotive business. He also references his book “How to Make Money (& Stay Sane) in the Automotive Service Industry” which reads like a blueprint for your business, full of charts, graphs and formulas.
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Amazing Women in Automotive [RR 681]
Amazing Women in Automotive [RR 681]
Did you know only 2% of our automotive industry is female? Staffing shortages has never been more critical than now. Are we missing a huge opportunity to get women involved? And for the 2% that are involved, what are we doing to retain them? Amazing Women in Automotive is the answer. It’s a safe space for women to support women in the industry with weekly round table discussions.
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A Tribute to Bob Greenwood – [Bonus 12]
I never thought I’d ever be doing a tribute like this for a good friend, Bob Greenwood. His passing really hit me as it did for so many others. You can’t help but realize we lost him way too early in his life. His mission wasn’t close to being done.
If you ever heard Bob Greenwood’s passion for this industry you know that he held high hopes for the future success of the independent aftermarket. His passion for making this great industry a profession instead of a trade was one of his biggest talking points (a signature of his) where ever and whenever he had a chance to pontificate.
I reflect on a few of Bob’s accomplishments, some of the thirty-three episodes he contributed to and I welcomed some friends to share their memory of Bob.
Catching Up With Your Mentor [RR 680]
Catching Up With Your Mentor [RR 680]
Mentoring is a special relationship that grows between two individuals and also within themselves personally. With me is Jim Morton and Brandon Steckler: Mentor and Mentee. We all know when you teach you learn, but did you also know the best mentor never responds to a question with an answer? In this episode Jim and Brandon discuss the essence of mentorship. They also agree that going back to the basics is the simplest and often overlooked foundation for any successful diagnostician. I bet you are not surprised!
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Profit Strategies with Natalie Paris [RR 679]
Profit Strategies with Natalie Paris [RR 679]
The financial numbers of any business tell an important story. But how many owners know how to read their financial statements correctly? Do you know your breakeven point for your business? Do you review your cash flow monthly? In this episode, Natalie Paris from Three Rivers Bookkeeping shares the importance of the dynamics of a good bookkeeper, your CPA and your business coach to keep your business on track for success
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Scan Tools Part 3 [RR 678]
Scan Tools Part 3 [RR 678]
Same crew, Matt Fanslow, Keith Perkins and Bill Nalu from Part 1 and 2 and in this episode we are hearing about preferred scan tool preferences by platform. We also hammer about the investment the shop needs to make in scan tools for the team and some additional myths. The team speaks to the difference between a scan tool and a diagnostic platform.
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Bonus: Advancing the Aftermarket – Charging What We Are Worth [Bonus 11]
Advancing the Aftermarket.
Of late there has been a lot of dialogue around my circles about being paid for the value you give and bring to your customer. I recently saw a survey of shops whose sales averaged $750,000 yet their net operating profit was only 2%. That is only a $15,000 average net operating income before tax. This troubling stat begs the question: How do you continue to invest in the business and even provide a living wage for you and your team at that level of profit? remarkableresults.biz/b010
Succession Planning Blueprint – Bryan Stasch [RR 677]
Succession Planning Blueprint [RR 677]
Succession Planning: We can’t talk about it enough. I like doing shows on this topic because we have thousands and thousands of shop owners who can benefit from this wisdom. The average shop owner doesn’t think about preparing for his or her exit until they’re ready to exit, and by that time it is often too late to prepare the business for a successful sale that may garner a top asking price. In this episode, Bryan Stasch, the Vice President of Program and Content Development for the Automotive Training Institute (ATI) defines a clear blueprint for your business. He talks about getting you ready, the shop ready, how you derive a sale price and what does walk away money look like. When should you start to put all this together? NOW, even if you don’t plan to retire for years to come.
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Job Expectations: Boomers vs Millennials [RR 676]
Job Expectations: Boomers vs Millennials [RR 676]
Boomers and millennials could not be more different if they tried. We’ve all heard the stereotype for both generations and miscommunication and frustration often bubble to the surface in any work environment. Instead of criticizing different generations than our own, isn’t it time we pause and start understanding each other? In this episode, Bill Haas is the boomer and Sara Fraser is the millennial. They are also a father-daughter team that works together. Listen to both perspectives and find out how both generations can actually work together harmoniously.
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Apprentice Journey – High School to Graduate [RR 675]
Apprentice Journey – High School to Graduate [RR 675]
How did a high school student who wanted to just fill a slot in his schedule end up becoming an apprentice at Dynamic Automotive? What are the qualities a mentor needs to have for an apprenticeship program? Is it possible for a 20 something-year-old to be financially stable in a career with no college debt? This is a down-to-earth, real-life episode that will shed some light on the importance of apprenticeships in our industry. … and you know how important apprentices are to me and to our long-term survival.
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Bonus: Advancing the Aftermarket – We are an Industry to be Proud and Rivaled [Bonus 10]
Bonus: Advancing the Aftermarket – We are an Industry to be Proud and Rivaled [Bonus 10]
Advancing the Aftermarket. We have amazingly smart people in our industry. If anyone would ever say that the independent automotive aftermarket is made up of car fix hobbyists who just want to fix cars, partially true but you and I know better we are working hard to run great businesses, employ top people and keep the transportation needs of our customers safe and reliable. remarkableresults.biz/b010
Social Media 101: Lead Gen, IOS Changes, Boosting [RR 674]
Social Media 101: Lead Gen, IOS Changes, Boosting [RR 674]
Are you a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to handling your own marketing campaign for the business? Where do you start? What’s the best way to target your audience? How do you set up ads for Facebook that are going to really work? It can become frustrating very fast and so many people end up throwing in the towel. In this episode, Christina Modesti from Mode Marketing Agency outlines simple steps to point you on the right track. As she explains, “you don’t win or lose in marketing and advertising, you win or learn.” Keep in mind that Cristina’s husband owns a shop so she does have a great perspective.
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Leadership Series Part 5 with Mike Davidson – Rewards of Growing as a Leader [RR 673]
Leadership Series Part 5 with Mike Davidson – Rewards of Growing as a Leader [RR 673]
In this final installment of our Leadership Series with Mike Davidson, Mike discusses the reward of growing in leadership. It goes beyond profit and cash flow. The real success comes from business owners realizing they need to develop their people instead of managing them. Too often the owner is the biggest obstacle in allowing the business to grow. Find out what happens when you implement this how-to leadership series.
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All Electric Vehicle Business Model – Dave Giles [RR 672]
All Electric Vehicle Business Model – Dave Giles[RR 672]
This is a fascinating business model and one that Makes EV’s a specialty, no different than Euro Shops. With OE commitments and government mandates to roll out EV’s and reduce the production of the internal combustion engine, we all need to be schooled in the ‘What’s Next’ indoctrination. It is time to look ahead before you get left behind. David Giles discusses how his electric and hybrid-only business has become a huge success. Keep in mind progress is impossible without change.
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Creating a Culture of Productivity – Scott Brown [RR 671]
Creating a Culture of Productivity [RR 671]
Goodhart’s law named after British economist Charles Goodhart states “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” Sometimes when business owners become focused on a specific measure in their business, like productivity, it can actually hold everyone back. In this episode Scott Brown, from Cardinal Shell, discusses how his 5 bay shop produces 4.2 million per year by focusing on the culture of the business. Keep listening for a different perspective that might change the way you do business if you let it.
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