You searched for Laura Shwaluk - Remarkable Results Radio

Looking Rich VS Living Free: The Hidden Truth About Success and Money [THA 472]

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today’s Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty

“Rich is loud. Wealthy is quiet.”

In this episode, host Carm Capriotto sits down with Jerry Kezhaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk, owners of The Auto Shop and business coaches with Business Builder Mentor and Mastermind.

They share their unconventional journey from healthcare to auto repair, including how Laura stepped in to run the shop while Jerry was hospitalized. With no technical background, she succeeded by focusing on leadership, culture, and relationships—proving that auto repair is ultimately a people business.

The couple also discusses the realities of working together as spouses. By clearly defining roles—Jerry managing systems and strategy, Laura leading team and customer relations—they’ve built a respectful, healthy workplace culture.

A major focus of the episode is financial freedom. Jerry contrasts “visible wealth” with “quiet freedom,” emphasizing passive income, low debt, and disciplined spending. They warn against lifestyle inflation and investing in depreciating assets, encouraging shop owners to prioritize long-term security over short-term status. They dive into the psychology of money, explaining how emotional wounds and unmet needs often drive overspending. Laura stresses that financial healing often starts with personal healing.

Our panel reinforces that real success comes from clarity, discipline, and emotional awareness. Rather than chasing status or appearances, they encourage shop owners to focus on building strong teams, healthy finances, and personal balance—creating businesses that support true freedom, peace of mind, and long-term fulfillment.

Jerry Kezhaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk, The Auto Shop, Plano TX. Business Coaches at Business Builder Mentor and Mastermind

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS

NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/

Thanks to our Partner, Today’s Class

Optimize training with Today’s Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today’s Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/

Thanks to our Partner, KUKUI

Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI’s integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. Get industry-leading customer support with KUKUI at https://www.kukui.com/

Thanks to our Partner, Pit Crew Loyalty

You’re probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. We understand. Pit Crew Loyalty ends the one-and-done cycle, turning first visits into lasting, reliable revenue at https://www.pitcrewloyalty.com/

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– Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections

– The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

– Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

– Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

– Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

– The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

– The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix – Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

– Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O’Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm

700th Episode Milestone- 7 Trends [RR 700]

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 05:15:00 +0000

Key Talking Points

Donnie Hudson, 3 Location, Troy Auto Care, Troy, MI
- Retaining great employees
- Listen to your employees and keep the morale up
- Flexible schedules
- Feedback- transparent communication
- Take care of your people and they will take care of you

AJ Nealey, Nealey Auto Service, Edgewater and Deale, MD
- Talent mining (Finding superstars)
- Hand in hand with retention
- Your employees should be your biggest advocate and biggest fan
- Do you have the right culture internally and align with your organization?
- Can new hires be adaptable to a new culture they aren’t used to?
- Each role builds the company

Seth Thorson, Eurotech, New Brighton, Woodbury, Medina, MN
- Tesla Factor
- Electric cars break and need repair/maintenance- an opportunity
- Tesla training starting to come to the market
- “Service Mode” disables live view and summon capabilities
- Don’t say no to EV’s

Dr. Laura Shwaluk, The Auto Shop, Plano, TX
- Retaining great employees
- “Now Hiring” signs no longer work
- 50-65% of workers that are currently working are either actively looking for a new job or open to a new job
- How engaged are your employees with their work and the business?
- When you lose an employee you lose productivity
- Employees are looking for a “home”- core values, being appreciated, respect from owners and team members, integrity, achievement projects, sportsmanship

Emily Chung, AutoNiche, Markham, ON
- Attracting the next generation
- By the time we talk to them about trades mid to late high school it’s already too late. We need to get them interested at a younger age and get rid of the stigma with parents
- Capturing the youth- by high school they have already formed their opinion of their career paths.
- How are you portraying your shop? What does it look like to the parents?

Keith Perkins, L1 Automotive Diagnostics, Tulsa, OK
- Mobile Car Repair Trend (Vehicle Service)
- Working on a car in someone’s driveway- unsafe
- Over 60 google listings in the local area of Tulsa, OK, less than 10% are more than 4 years old of mobile auto repair business-wide acceptance
- Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist- individuals ready to perform repairs
- What started this movement? Technicians that didn’t have a “home”
- Consider “concierge service” for picking up and driving back

Colleen Yarger, Mark’s Independent Service, Chatsworth, CA
- Aging fleet
- Car shortage- people aren’t as willing to get new cars.
- 10-15 year old cars is the new niche- bigger tickets
- Automobiles that are age 12 years or older are anticipated to increase by 15%
- The number of vehicles 5 years old or less is predicted to increase by almost 25%.
- Research shows in 2021, there will be an estimated 76 million vehicles aged 16 years or older in the United States.

Connect with the show:

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Important Books

Check out today’s partners:

This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. AAPEX 2021 is in the record books and lived up to presenting leading-technical and business management training from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Now set your sights on Las Vegas in 2022. Mark your calendar now … November 1-3, 2022, AAPEX – Now more than ever.

This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at getshopware.com/carm

Women Shop Owners Round Table [CC 087]

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 05:15:00 +0000

In honor of March’s Women History Month, I assembled a panel of lady shop owners to discuss the women’s role in the aftermarket. The ladies brought some wide-ranging perspectives and I loved the trajectory of this discussion. No matter your position or gender in our beloved aftermarket give this episode your due. The ladies were on fire.

The Panel:

Emily Chung, AutoNiche, Markam, Ontario
A licensed Automotive Service Technician
Teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College
Degree in Psychology and Business
Dr. Laura Shwaluk, The Auto Shop, Plano, TX
Bachelor of Science in the field of Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology and a doctorate in Chiropractic with certificates in neurology, applied kinesiology, nutrition, and functional endocrinology. She practiced wellness and functional medicine in Texas for 20 years and is the author of three books.
Karen Manelas,(Man-El-IS) Auto Care Plus, NH
Hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
Works with her Husband since 2004. Now with 7 locations
Judi Haglin, Haglin Automotive, Boulder, CO
In business with husband Dana
An ATI Coach and leader of the Leading Ladies 20 Group
Danielle Bohlmann, HWY 7 Service Center, Newell, IA
Creating work-life harmony with husband Brett
Spending more time away from the business lately
Contributed to three podcasts

Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page, highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser, and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE
Find every podcast episode HERE.
Every episode is segmented by Series HERE.
Key Word Search HERE.

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Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy me a coffee

Are you seeing auto shops in your area get hundreds of 5-star Google reviews and are you feeling left behind because your shop only has a few?

Hey look, Broadly is your answer to getting more online reviews. With more reviews, your business will rank higher in search results — and that means more customers coming into your shop every day.

Broadly helps you automatically request reviews so that your customers can promote your business with just one click.

When you immediately ask for a review after service, when the experience is still fresh in their mind, // you’re more likely to get a 5-star positive review.

Plus, asking for feedback makes your customer feel valued and more connected to your business. Isn’t that what you want a connected customer? See how Broadly can help grow your auto shop. Visit www.getbroadly.com/carm to learn more.

CarmCast 087 – Women Shop Owners

Carman Cappriotto — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:00:11 +0000

Emily Chung, AutoNiche, Markam, Ontario
- A licensed Automotive Service Technician
- Teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College
- Degree in Psychology and Business
Dr. Laura Shwaluk, The Auto Shop, Plano, TX
- Bachelor of Science in the field of Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology and a doctorate in Chiropractic with certificates in neurology, applied kinesiology, nutrition, and functional endocrinology. She practiced wellness and functional medicine in Texas for 20 years and is the author of three books.
Karen Manelas, Auto Care Plus, NH
- Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
- Works with her Husband since 2004. Now with 7 locations
Judi Haglin, Haglin Automotive, Boulder, CO
- In business with husband Dana
- An ATI Coach and leader of the Leading Ladies 20 Group
- On Yesterday’s Aftermarket Weekly
Danielle Bohlmann, HWY 7 Service Center, Newell, IA
- Creating work-life harmony with husband Brett
- Spending more time away from the business lately
- Contributed to three podcasts

Hiring Superstars with Jerry Kezhaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk [RR 594]

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 05:15:00 +0000

Jerry Kezhaya from The Auto Shop in Plano Texas has been in business since 1981. Plano is a northern suburb of Dallas with a population on 280,000. According to Jerry, it is the top growing county in the US. His 35,000 sq. ft. shop has 21 lifts with two flats per lift.

Jerry is a business coach and prides himself for getting out of the shop between 80 and 120 days a year to work with clients, attends seminars and enjoys wine. Listen to Jerry previous episodes HERE.

Dr. Laura Shwaluk has a Bachelor of Science in the field of Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology and a doctorate in Chiropractic with certificates in neurology, applied kinesiology, nutrition, and functional endocrinology. She practiced wellness and functional medicine in Texas for 20 years and is the author of three books.

Laura is happily married and devoted to the love of her life, Jerry Kezhaya. Together they manage The Auto Shop and Business Builders Mentor and Mastermind USA. Her specialized business interests are in accounting, operational systems, and people management. Her passion is to help entrepreneurs accelerate their business and open the doors of mental blocks that prevent them from succeeding. Listen to Laura’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

Hiring superstarsContrary to the common misconception, good people aren’t hard to find when you know how to do it and you’re a good employee
Ability to grow business correlates to ability to delegate
When testing professional detectives on hiring 50% of the time they make wrong choice
Why do we have employees?.Do the things we don’t want to do .
Do the things you can’t do (bookkeeping etc)
Problems when hiringTolerating mediocre employees because you think good people are too hard to find
Hiring the wrong person is a very expensive mistake- cost 4x annual salary in first 6 months
Standard interview- looking at resume, call candidates to come in and schedule roughly an hour with each. Out of 12 only 4 might show up.
Hire based on how they “seem” in your personal opinion (good attitude, enthusiastic etc)
Effective hiring system for CSR and marketing help- naturally filter candidates Clear job description
Create outgoing message for anyone that wants to apply- number to call with voicemail about who you are, what you’re looking for, what you’re not looking for (hosted numbers)
Once they leave a message you can login and listen through phone messages quickly
Effective hiring system for technicians Posting ad on Indeed starts on top then after a month it’ll become buried- repost new ad
Call and talk directly to owner- find out why are you leaving current position, where are you currently working, where do you live, are you accepting unemployment etc
Interview with owner and team- walk through shop together
Effective firingKnow your state regulations
Example Texas- must have cause for firing
Premade forms for writing someone up- communication form (expectations for performing job) to be signed by employer and employee and have copy. Firing form- (white, yellow, pink) written warning, final and copy for files/unemployment. Documenting is key , have witness in room and record it
Fire fast, hire slow

Resources:

Thanks to Jerry Kezhaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
Find every podcast episode HERE.
Every episode segmented by Series HERE.
Key Word Search HERE.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

Facebook Twitter Linked In Email

Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy me a coffee

This episode is brought to you by AAPEX, the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and has everything you need to stay ahead of the curve. The Virtual AAPEX Experience 2020 is in the record books. Virtual AAPEX lived up to presenting leading-technical and business management training from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Now set your sights on the homecoming in Las Vegas in 2021. Mark your calendar now … November 2-4, 2021, AAPEX // Now more than ever.

Wealth Building: Become a Financial Adult [RR 575]

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:15:00 +0000

Key Talking Points:

Becoming a Financial Adult- 85% of 65 years or older don’t have access to $25,000

Focusing on money doesn’t grow money. Creating VALUE grows money. Using money COSTS money. Every time you convert your assets to cash your wealth actually shrinks (fees, taxes, charges).
Money IS NOT wealth. Wealth can be turned into money, but money can rarely be turned into wealth.
Keeping the value of assets in money usually causes them to decrease because of inflation. Value dilutes over time.
Using borrowed money magnifies all of these problems!
When you focus on “value,” then you will get money (service business, online business, regular job). If you’re not earning the amount you want, then look at what value you are creating for other people. Technicians creating more value for themselves (training, classes)
Keeping your assets in “money” will cause you to lose money. Appreciating asset (land, a business that is growing ), depreciating asset (car, boat)
“Fiat Currency” is currency not backed by anything solid (ex. gold, coins). It is money that has no intrinsic value (a paper dollar bill). Fiat currencies tend to collapse over time. In the U.S. we have “at currency with no intrinsic value backing it up (no gold in Fort Knox). Currency is not secure. Value is secure.
Debt evolved from a tool we only used responsibly when needed and paid off as fast as you could, to a new paradigm where we accept debt as the way things work. The idea that debt is a reasonable way to live our lives really hurts us.” Look like you have wealth when you don’t.”
“Consumerism” is the idea we can consume our way to wealth and happiness. 100 years ago it didn’t exist – we only bought based on needs not wants. Now we buy wants to express ourselves and to be an individual and to get status.
What’s the problem with consumerism? We are buying things that we don’t really want to impress people we don’t even like (“conspicuous consumption”) to make us feel important. Consumerism is fostered by large companies that have an interest in you feeling insecure about yourself, in order to incite your self-expression mechanism, because they make money when you do. Consumerism to feel better or impress others doesn’t work and it robs our future. Difference between want and need. Practice a pause when purchasing instead of impulse. Competition and insecurity are motivators for impulse buying. Use logic not emotions.
The old paradigm of “entitlement” is being obliterated. The problem is that having a job (instead of having a craft or working for yourself) is precarious.
70% of us work with knowledge in our head. We are going through a transition from tangible reality to knowledge-based reality. You can’t count on the industry you are in today to be around in a couple of years. Let go of “the job” as a paradigm of reality. The world does not owe you a job. If we want to create success,we have to grow up and turn ourselves into someone that others seek knowledge from.
We have to admit to ourselves that we have been behaving like spoiled financial teenagers. We never really learned and we stayed adolescents and we relied on others to take care of us. Now we have to grow up and become financial adults. Take 100% responsibility for where you are now and where you are going in the future.
To the extent,you can create value for others you can build wealth.
There is a “critical distinction” between spending (buying liabilities that will drop in value, like a new car) versus investing (taking money and trading it for assets that go up in value over time).
The productive thing to do with your money is actually counter-intuitive. It’s not obvious how to invest, but it is obvious how to spend it!
Learn to make the distinction between needs and wants. Each person comes pre-wired with the mechanism to know if something is a need or a want. All we have to do is to ask ourselves.

Business Builders Mentor and Mastermind USA www.bbmmacademy.com

Business Builders Mentor and Mastermind USA CHALLENGE

Resources:

Thanks to Jerry Kehzaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk for their contribution to the aftermarket’s premier podcast.
Link to the ‘BOOKS‘ page highlighting all books discussed in the podcast library HERE. Leaders are readers.
Listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Podchaser and many more. Mobile Listening APP’s HERE
Find every podcast episode HERE.
Every episode segmented by Series HERE.
Key Word Search HERE.

Be socially involved and in touch with the show:

Facebook Twitter Linked In Email

Join the Ecosystem – Subscribe to the INSIDER NEWSLETTER HERE.

Buy me a coffee

Since 1989 TRACS has been the industry’s leading shop management system. And in the last 30 years it’s gotten better and better. Today TRACS Enterprise offers even more of the features AutoCare Center owners want—things like a powerful interactive scheduling calendar, faster and streamlined work flow, plus streamlined parts ordering and purchasing options. And there’s more—Punch-out to Mitchell ProDemand, mobile VIN capture, and multi-shop capabilities. That means you can count on TRACS Enterprise to help drive your success today and well into the future.

Learn more about TRACS Enterprise and the hundreds of other benefits NAPA offers. visit the NAPA Benefits Center, at www.napabenefitscenter.com or call the NAPA Benefits Center at 844-627-2123.

Books

Carm Capriotto, AAP — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 00:16:54 +0000

Books Discussed or Mentioned on the Podcasts

Click on the book cover to get more information and to order on Amazon

Check back often as new books are added.

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Authors A-D

The Travelers Gift

Andy Andrews

The Queen's Code

Alison Armstrong

Getting Things Done

David Allen

The Power of Vulnerability

Brene Brown

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Dr. Travis Bradberry &
Jean Greaves

The Generosity Factor

Ken Blanchard - Truett Cathy

Raving Fans

Ken Blanchard - Sheldon Bowles

Unleashing Your Here

Kevin Brown

The Culture Code

Daniel Coyle

Pre-Suasion

Robert Cialdini

Scorekeeping for Success

Charles Coonradt

Emotional Intelligence

Dan Coleman

How to Win Friends &
Influence People

Dale Carnegie

Integrity

Dr. Henry Cloud

The Power of the Other

Dr. Henry Cloud

Leaders Are Readers

Selling the Invisible

Harry Beckwith

What Clients Love

Harry Beckwith

What Clients Love

Harry Beckwith

Relationship Selling

Jim Cathcart

The Acorn Principle

Jim Cathcart

The Five Love Languages

Gary Chapman

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Talent Is Overrated

Geoff Colvin

Never Lose a Customer Again

Joey Coleman

Good To Great

Jim Collins

Lead Yourself First

Jim Collins

Change or Die

Alan Deutschman

Customer Service Revolution

John Dijulius

The Relationship Economy

John Dijulius

Your Perfect Shop

Hunt Demarest, CPA

Wrenches to Write-Offs

You searched for Laura Shwaluk - Remarkable Results Radio

Looking Rich VS Living Free: The Hidden Truth About Success and Money [THA 472]

700th Episode Milestone- 7 Trends [RR 700]

Women Shop Owners Round Table [CC 087]

CarmCast 087 – Women Shop Owners

Hiring Superstars with Jerry Kezhaya and Dr. Laura Shwaluk [RR 594]

Wealth Building: Become a Financial Adult [RR 575]

Books

Books Discussed or Mentioned on the Podcasts

Click on the book cover to get more information and to order on Amazon

Check back often as new books are added.

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Authors A-D

The Travelers Gift

Andy Andrews

The Queen's Code

Alison Armstrong

Getting Things Done

David Allen

The Power of Vulnerability

Brene Brown

Emotional Intelligence 2.0

Dr. Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves

The Generosity Factor

Ken Blanchard - Truett Cathy

Raving Fans

Ken Blanchard - Sheldon Bowles

Unleashing Your Here

Kevin Brown

The Culture Code

Daniel Coyle

Pre-Suasion

Robert Cialdini

Scorekeeping for Success

Charles Coonradt

Emotional Intelligence

Dan Coleman

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie

Integrity

Dr. Henry Cloud

The Power of the Other

Dr. Henry Cloud

Leaders Are Readers

Selling the Invisible

Harry Beckwith

What Clients Love

Harry Beckwith

What Clients Love

Harry Beckwith

Relationship Selling

Jim Cathcart

The Acorn Principle

Jim Cathcart

The Five Love Languages

Gary Chapman

Atomic Habits

James Clear

Talent Is Overrated

Geoff Colvin

Never Lose a Customer Again

Joey Coleman

Good To Great

Jim Collins

Lead Yourself First

Jim Collins

Change or Die

Alan Deutschman

Customer Service Revolution

John Dijulius

The Relationship Economy

John Dijulius

Your Perfect Shop

Hunt Demarest, CPA

Wrenches to Write-Offs

Hunt Demarest, CPA

Y-Size Your Business

Jason Ryan Dorsey

Mindset

Dr. Carol Dweck

Dr. Travis Bradberry &
Jean Greaves

How to Win Friends &
Influence People