Listening to Service Advisor Phone Calls [THA 343]

“The art of asking the right questions: this approach, inspired by the Socratic method, helps uncover valuable insights and ensures a thorough understanding of situations. Authenticity is key in every interaction.”

Carm Capriotto introduces a panel to discuss the importance of listening to service advisor calls. Rena Rennebohm and Clint White are service advisor coaches, while Collin Ashin and Tyler Nichols are their clients. They discuss the benefits of reviewing recorded calls, such as identifying areas for improvement, enhancing problem-solving skills, creating a safe environment for feedback, the value of coaching, and the need for continuous improvement. Remember, the journey to self-improvement begins with a single step.
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How Your Mindset Will Overcome Your Business Struggle [RR 856]

Dan Taylor discusses the struggles of shops and the importance of self-image, guidance, and mentoring to overcome negative conditioning. Dan also highlights the power of the mind, the reticular activating system, and the law of attraction in achieving success in business and personal life. He emphasizes the need for individuals to be receptive to feedback and to actively seek out blind spots in their own lives. The episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for individuals looking to improve their self-image and overcome obstacles in their business and personal lives.
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Passing the Torch: A Father-Son Journey of Strengths and Learning [RR 847]

Recorded Live at the TST Big Event 2023 with Andrew and Peter Knudsen, father and son duo of Coventry Motors in Huntington Station, Long Island. They discuss their background in the car industry, their decision to start their own business, the types of cars they work on, and their succession plan. They also discuss the challenges of running a small business, including labor rates and finding new talent. The conversation provides insights into the rewards and challenges of running a successful auto repair business and the importance of continuous learning and adapting to changes in the industry.
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From HVAC to Thermal System Management: Opportunities and Challenges [RR 845]

Recorded Live at the TST Big Event 2023, with Aaron Becker, President of AirSept and Peter Coll, President and COO of the Mobile Air Climate Systems Association (MACS). They discuss the government’s involvement in the automotive industry, the importance of having a mentor, the development of new products, the challenges of complying with EPA regulations, and the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. 
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Behind the Scenes: Hudson Family Trifecta Awards [RR 797]

Get a behind the scenes interview with Kristi and Donnie Hudson on their trifecta award winning year in 2022 as the NAPA AutoCare Shop Owner of the Year, Women in Auto Care Female Shop Owner of the Year and AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year. Jason Rainey and Joelle Pollak from NAPA AutoCare also join the conversation. 
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ABC Technician: What Does It Mean? [THA 280]

Are A,B, and C technician levels outdated? Or do we need to take into account specialized skills that can be required in certain areas? Is there room for A, B and C levels within categories? As our industry continues to change, maybe our perspectives on technician labels change too.

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Technician Mentoring [THA 279]

There are business coaches for shop owners, service advisors, COO’s and managers. But what about technicians? Training events are critical for everyone in your shop, but one on one technician mentoring at your facility is unrivaled. Find out the benefits of bringing a trainer in specifically to teach your team.

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From the Bays to the Classroom – Brandon Steckler [RR 746]

Do you have a passion for teaching others and watching them grow? Is it something you’ve been interested in doing? I’m with Brandon Steckler at the TST Big Event 2022 and we discuss his path to becoming a trainer and writer for MotorAge Magazine. He also shares a transparent review of one of his classes from a peer. A special episode I did with Brandon on his passion for teaching is episode 342. Speaking of training, did you know that auto tech colleges need part-time instructors? It is a great way to engage with auto tech students. How about being a high school night school trainer. Let’s think outside the box and advance the aftermarket together.

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The Hardest Lessons to Learn – Kevin Eckler [RR 744]

There’s nothing better than catching up with an industry friend at TST’s Big Event! Dive into the blueprint of Kevin Eckler’s second location, and his transparency of learning a valuable lesson of full commitment to his employees. He explains words are just words until actions are put into place. You’ll also hear from his newest employee that was an intern at his shop.

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Wide Open Training Discussion with No Agenda [RR 741]

Dive into the minds of three incredible industry trainers in the studio of the 2022 Vision KC Hi Tech Training & Expo.  We had no agenda, just some friends chatting with a special dynamic and their passion for the advancement of the aftermarket. Some of what we covered: what are their perspectives on electrical theory, becoming a trainer, and training in general, you’ll also hear talk about business culture, mentoring and so much more. Profound fun awaits you.

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Out with the Old, in with the New [AW 095]

Guest hosts and shop tour with Rich and Linda Brauer, 59 Auto Repair, Plainfield, IL. They’ve been in business 28 years and was the 2021 NAPA Shop of the Year. Rich and Linda discuss the importance of being open to new ideas and change, rather than saying “that is the way we’ve always done it.” 

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Women of the Year Awards 2021 [RR 709]

Women of the Year Awards 2021 [RR 709]

I had the honor last year to sit down with the Women in AutoCare Women of the Year recipients at AAPEX 2021. The electric energy between these women is hard to miss. The push for more women in our industry is never over. We need to continue to support women in leadership roles, encourage the younger generation to join and get involved in mentorship.

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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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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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Owner, Technician, Service Advisor – Working Together – AAPEX 2020 Honors [RR 606]

Owner, Technician, Service Advisor – Working Together – AAPEX 2020 Honors [RR 606]

This 606th episode honors the recipients of the AAPEX 2020 Awards. The first annual honors include Shop Owner of the Year, Technician of the Year, and Service Advisor of the Year.

Sure we bestowed a bunch of high-fives upon these three outstanding aftermarket professionals, but you’ll love the episode as we discussed their roles in a shop environment and why working together through trust and respect make a huge difference for the business and work environment.

Help me welcome Brian Sump of Avalon MotorSports and Urbana Auto Care as the AAPEX 2020 Shop Owner of the Year. Norm Schultz of Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI as AAPEX 2020 Technician of the Year, and Jason Sexton of Dynamic Automotive, Frederick, MD as the AAPEX 2020 Service Advisor of the Year.

The key talking points for this episode reside at remarkableresults.biz/e606

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Apprentice Stories [THA 193]

Apprentice Stories [THA 193]

In your circles do you find that the discussion is trending toward finding top talent? All aspects from networking, writing great ads, improving hiring systems and improving your business culture is credited to finding and keeping top talent.

How much success are you having finding great talent out of the available pool? I believe the time has come, in a big way, to “grow your own”. For many that concept seems nebulous. Something you hear about, know you should do, but can’t even begin to know where to start.

I’ve done at least 10 podcasts on apprenticing and career pathing. Most recently Town Hall Academy #185 dedicated to understanding apprentice programs. This episode is a bookend to #185 and I call it Apprentice Stories. Listen to two apprentices and a mentor talk candidly about the process and results.

Anything worthwhile takes time and effort and installing an apprentice program in your shop is as right as having lifts in your bays.

I will have links to important apprentice programs you can embrace listed in the show notes at remarkableresults.biz/a193

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Giving Back: His Calling to Expose the Automotive to High School Students [RR 565]

Giving Back: His Calling to Expose the Automotive to High School Students [RR 563]

My guest today demonstrates paying it forward. Luke Walker from Columbus, OH shares his 10-year success path from a one-bay shop into a 16 bay, $4M business.

He credits great people, coaching and a strong culture. A fascinating part of Luke’s story is his giving back to the community. As you listen, think about how you can help impress the automotive industry on the young people in your community. He is leading and supporting an after school program that unwraps automotive systems to students that may show technical/mechanical gifting and encourage them to our industry.

Talk to me at carm@remarkableresults.biz Thanks!!!! for sharing your thoughts. Find the key talking points, Patrick’s bio and links to his previous episodes at remarkableresults.biz/e565

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Apprentice Program – Grow Your Own Technician [THA 185]

THA 185 Apprentice Programs – Growing Your Own Technicians

Do you need a technician? What are you doing about it. There is some great talent available as an outcome of the pandemic; however, it won’t last.

Here is another episode on apprenticing. This is a recurring curring theme on the podcast. I will put up a link on the show notes page that displays all podcasts that helps you learn about apprentice programs.

The panel: Pete McNeil, shop owner, Mc Neils Auto Care, The NAPA 2020 Shop Owner of the Year, Sandy, UT, 2 Locations. (Expanded Sandy location to 16 bays and use it for education). Jake Sorensen, Technician, the 2019 NAPA ASE Technician of the Year, He is an ASE Master technician with L1,2 and 3 advanced level certifications. He is the shop manager and diagnostic technician at McNeil’s Auto Care in Sandy, UT and Alexia Murphy, Program Specialist, Department of Workforce Services, State of Utah

The key talking points listed on the show notes page will make a great meeting agenda or outline for change find them at remarkableresuts.biz/a185

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Financial Help For Your Team [THA 177]

THA 177 Financial Help For Your Team

This is an episode I’ve wanted to do for some time. This living paycheck to paycheck syndrome can be corrected. Many spend beyond what they make and they get a raise and the differential is also gone. It is usually a spending problem, not an earning problem.

My panel that includes Danielle Bohlmann, Owner, HWY 7 Service Center, Newell, IA, Dave Martin, Owner, Martin’s Auto Repair, Phoenix, AZ, Frank Scandura, Owner, Frank’s European Service, Las Vegas, NV and Drew Horton, Technician, HWY 7 Service Center, Newell, IA

A bunch of great insights here and you can find them on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a177. These key talking points will make for a great meeting agenda.

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RR 482: Technician Shortage Solution – College Apprentice Program

RR 482 – Technician Shortage Solution – College Apprentice Program

Think of the possibilities of hiring a young apprentice that is currently going to an automotive technical college. You get a chance to groom and mentor the young student and indoctrinate them into the world of the independent service provider.

This is one of the most powerful solutions to the technician shortage. This is not a quick fix and most quick fixes are just that ‘quick and not long term.’

The IGONC developed in concert with North Carolina a phenomenal apprentice program that brings a job, at a decent wage, for two years and paid college tuition. The students applied and were accepted into the program.

Please use this information to catapult your association, your local group to work with post-secondary automotive colleges and your state to create and fund a program like this. I’m sure the leadership team at IGONC will be happy to help you and give you all the guidance you need to make apprentice programs like this a viable component to creating our future technicians.

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THA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive

THA 118 Recruiting Students to Discover a Career in Automotive

Enjoy some great new ideas and real-world issues as I welcome Seth Thorson, shop owner, Eurotech, Brighton, MN. Seth created a $25,000 endowment for automotive careers. We discussed in episode 340, David Macholz, Academic Chair of Suffolk County College – Automotive Technology and Aaron Dalton, Coordinator- School to Career Programming at the North Kansas City Schools.

On the podcast, we’ve not shied away from big issues in the industry. The only way our investment in this great dialogue actually gets traction is if you do your part. I can relate the discussion we are having today with a thought on philanthropy. Hats off to what you do for your community. Honorable. However, the future of our industry is dependent on recruiting, training and retaining technicians. Call it an investment in your own personal philanthropy.

Getting involved in local education at all levels to share our hi-tech industry with administration and to support the educators that are teaching young students on the automotive is a very important role you have. Especially as an independent. If you don’t then who? You will have less to give to your community if you don’t invest in your future.

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RR 419: Bringing Technician Proficiency to the Next Level Through Mentoring Programs

Bringing Technical Proficiency to the Next Level Through Tech Mentoring Programs

What is technician mentoring? It is a training program focused on technical proficiency. Helping our techs not just technical but also on effective communication, effective teamwork, positive shop culture and a higher bottom line for everyone. Encouraging a team aspect that benefits everyone involved and getting techs better at their jobs.

Ensuring our industry’s growth is our Vision 2019 power panel are veteran educators and trainers with years of expertise within the industry; Scott Shotton owner of the Driveability Guys, Eric Ziegler owner of E-Z Diagnostic Solutions and Trainer, Dave Denmon of Dave’s Car Care and Gerson Carcache Master Tech at Dave’s Car Care.

The episode is driving the discussion of technician mentoring and the need for assisting shops in developing their technicians. Not only keeping a seasoned technician current but in developing bench talent.

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RR 401: Family Succession Part 1 – Our Future Female Shop Owners

Family Succession Part 1 – Our Future Female Shop Owners

We are talking to three millennial ladies who are geared for the succession of the family business. Many of our aftermarkets family businesses want to retire knowing that the business they have built is in safe hands, is moving forward and continues to succeed. Grooming a family member to become the CEO is a big decision and challenging journey.

Our guests are young and energetic female successors; Carly Paiva from Elite Auto Repair, in Warwick, RI, Jacquie Hower from Zimmerman’s Automotive in Mechanicsburg, PA, and Lauren Anderson from Victory Auto Service and Glass in Minneapolis. They understood very well the stakes and the responsibilities. They are not shying away and have shown maturity above their young age.

Carly Paiva has been actively participating in service advisory classes to better herself, Jacqui Hower recently graduated from Northwood and Lauren Anderson is finding ways and solutions to better equip her staff for success. The energy and passion of these three must make their parents proud.

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