Mind Wrench Podcast

Send us Fan Mail After watching so many others in this industry (including her own family), struggle with financial planning, Rachel James set out to make a difference for those in the auto repair world. That's what drove her to create Torque Financial , and this week she's here on the Mind Wrench podcast to help you realize, strategize, and optimize your financial health for long-term s...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Does your business claim to provide “Best in class” , “ Ranked #1 ” or even “ world-class ” service? Are you constantly measuring your CSI scores against some bogus benchmark, hoping that the higher the score, the better your business will be?... and if so, how is that working for you? Is it possible you’re focusing on the wrong definition of “service” to begin wit...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Feel like you’re stranded on an island in your business or personal life? 🏝️ Break free from the isolation and tap into the power of collaboration. Discover how to let go of control and embrace the value of teamwork. Is your ego holding you back from growth? 🌱 Don't let pride prevent you from seeking advice and support from others. Learn how to accept constru...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  As a single shop owner, do you feel like the MSOs and big National accounts have all the power, all the DRP relationships, and a huge competitive advantage over you? Are you wanting to stay in the game, but looking for a way to level the playing field a bit? Did you know that you can be part of a large, growing, international network of collision repair shops, gain...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  In this episode of the Mind Wrench Podcast, we’ll learn about the numerous benefits of networking, from strengthening business connections to gaining fresh ideas, advancing your career, and accessing new information. We uncover valuable insights on successful networking, including tips on initiating conversations, attending diverse events, and creating authentic re...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Like many others over the past 5000 years, has man’s search for meaning and the big questions like “ why am I here ?” … “ what’s my purpose ” … and “ who am I ?”, have you questioning your own life these days? Recently, I attended a major on-line event with a record-breaking, 2.4 million other people, that was driven & hosted by someone that is Hollywood- famou...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  In this week’s Mind Wrench Podcast episode, we'll discuss the importance of attending industry events and investing in education to enhance your understanding of running a better repair business. As a collision repair shop owner, it's vital to recognize that technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and it's crucial to keep up with the latest advancem...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  When it comes to promoting your business as “ customer-focused ” or “ customer 1st ”, you may be talking the talk, but are you walking the walk? Do you know who your customer really is ?... whom you are serving? Did you realize in today’s customer experience model, your customers no longer compare you to your competitor, they compare you to the best service they ev...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Tired of tearing apart interior panels, busting clips and losing money, just trying to replace corrosion protection after stud pulling, or prying out a few dents?... that is, after you put the occasional small fire out!🔥 Does it drive you nuts, watching the PDR teams haul in the cash every time hail or storm damage hits your area, leaving you with just a few bucks...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Were you aware of The Great Awakening   that’s happening in the collision repair industry, and how it's changing the repairer/insurer conversation? The OEMs have altered the game by leveraging the safety and functionality of using OEM parts and OE recommended repair processes.  There is a great correlation between the Pixar movie “Bugs Life” and what’s happeni...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:   Do you provide an awesome product or service, but hate to sell? Is your perception of “salespeople” mostly negative… that they are somehow “bad” people? Are you the owner of a business, but just the mere idea of “selling” makes you feel cheap, dirty, or untrustworthy? Sales is the lifeblood of your business, but if you're like many people, the idea of selling...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Have you ever met someone who claims to be the "best" at something, but has nothing to back it up? No stats, no awards, no certifications, not even a witness to their greatness? Yeah, I think we all have. Boasting about being the "best" is an easy title to throw around, but it's usually far from the truth. If you're going to claim to b...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  This week, we’re talking about why life should be hard instead of looking for the “easy” button. In our everyday lives, experiencing challenges and hardships can lead to greater personal growth and satisfaction… a few examples are:  Hardship builds resilience Difficulty leads to growth Struggle gives us a sense of purpose Overcoming obstacles builds confidence Whet...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Are you one of those that gets excited about learning new information?... if so, how long has it been since your last training event, 3 months-6 months or more than a year? Regardless of your chosen career, everyone needs updated training and learning new information, but those in the auto repair industry should be practicing continual improvement, with short inter...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Have you ever lost a relationship, valued employee, or a customer, but really not sure why? This is most likely a result of poor communications, and without a little improvement, will certainly happen again & again! Did you realize the continued practice of poor communications has cost businesses $37 BILLION globally, and even more devastating, the impact and c...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  From my observations throughout life, most of us really have a hard time staying in our own lanes , and on a couple different fronts… can you guess what they are? There are many times in life we all are clearly not in own lane when it comes to stepping out of our area of expertise and advising others how to do THEIR jobs… sounds familiar? We also tend to drift out...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  When you wake up in the morning, do you look forward to the new day, anxious to get at it, make some things happen?... or do you dread the day ahead, believe today’s going to suck, wonder what’s going to happen next and wish you could just keep sleeping? Deep down, do you believe that life happens FOR you, or TO you? Well, if we’re being honest… brutally honest… i...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  Do you find the amount of technology packed into today’s vehicles amazing, or frightening? This simple fact that a Boeing 787 has only 6.5 million lines of code behind its avionics and online support systems, and a Chevy Volt uses over 10 million lines of code, gives you an idea of the complexity you’ll encounter repairing a current model car or truck…. both amazi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  Like millions of other workers in the US have done over the last 2 years, are you ready to call it quits too? Are you so fed-up, frustrated, and burnt-out where you work, that you truly believe it’s time for you to move on, start a new career, launch your own business, or just retire a little early? Before you clear-out your desk, roll your toolbox out the door or...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  Well, just like that, another 365 days has passed us by… but did the last 12 months actually teach us anything? Did we have any great takeaways, experience some personal growth, conquer any demons, or achieve any goals by midnight on New Year’s Eve? Whether the past year was outstanding for you, just mediocre, or a total train wreck, did you learn something from i...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  Doesn’t it always seem anytime we try something new, chase a new goal, implement a change in our business or our daily routine, something ends up going sideways? No matter how well we plan it out, regardless of what precautions we put in place… good old Murphy’s Law always shows up, right? Just like a race car driving fast on a wet track, life puts us into a spino...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  This week, were doing a throw-back to Christmas season 2020, and a message I shared that should help inspire you to be in a more charitable state of mind, and motivate you to try doing something for those less fortunate around you? Is your heart & soul compelling you to do “something” impactful, to give like a philanthropist, but your budget says you can’t? Joi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  Honestly, as busy as we all were this year, doesn’t it seem the world around us keeps advancing faster than we can keep up? We know we need to level-up and make some improvements in ourselves to try and get ahead of the curve, right? As this year winds down, and we have a few days to reflect, we start thinking about what we could do better next year in some area (...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes :  When it comes to making improvements in your business’s profitability & net income, there are only two places to focus on… sales & cost of goods sold, right?  From what I’ve seen, many shops seem to focus less on increasing sales, and most of their energy on reducing costs, more specifically, their paint & materials bill… but is that really moving the...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  Once again, as we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, around the dinner table with our families and friends, will you find it difficult to find something to be grateful for, other than the feast and your loved ones?  Have the struggles of 2022, our year of post-Pandemic life, still have you feeling empty, frustrated, bitter & struggling to find gratitude?  Join...