Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Shop Fix Academy Podcast

In this episode, Jason Westberry shares his journey from being an aviation technician and Air Force serviceman to owning and expanding auto repair shops. He discusses his switch from aviation to entrepreneurship, his initial struggles and learning experiences in the automotive industry, and his growth with the support of Shopfix. Jason highlights key moments such as the decision to move to Athens, Georgia, buying his first shop, and the eventual realization and maneuvering to align his business with his goals. This episode also delves into personal development, making tough decisions, and planning for future expansions.

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In this podcast episode, Pete Tavernier shares his fascinating journey from starting a car repair shop in his garage while working at Car Quest, to establishing a successful auto repair business with multiple locations. He also goes in-depth about his mission work in Haiti, where he encountered extraordinary challenges like sourcing parts internationally and training local mechanics. After overcoming numerous obstacles, including personal loss and major business decisions, Pete reveals his ambitious future goal of opening 22 shops to fund international trade schools. Tune in to hear Pete's inspiring story of resilience, faith, and the vision for global impact.

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In today's episode we hear from the one and only, The Berg! We start off with some behind the scenes humor to kick off this walk through Michael Rosenberger's journey to owning his own store and joining Shop Fix Academy. We take some fun rabbit trails hearing how this driven guy found his path into doing what he loves and seeing his family and his industry transformed.

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Rick Kersey, a multi-shop owner in Oregon, started his automotive career at a parts counter. His relentless drive and motivation propelled him through the ranks, leading to the realization that owning his own shop was the next logical step. With unwavering focus, Rick took the plunge, navigating the challenging lessons that new owners often face. Undeterred, he developed a deep understanding of what makes a shop thrive. Continually striving for more, Rick ventured into new industries and expansions, learning costly yet invaluable lessons along the way. Through creativity, leveraging his extensive experience, and a strong emphasis on building a robust culture, Rick has not only expanded his business but has also far surpassed his original goals.

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In this episode, Brandon Peavy shares his inspiring journey from starting as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic at the age of 16 to becoming a successful entrepreneur managing multiple businesses. He discusses how he transitioned from the fire service to founding an ambulance company and later, an auto repair shop named Route 11 Automotive. Brandon also talks about the challenges he faced in the ambulance industry, particularly dealing with fraud and regulation. He recounts the pivotal decisions that led to the expansion of his auto repair business and highlights the importance of mentorship and community support in his growth. Brandon provides some deep foundational wisdom he's learned in his career helping others. In his words, there is no plateau, you're either going up or down. Get ready to go up with this awesome conversation.

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Shane Copeland and Chad Kaemingk discuss their journey from meeting at a dealership to becoming successful business partners in the automotive repair industry. They share insights on how they started their first automotive repair business with limited funds and partnerships, overcame challenges, expanded to multiple locations, and learned crucial business strategies. They share their journey of determination, struggle, and uncovering the secrets that pushed their business forward. It highlights their growth from working in the trenches to becoming business owners managing multiple stores, their partnership dynamics, and the lessons learned along the way.

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In this podcast episode, Chuck shares his remarkable journey from running a CrossFit gym in Texas to owning an automotive repair shop in Virginia—despite having no prior experience in the industry. Facing numerous challenges, including a declining shop and a difficult transition with the former owner, Chuck managed to revitalize the business. He emphasizes the crucial role of honest and effective leadership, leveraging his HR background to foster a strong team culture. Chuck also delves into overcoming setbacks and the power of community, both locally and within his professional network. By enhancing business processes and hiring trustworthy staff, Chuck has successfully increased the shop's revenue while achieving a better work-life balance and financial stability. Now a coach and mentor, he reflects on the fulfillment of helping others succeed, sharing valuable insights and strategies for aspiring business owners.

This episode features entrepreneur Mike Difato who shares his journey from working in medical sales and owning a pool service company to launching a successful chain of auto repair shops with his partners. We explore his strategic partnership with Eric, their first shop purchase, and the subsequent expansion to nine shops with plans for a tenth. The episode delves into the significance of learning from failures, the importance of strategic partnerships to grow fast, and how taking calculated risks can lead to substantial growth. Mike also discusses his side venture into boat repair, highlighting the unique challenges compared to auto repair. Throughout, insights into business growth, mentorship, and investment in staff development paint a comprehensive picture of their success. The conversation concludes with discussions on the importance of data analysis in business operations and Mike's motivation for coaching other entrepreneurs.

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This episode features Josh Bird's remarkable journey from working at a dealership with a six-figure income to owning two auto repair shops with a combined revenue of over four million dollars. Josh shares the pivotal moment when he quit his job and risked everything to start his own business. Despite the hardships, like receiving a cease and desist from the county and working in a barn with ten foot ceilings, Josh's story underscores the significance of perseverance, the impact of coaching, and the power of community in achieving rapid business growth. Josh's account is not only a source of inspiration but also offers practical advice for other owners in the auto repair industry.

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This episode features an in-depth interview with Ryan Hillenbrand, owner of four auto repair shops, who shares his journey into the auto repair industry that reshaped his life, learning perspective, and approach to business. Hillenbrand discusses the value of relationships, trust, and personal development in business growth and leadership. He highlights the transformative role of understanding oneself and improving interactions with others. Through anecdotes and insights, Ryan emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, being open to advice while critically assessing its source, and the power of strong relationships in overcoming challenges and driving success. The conversation also covers his strategies for business expansion, the significance of moving beyond ego, and the actionable advice he's adopted throughout his entrepreneurial journey.

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Zain operates three shops with laser-focused strategies to increase profit and performance. In this episode he opens up about his "controversial", and in his words "experimental" strategies how a shop can do over $3 million. Through a combination of his strategies and dedicated approach, Zain and his team are pushing boundaries and creating a high-performance authentic culture.

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Tony and his family operate five shops in Indiana. In this episode he opens up about his path growing up in his Dad's business, developing a strategy for growth only to have things go sideways, and what it took to recover and grow the business. Tony goes into detail on the power of prioritizing family, simplifying operations, and developing a true list of core values to help be a guide during rapid expansion.

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In this episode, Zach shares his career evolution and experiences in since opening his shop True Torque Diesel in 2017. He joined Shop Fix in June 2024 and things have turned around for him in just a few months! He discusses his early life in racing, his decision to become a diesel tech, and the challenges he faced, including a rare eye disease. Zach shares the transformative impact of Shop Fix on his business, covering his exponential revenue growth, staff management, and future plans to expand to a larger shop. Additionally, he reflects on the importance of balancing work with family life, influenced by personal milestones like overcoming his drinking and deepening his faith.

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Some moments seem pretty insignificant, but later, we realize they were a landmark in our lives, a moment that sparked the change that set us on a course that would forever change our lives. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that these moments tend to happen to us when the pressure is on, when our back is against the call, or when we are at a crossroads --- especially in our businesses. Today’s guest is Tristan Realubit, owner of Real Autohous, with multiple locations in the Chicago area. One of these moments for Tristan was a promise he made to his mom many years ago. In this episode, you’ll hear the amazing aftermath of and how that moment forever changed his life, his family, his company, and countless others. This is one of those stories that will impact your heart as much as your head. Stay tuned.

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Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com

Here's another episode in the Quick Clue mini-series. In this episode, you'll learn 3 important insights that can help you find and hire incredible employees.

This mini-series is designed to give you something to think about, something to improve your shop, and help you make the most of the week ahead.

Another full-length episode will drop next week!

Today, we're diving deep into the transformative power of personal development. Personal development isn't just about reading a specific book, attending a seminar, or doing a few workouts -- it's about fundamentally altering how you perceive yourself and your potential. This week's guest is Darren Adams, owner of Dryfork Diesel in Missouri. Years ago, Darren found himself heartbreakingly stuck with a broken body, limiting beliefs, and an underperforming shop. In this episode, he’ll share his wild journey of self-discovery and doing the HARD work to transform himself in mind, body, and spirit to become absolutely unrecognizable from his previous self, truly becoming the beast-mode version of himself who serve his family, shop, and community in ways he never thought possible. Change is hard, but staying stuck is harder. Choose your hard.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com

We are going to try something new!

As you know, each month, we interview some incredible folks in our industry in long-form interviews. We've been so honored by your support for the show, and are truly grateful. This week Thomas is introducing a new will be new mini-series called “Quick Clues”. The episodes will be about 5 min long… no guests, no dramatic intro, and no editing, it’s just you, Thomas, and his microphone. The goal is to give you something to think about, something to share with your team, something that can help you improve in specific areas, and most of all, be encouraged. So, we’ll try this out for a bit, and see how it works out. Perhaps make it a regular part of the podcast. Do us a favor and send us an email if you like this (or hate it) to Thomas@SLCAutoPodcast.com… Also, just to confirm, We will still be posting full-length episodes like always, 2x a month.

This week's Quick Clue: Is Your Car Count Being Manipulated?

Car count (or lack thereof) is a big topic right now. Your ability to analyze the specifics of your car count is CRITICAL to being able to grow your car count. In this episode, Thomas will break down how to tell if your shop is meeting marketing demand, or if it's being artificially held back.

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

So often, when we think about our numbers, metrics, and KPI's we get caught up in the "facts" we learn from these, creating a very rigid interpretation of them. Curiosity goes out the window, and we bulldoze our team with what we think is the problem. We forget that making stark assumptions often leads to flawed conclusions and our team's confusion and frustration. This week's guest is Mike Difato, Owner of three successful auto and boat repair brands with six locations across FL. An early experience in Mike's career in corporate America forever shaped how he uses data and allowed him to unlock an absolute cheat code to build a better team and an incredible shop. He also brings other powerful insights on a few other topics to help you further level up your leadership skills.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com

This one’s for the techs. Without you, our world would look very different: Parents wouldn’t be able to make it to their kid's games, food wouldn’t make it to stores, and the world as we know it wouldn’t exist. Yet despite this, historically, your role hasn’t been appropriately respected or appreciated. The good news is that there is a massive movement to change this from organizations that want to find and train the next generation, change public opinion, and help techs build a lucrative future. My guests today are Lowell Greene of TechFix and Phil Quielln, Company Forman of EuroFix, AutoFix, and Mike’s Auto in TN. In this episode, we give an insider's perspective, covering topics few are willing to discuss --- the good, bad, and downright ugly. We hope it inspires you and encourages you. Technicians, thank you for all you do. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Our effectiveness as leaders, employees, or any other role in our lives is often profoundly shaped by our past experiences- good and bad. Some experiences like trauma and other huge losses can leave us with deep wounds that, if left untreated, profoundly hinder our abilities in many areas of business and personal life. Moving forward is one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys we can take. This episode's guest is an incredible shop owner named Kyle Meadows. He took on that quest and overcame some huge blows he took from his past, allowing him to build an incredible repair shop, thrive in his personal life, and now be able to support others through their struggles. This is a powerful episode. Stay tuned.

NOTE: There are mentions of overdose, addiction, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 988 (call or text)

SAMHSA Substance Abuse Hotline: 888-662-4357

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

If you’ve ever purchased a shop, a house, or even a car, then you know that the closing table can sometimes be a bit tense, unnerving, and even have some surprises. Sometimes, just getting to the closing table can be a considerable challenge. When we encounter these challenges, our character, core beliefs, quick thinking, and keen negotiation skills have to shine… otherwise, the deal may be off. This is precisely where our guest Phil Webster found himself. Phil is a multi-shop owner in a small community in Illinois. In this exciting episode, Phil gives us the play-by-play of the events leading up to and closing his second shop. If you want to learn how to create win-win deals, this episode is for you! 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

We've addressed the tech shortage topic from several angles here on the show, but this conversation truly surprised and inspired me. There are so many layers to the problem, so when you hear a unique perspective like the one you're about to hear, it brings a level of clarity that "obvious" answers just can't give you. This week's guest is Lowell Greene. Lowell is lifelong tech, a former shop owner, a business coach for Shop Fix Academy, and the creator of Tech Fix which launches on 7/1/2023. Lowell delivers some incredible insight and solutions to the problem which, though may be hard to hear for some, will inspire you to drive changes in your shop which will allow you to build a shop culture that increases hire and retention rates through the roof. If you want to be a part of the solution, stay tuned.

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

First off, let's address the elephant in the studio: This episode features our friend Ryan Burton who is the founder of Leads Near Me, which is a sponsor of this show. But rest assured you, he paid NOTHING to be interviewed on the show. We asked him to be on the show because Ryan is a master at marketing, running a successful service business, and building brands. As those in Auto Repair, it’s not only important for us to hear from our fellow owners and employees but also from those that serve our shops. Ryan came from Canada and had no intention of serving the Automotive community - it found him. His story is a shining example of the American Dream. In this show, you’ll hear how he got started, why is loves auto repair, and be given a few surprises. You’ll love getting to know the man behind the brand.

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Ukrainian brothers Andrey and Slavik Shumylo operate two shops in Philadelphia. These guys have put their brotherhood first and developed their business with discipline and creativity to put them in the right spot at the right time. They share their journey from building their first store, to operating a thriving business and turning into multi-shop owners. Their humor and wisdom on how to build growth is a great lesson on how build a business.

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It's a well-known fact that the auto repair industry that we are in the middle of a nationwide technician shortage. In my observation, there are shops that have faired better than others. These shops tend to focus on creating a culture and system where techs know they won't have to deal with drama, can make great hours, and have a great career. In this podcast, I chat with the great Phil Quillen, who is the company Foreman for a multi-location auto repair company in Middle Tennessee. You'll love this conversation because it gives so many unique perspectives, tactics, and ideas that you can deploy to really change the game in your shop. Wanna build your dream team? Then this one is for you!

There’s a saying that I really love, that I’ve lived by for many years. “Find a need and fill it”. This saying speaks to service, but also making room for yourself to grow. The employees and even owners that I’ve seen become the most successful seem to really follow this saying too. They do things beyond what they are paid for because it needs to be done, they put the mission above their “title”. In my observation, when someone does this, success seems to be inevitable. This week's interview really drives this home. Eric and Brent Raber and not only brothers, but they own a highly successful 4-location repair shop company in Ohio. This concept is a theme throughout their story. If you work with family or are trying to level up in your shop or give your team opportunities, then this one is for you. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

This is the final part of an incredible 3 part series with our friend, the very wise, Joe Stokes who is the Regional Director for EuroFix, AutoFix, and Mike's Auto in Middle Tennessee. If you’ve missed parts one and two, then we highly recommend you listen to those too as the Truth Bombs are many. In this great episode, we focus on how to build the superpower known as Emotional Intelligence. This is the skill of learning to manage your emotions, mindset, and even how your body reacts to stress. We reveal how every role in the shop can utilize this tool to improve their relationships with the team, the customer, and even in their personal life. Want to get ahead? Want to level up? Then you’ll love this episode. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Part two of this three-part series is focused on what it takes to open one (or more) stores at once. Joe Stokes, Regional Director for a fast-growing Middle Tennessee Auto Repair company, and I dive into how to find the locations, where to find and how to hire the staff, help new employees from out of state, the logistics of overcoming the Tech Shortage, and how to have the right leadership team in place. In addition, we have a great discussion on the mindset of techs at dealerships vs. independent shops. If you’re an owner, a tech, or anyone involved in a growing auto repair company, then this episode is for you. As you may have noticed Joe and I can TALK, so this is another long one, but well worth the listen all the way through. Stay tuned! 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Our guest this week is the amazing and very wise, Joe Stokes who is the district manager for EuroFix, AutoFix, and Mike's Auto in Middle Tennessee. This is Joe’s second time on the show and if you’ve not heard his first interview, we'd highly recommend it. In fact, it was one of our top listened-to episodes. I asked Joe to come back and share some more wisdom, and share he did! We recorded a 3-part series which we are so excited for you to hear. In this first part of the series, we discuss how Joe dealt with a store that had been affected by an underperforming manager. Yes, this is a long episode, but let me assure you that the actionable “clues” which will help you be a better leader are non-stop. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Customer Advocacy. It’s a big part of what we as automotive professionals. Technicians advocate with complete and accurate inspections, and our Advisors help customers understand what is needed on their cars. What would happen if we took this concept to the next level? That’s exactly what guest Rob Choisser of Choisser Automotive Services did. He found himself furious at the fact that so many people make poor financial decisions about their cars from a lack of financial education, the lies told to us by society, and misconceptions about the nature of the car itself. So, Rob built his entire shop model around helping his customers gain freedom from this trap. The result is a thriving, profitable shop, with raving multi-generational customers who are actually financially better off because of his process. This concept is a game-changer for our shops, our customers, and the industry.

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Having a shop is much like steering a large ship in new waters. Your crew is looking to you for leadership, your passengers trust you to do the right thing, and your family needs you to be successful. Without the right experience, braving these new waters can result in peril, hurting everyone around you and costing you a fortune in money, time, and, ultimately, your future. In this episode, Ryan Blair, managing partner of Simple True Automotive Group, will share the heartwrenching story of when he shipwrecked his shop and how he recovered and made things right. This emotional episode will help anyone struggling to overcome a considerable blow. Stay tuned. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

What is the point of becoming profitable? I’ve talked to hundreds of shop owners, and not a single one wanted to become rich for the sake of being rich. Almost all of them opened their shop to better the lives of their families, their employees, and their community. While this is a great goal, sadly, many don’t achieve the necessary profit to make this happen. But what if there was a more efficient model you could deploy to make this goal a reality in less time? This is exactly what Matt Carlson of Fix It Forward Auto Care has discovered. In this episode, he’s going to share what he’s accomplished and give you the practical steps so you can deploy some of these strategies in your own shop. 

To learn more about Matt's model, please visit his website, or email him.

Matt@fixitforwardautocare.com

https://www.fixitforwardautocare.com

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

There’s a saying that says, “You can’t change your stars” It implies that the family line, situation, or status you are born into will determine what you can accomplish and how far you can succeed. Challenging this notion is the very essence of the American Dream, which declares: “Anything is possible with God, grit, and determination.” Few people I know embody this better than my guest Juan Acevedo of Trustlane Automotive in Salinas, CA. Juan’s story proves that you can accomplish great things despite your circumstances. In this episode, Juan will share his incredible journey and truths you can apply to your life and business. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Sometimes things at our shops take some pretty sharp turns, and sometimes those turns are into a ditch, but other times it’s straight into a canyon! What do you do? Perhaps it's ego, but for many of us, the first instinct is to hide the pain and fear and try to figure it out on our own. When we are alone, stuck in our heads, in fear, and experiencing pain, it’s hard to think and move forward. Years ago, our guest Adam Preuesser of Motor Works in Minnesota found himself in that canyon. In this episode, Adam will share what happened, how he got out, and how that foundation helped him build an incredible multi-location operation and a life of impact. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

Aaron and Jay sit down with the legend Jay Leno. Comedian, The Tonight Show host, entrepreneur, automotive enthusiast, and down to earth guy, Jay shares stories of his journey and how he navigated Hollywood to achieve amazing success. You don't want to miss this one!

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Becoming resilient is one of the most critical traits to becoming a successful shop owner, tech, advisor, or anyone else in this challenging industry. In my observation, resilience is the ability to MOVE FORWARD from the traumas, setbacks, and embarrassments from the past. It’s the ability to acknowledge the past but not get stuck in it. It’s looking forward with hope. This trait allows you to overcome excuses, have self-discipline, and have genuine joy in the present moment. Stan Andrewski of Certified Auto Repair in VA embodies resilience. He has overcome a difficult past and found the strategies that allowed him to cultivate resilience and create an incredible life. The clues he leaves apply to anyone trying to move from surviving to thriving. 

Thanks to our sponsors, Leads Near Me and Shop Fix Academy. They serve our industry and help make this show possible. Learn more about them below.

Leads Near Me is a full-service online digital presence provider for automotive repair shops. Let Leads Near Me effortlessly increase your car count by reaching them at 888-953-2379 or by visiting them online at LeadsNearMe.com

Shop Fix Acadamy’s sole purpose is to stop the average small business from destroying the average family. Call 615-645-3683 to speak to someone on our leadership team about seeing if Shop Fix Acadamy is a good fit for your shop. Learn more at ShopFixAcademy.com  

What if you had to start over from scratch? Like one day, you have a shop, and the next day you don’t. Where would you start? What resources would you pull from? -- From buildings, to contracts, to hiring, to marketing — as anyone who’s opened a shop from scratch can tell you… it’s a massive undertaking. This is the situation that Glenn Todd of Glenn’s European Auto Repair in PA found himself in. Glenn pulled on his resources, mentors, friends, and incredible self-discipline to create an almost instantly profitable shop in just months. In this episode, Glenn will share this wild story and, in the process, share some incredible clues you can use in your shop whether you're starting out or are decades in. You don’t want to miss this one!

Every son longs to have a good relationship with his dad. Sometimes though, as many, including myself, can attest, that doesn't always happen. Now take that pain, and imagine trying to run a shop together. That's the exact situation that my guest Veille Arthur experienced. For years, Veille and his dad painfully struggled in their relationship and with their shop. Veille was diligent in his pursuit of building the shop into something great while trying to redeem the story of himself and his father.

This week our guest is Eric Rutherford of Prestige European Auto Service in Florida. This episode explores how an unlikely partnership allowed for the creation of an incredible auto repair brand in Florida. Eric started out as an owner on his own, but then met his business partner, Mike through a very interesting situation (You gotta hear this story!).  Eric was a Master Tech, and Mike was from Corporate America. in this episode, Eric drops some incredible strategies which you can use to create a powerful brand of your own! 

If you're a tech with a dream to open your own shop or an owner who is not seeing the success you dreamed of, then this episode is made especially for you. Today's guest, John Lonas of Autoworks Service and Repair in Prescott Valley, AZ, has one of the most genuine love for cars of anyone I've met. Sure he has his favorites, but John loves the freedom they create. He transformed this love into a successful career as a tech and then ventured into ownership. He struggled greatly in the beginning, even losing his first shop. On his second shop, many years in, he still found himself chained to the shop, just barely getting by and rarely able to cash his paychecks. At one point, his accountant called his shop the "Titanic." OUCH! John decided this had to change, so he started making critical decisions that dramatically changed his life. In this episode, John will explain what worked for him, who helped him do it, and what life is like now. This episode is truly inspiring. 

 Is it Service Advisor or Service Writer? Either way, it's one of the most critical roles in the shop because if the sales aren't there, the techs don't have hours to turn, and the owner sees no profit. In addition to sales, the Service Advisors or Writers ;) Must be great at multitasking, customer service, logistics, and sometimes even counseling! Great advisors can do these things, create incredible customer experiences all while keeping a smile on their faces, and even have some fun while doing it. I believe those successful in this role aren't just born that way. They bring their natural skills and are fostered by great training and the guidance of a great owner. Today, one of the most successful writers I've met is our guest. Her name is Ashley Wright. I won't mention her shop because some of you may get the idea of trying to hire her. Sorry, she is very happily employed. If you're an owner, you'll learn some inside tips to help your advisors, and if you're an advisor listening, you'll learn some powerful tips and tricks to become a happy and successful advisor too. 

Complacency is a killer. It lulls us into a false sense of security by making us believe that our status quo is good enough or even a safe and prudent place to be. The problem with this mindset is that we shortchange our futures and ignore the possibility that we could be in an even better place. Sometimes it takes being shaken and woken up to see the truth. This happened to my guest Fred Young of Young Automotive in WI. By all counts, his shop was doing fine and cruising along for 16 years, but then he was awakened to the possibility that there was MORE --- more for him, his family, and those connected to his shop. He made some hard choices to break free and become a now growing and thriving business. If you feel like you need to get unstuck, then this is the episode for you!  

Becoming a compelling leader unlocks doors to moves that others simply can’t make. Moves like successfully expanding your shop during a global pandemic or growing the revenue by nearly 50% two years in a row. This is exactly what my guest Jay Huh of Carmedix in North Carolina, accomplished. In this process, he discovered four major keys to leading a team to greatness. In our interview, Jay will tell his important story and share the keys he discovered. If you want to be a better leader, this episode is for you! 

It seems if you do just a little research, we can find that addiction is a prevalent trait in many business owners and high-performers. Left unchecked, addiction can create subtle and not-so-subtle problems with our shops and make it hard to live life on life's terms. The good news is that there are solutions and paths we can take to overcome these vices and create a life of wholeness, health, and power. Today's guest, Chris Knuth of Star Motors European Service in CA, will share his journey from being addicted and stuck to recovering and thriving.

As you'll learn in the show, part of his journey was to start an incredible non-profit called APAC ATI, which works to solve the technician shortage and change the industry. If you'd like to learn more, here's the link: https://apacati.org/

In shop ownership, sometimes we make big mistakes, experience massive failures, and are presented with incredible challenges. Some of these can hurt a little, but some can create massive pain for us and those connected to us. As leaders in our shops, these circumstances are ultimately our responsibility. This episode's guest, Joe Valind of Auto Saftey Center in WI has experienced the full weight of this concept firsthand with a bad business deal that almost closed his shop. In this episode, Joe will share the intimate details of what happened and, more importantly, how we came out on top. 

Catch our live show from Shop Hackers 2024! We sit down with Josh Bird, Nick Padron, and Thomas Andrews to hear "How I did it". We know being successful is a never ending journey. These guys share with us how they started, the hard lessons, and how they got to this point in front of a live audience! Thank you to our sponsors of the show.

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"Your note has been pulled." Those are some pretty scary words to hear for almost anyone. The thought brings up many questions: What would you do if that happened to you? How would you survive? Would you lose your shop, your house, your way of life? How do you come back from that? This scenario happened to our guest Jonathan Ortiz of Foreign Affairs Auto in Florida. Not only did he and his family fight and survive through this situation, but they are also now completely thriving. On today’s show, Jonathan will share his incredible story on how to make it through when life tosses you something you can’t control. 

Today is Friday, July 29th, and NEXT WEEK I’m grateful to be a part of the annual Shop Hackers conference in Nashville TN. If you’re attending that conference, please come and say 'hi'! Because of the conference this week I’m reposting one of our top episodes for anyone who’s not heard it. 

FYI, there won’t be a new episode next week, but on Friday 8/11, and going forward, I’ve got some incredible interviews in the pipeline that I can’t wait for you to hear.

This week we revisit my conversation with none other than 26-year industry veteran and Ratchet and Wrench cover star Michael Rosenberger aka "The Berg".

Michael started in the industry literally sweeping the floors in his dad's shop. Through a series of big moves, painful blows, and incredible lessons, he now owns 2 great shops in Texas. 

In the episode, he shares how we broke free from old mindsets and became the owner he needed to be. 

This was an incredible interview.

After being in the automotive industry for a while now, one word that comes to mind for me when describing us is COMMUNITY. Though it seems individualism ranks high in the traits of most of us, I’ve experienced that those in our community are incredibly willing to help one another out when called upon. But, how do you ask for help? How do you engage someone you want to connect with, and why is it so important to do that anyway? Our guest, Nate Winston, co-owner of ECP Auto Repair & Service in Ohio, will answer these important questions for us.  Nate has made a splash this year on Facebook by visiting nearly a dozen shops and recording his experiences through Facebook Lives. His recordings not only show his experiences, but they set an incredible example of what being in a community can look like. I enjoyed this interview and getting to know Nate… you will too.

What if you found out all along you that YOU were the problem that was causing your shop, or even your life to not be where you wanted them to be — that you were the source of your own discontentment and frustration. I feel that so many people run from such a thought because honestly, I think when we acknowledge that we have that much power, it would mean we have to take responsibility and change. It was this train of thought that transformed today’s hero, Todd Baldridge owner of Buckeye Complete Auto care in Columbus OH. Todd owned his responsibility in his situation and it changed everything. This revelation propelled him to create a thriving shop where his team loves working there and his customers have to fight over parking spots just to get in. There are so many great nuggets in this great interview.