Maximum Octane

Can we be ready for the unexpected? Of course not; its main characteristic is arriving without previous notice. Still, there are things we can have in place to reduce the impact of unforeseen events: it's called strategic planning. In today's episode, you'll hear about the challenges John Blanton and his son Jackson went through, from John starting his business in his garage to opening a second lo...

Do you feel your auto repair shop is ready to embrace AI? In this episode, we are joined by industry experts Dan Garlock, Mike Bennett, and Ricky Jordan Jr., who provide a glimpse into the automotive industry's future after the disruptive arrival of AI. Whether we see this "Google on steroids" as a powerful tool, an efficient assistant, or the little push humanity needed to lose its soul, AI is he...

How effective are your strategies to attract and retain A-Techs and higher-end sales professionals? In this episode, Dan Garlock , President of Silverlake Auto & Tire Centers, and Ricky Jordan Jr., President of Fifth Gear Automotive, join us to share their approaches to attracting and retaining talent in the ever-evolving automotive industry market.  Throughout this episode, Dan and Ricky...

What kind of auto repair shop do you wish to build? One with excellent customer service, one that is comfortable and visually pleasing, or one with incredible installations for your internal customers?  Kori and Troy: Yes. In today's episode, a power couple joins Kim, Jason Patel, and Geoff Berman at ATI's Annual Super Conference, the owners of Graham Auto Repair, Kori and Troy Vaninetti. The...

If you were parachuted into the middle of the automotive industry, would you know where to start to build a profitable auto repair shop?  Today's guests, Terry and Travis Griffith, weren't precisely parachuted into the automotive industry since their love for cars runs in their family. Yet they were "merely" car enthusiasts when they bought Ocala Auto Repair and turned it into one of Florida'...

Marshall Goldsmith said it first and best, "what got you here won't get you there." This premise works virtually in every aspect of life, yet in business and sports, it is remarkably accurate. Competitors (and rivals) constantly look for weaknesses in our game to exploit, take advantage of, and outperform us. Even when we are winning, we must take a moment to reflect on what can be improved. ...

Regardless of how often you watch football or how much of a Taylor Swift fan you are, as a business owner, you should (or at least we recommend) look closely at the power a faithful following is capable of. It took only rumors of her participating in the Super Bowl's halftime show to break the internet and transform virtually everything touched by that expansive wave into gold.  How likely is...

Is it possible to run a successful auto repair shop with your spouse, keep it stable and solid for three decades, work on your personal growth, and transition from business owner to CEO? The Weatherbys are living proof that it's possible and are here to tell you how they pulled that out.  This week, we revisit my conversation with Kelli and Lee Weatherby , owners of Accurate Automotive. Toget...

How much does your auto repair shop charge for an accurate diagnosis made by an A Tech in 15 minutes? How much for the same diagnosis, made in 4 hours by your best B Tech? This week, we revisit my conversation with Brian Hunnicutt about the doubt that shows up quite often in every auto repair shop owner's mind: how to set rates that make justice to the value they provide. Brian shares his perspect...

Right after losing a loved one or while dealing with addiction, family reunions tend to be pretty hard. Especially Christmas and New Year's Eve, which are synonyms for peaceful times, filled with hope, good wishes, and quality family time. This week, we revisit my challenging yet necessary conversation with Mike Warren about the B-side of holidays, the challenges some people must go through, how b...

This week, we revisit my moving conversation with Lee Anderson, Service Manager at Integrity Auto Care in South Beloit, Illinois. Lee and his wife, Brittany, went from hell to heaven and everything in between before manifesting the arrival of their son, Asher.   Throughout our conversation, Lee shared the highs and lows of his and his wife's struggle with infertility and the exhausting proces...

How familiar are you with your personal auto policy?  This week, we revisit the second part of my conversation with Richard Sharman, in which he shared everything you must know about your auto policy. Richard is an Executive Coach at ATI with over 40 years of experience in the auto collision industry and insurance claims professions. Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Richard's thoughts...

Isn't it frustrating to know you are better than your competitors, yet you see them getting all the work? The only thing you must do to change that is to get your marketing efforts right.  This week, I'm joined by Kim and Brian Walker , Owners of Shop Marketing Pros and Hosts of the Auto Repair Marketing Podcast , to discuss auto repair marketing, the importance of creating and presenting uni...

Although talking about the pandemic in 2023 might sound like ancient times for some, many others are still struggling with the stress and anxiety of that epoch, and the worst part is that they aren't aware of it.  In today's episode, I'm joined by the wonderful Cally Rempis to talk about entrepreneurship, stress release, anxiety and trauma relief, and the best methods to lower your cortisol l...

Plugging technology into your auto repair shop can improve your productivity and efficiency, reduce costs, and make your internal and external customers' lives easier IF you choose the right software.  This week, I'm joined by Kirk Mize and Jesse Meddaugh to discuss the advantages and the proper use of tech in auto repair shops. Kirk is the Director of Sales at Shop Boss, the premier shop man...

"When your socials look like everyone else's, like a brochure or billboard, it's not doing you justice or a good service." In this episode, I'm joined by Corey Perlman, Keynote Speaker, Executive Consultant, Social Media and Digital Marketing Expert, Best-selling Author, and Owner of Impact Social Media. Corey got into social media way "before it was cool," teaching technology workshops at General...

Business owners who openly discuss their desire to be profitable are usually misjudged. Some people think aiming for profit means being greedy or putting money and goods before people when it is the opposite: only profitable auto repair shops can put people first. Profit allows you to pay your debts, be philanthropic, and elevate your and your internal customers' lifestyle.  This week, I'm th...

Although it might sound contradictory, business owners who only worry about making money are likelier to fail at it. Every internal customer, from A-techs to newcomers, clients, managers, and team leaders, are people before anything else. As such, they need to be treated with respect and be appreciated. Many auto repair owners forget that, even when it sounds so elemental.  In this episode, I...

Training, onboarding, SOPs, and even "org. charts" sound like big corporation words. Yet, they are crucial parts of any business, including small auto repair shops and any company from the automotive aftermarket.  This week, I'm joined by Drew Bryant, Owner and Operator of db Orlando Collision Center, to talk about the big corporation things you can implement in your auto repair shop to have...

Getting in trouble with taxes is easier than most auto repair shop owners think, and although everything can be fixed, preventing your business from getting to that point is even easier.  In today's episode, I'm joined by Eric Joern, that'll help us understand everything we need to know about the financials, tax returns, and payments of our auto shops. Eric is a Partner at Kaizen CPAs + Advis...

It is known that "the tool guys" talk to each other about their jobs and the auto shops they work for. Word-of-mouth recommendations work not only for getting new customers; it also works for attracting top-tier internal customers. Attracting top talent and retaining them depends on your auto shop's culture, reputation, how clearly you set expectations, and focusing more on personality traits than...

When entering a client's data into your system, a typo costs your auto repair shop a lot more than an irritable waste of time; it also means you are leaving money on the table. It means marketing campaigns heading in the wrong direction or to the wrong person, and, needless to say, your client will feel they're not that important to you.  In today's episode, I'm joined by Justin Rae, Founder...

For some auto repair shop owners, finding the right second in command is easy; the challenging part is giving them the freedom they need to do their job.  In today's episode, I'm joined by Andrew and Rachel White, Owners of A&R Complete Auto Care, and Will Olges, A&R's General Manager, to talk about barbecues, culture, delegating, and healthily transitioning from shop owner to CEO. An...

Welcoming new team members shouldn't feel like every time a Targaryen is born: "Every time a new internal customer is hired, the Gods flip a coin." We can do many things to ensure we make the right pick during the hiring process, and there are plenty more we can do once they join us to help them adjust to our culture, work rhythm, and philosophy.  In this episode, I'm joined by a dear friend...

People will have dozens of great experiences every day, yet guess which ones will stick and spin in their heads until they go to sleep? Extra points if you replied: the bad ones. If anything, you don't want your auto repair shop to be the one that provides that unforgettable subpar experience.  In this episode, I'm excited to talk with Bianca Gosser, Senior Manager of Brand Partnership at Atm...