my TRUE POSITION

If your marketing looks the same as it did last year, you're already behind. In this episode, Jim breaks down five simple, no-bullshit ways to clean up your marketing before 2026—from tightening your hero statement and elevator pitch to taking a hard look at your website data and SEO. No buzzwords. No hype. Just practical fixes every business owner can actually do.

GD&T didn't get harder — manufacturing got less forgiving. Thirty years ago, drawings were guidance and experience filled the gaps. Today, drawings are contracts, inspection is digital, and there's no gray area left. Same symbols. Whole different consequences. If you're still applying GD&T like it's 1995, you're not experienced — you're exposed.

As 2025 comes to a close, CARR Machine & Tool marks 53 years in aerospace manufacturing — spanning three generations and five decades of grit, reinvention, and precision. In this special episode, Jim Carr takes you decade-by-decade through the pivotal moments that shaped the company's evolution, from the manual-machine days of the '70s to the automation-driven transformation of today. It's raw ref...

In this episode, we get brutally honest about toxic culture — what causes it, what sustains it, and what it really takes to fix it. I'm breaking down the blueprint for rebuilding a healthy, high-performance culture using real metrics, real behaviors, and real leadership discipline. We'll talk core values, accountability, communication rhythms, and the no-nos that tank culture faster than any bad h...

In this episode, we dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of any aerospace quality system: calibration frequency. I'm breaking down how to set intervals based on risk, usage, and real performance data — not tribal habits or 'because we've always done it that way.' You'll learn how to build a defensible calibration strategy, how to use verification checks to extend intervals safely, and how...

Think hiring from out of state is the answer to your talent shortage? Think again. Between relocation costs, lost productivity, and cultural misfires, that "perfect" new hire could set you back thirty grand before they even hit stride. In this episode, I break down the real numbers — from why relocation is more common now than ever, to how to protect your company from costly mistakes. We'll talk h...

Let's be real — the fastest way to torch your profit isn't a bad part or a missed deadline. It's when your labor starts running you instead of the other way around. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I'm breaking down the difference between direct and indirect labor — and why blurring that line could be quietly bleeding your margin dry. I'll walk through how to track it, what numbers to watch, a...

Most machine shops think marketing is fluff — that the work should speak for itself. But here's the truth: in 2025, if you're not telling your story, you don't exist. At CARR Machine & Tool, we built a marketing engine inside a machine shop — and it changed everything. From our website and brand standards to storytelling, SEO, and social, every piece of the marketing pie matters. It's not decorati...

It's been five years since COVID flipped manufacturing on its head. Back then, it was all about survival — keeping the doors open and the machines running. Today, labor's tight, rates are high, and margins are thin. But the shops that made it? They're smarter, leaner, and tougher than ever. In this episode, I'm breaking down how far we've come — from shutdowns and supply chain chaos to a new era o...

In 2018, we implemented TRACTION for the first time — and like most small teams, we were figuring it out as we went. Fast forward to today, and CARR Machine has evolved into a focused, disciplined organization led by four seasoned managers driving finance, technology, operations, and quality. This episode dives into what happens when experience meets structure — how re-committing to TRACTION broug...

LinkedIn was built for professionals — a place to connect, learn, and grow careers. But somewhere along the way, it turned into a stage for personal branding and performance. In this episode, I dig into how the world's largest job network lost its focus — and how real professionals can bring substance and authenticity back to the feed.

The first two weeks on the job set the tone for everything that follows. At CARR, we've built a structured onboarding playbook — with 5-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 6-month check-ins leading into annual performance and compensation reviews. It's not paperwork, it's leadership in action. In this episode, I dig into why onboarding is a make-or-break moment, how we keep new hires engaged from day one to...

The family-owned machine shop — once the backbone of American manufacturing — is disappearing. Private equity is rolling up independents, succession is drying up, and the cost of staying competitive is through the roof. In this episode, I dig into how small, family-run shops evolved over the decades, the metrics driving consolidation, and why investors are buying us up. Is this truly the end of th...

Degrees don't impress me. GPAs don't build careers. The real signals that matter? Showing up, asking questions, taking pride in your work. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I lay out exactly how I spot future talent in machining—and what separates rockstars from dead weight. This is the hiring playbook nobody else will give you.

College debt is crushing a generation—but there's another way. In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I break down the real pathways into precision manufacturing—apprenticeships, certifications, and careers that pay while you learn. No tuition trap, no student loans—just a straight shot to six-figure potential.

Forget the grimy stereotype—this is aerospace-grade, software-driven manufacturing. In Part 1 of The New Shop Class , I pull back the curtain on clean, automated shops, real career mobility, and a culture built on precision and pride. If you're a parent, student, or counselor, this is your reality check—and your invite to see modern machining up close. Where precision meets leadership.

Ever get that email saying, 'We want to offer you a book deal'? Yeah…bullshit. These aren't publishers—they're predators. They target business owners, shop leaders, and podcasters like you and me, flashing fake promises of instant authority while draining your wallet. In this episode, I rip the lid off the vanity press scam: how they work, how to spot the red flags, and what separates a real publi...

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr by his CFO and business coach Dave Capkovitz, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to evolve a second-generation machine shop. They share the raw, behind-the-scenes truth of CARR Machine & Tool's transition from a traditional mom-and-pop operation into a high-value, high-production aerospace supplier. From cutting unprofitable work and...

In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, Jim Carr uncovers the real story behind artifact parts in Gage R&R studies. Too many shops are cutting corners when it comes to validating their measurement systems, and it's putting quality—and customer trust—at risk. Jim breaks down what artifact parts are, why they matter for AS9100-certified shops, and how to manufacture, manage, and apply them correctly. I...

Is that employee "taking time off"… or walking out quietly? In this episode, Jim Carr dissects the real motives behind employee leave. From legal obligations to return-to-work odds, he lays out the business math behind whether to hold the door open—or close it for good.

PE firms are circling job shops like vultures — waving fat checks and buzzwords like "scale" and "efficiency." But what happens after the champagne dries up? In this episode, Jim Carr calls BS on the fairy tale. From hidden costs and control loss to culture-killing org charts, he breaks down what selling really means for you, your team, and your legacy.

What happens when AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses stroll onto your ITAR-regulated shop floor? In this episode of My TRUE POSITION, I unpack how one slick-looking gadget could blow a hole in your compliance, expose your customer's IP, and turn your machine shop into a liability overnight. From real-world risks to hardline strategies, I'm calling this tech what it is: a threat to every shop that makes se...

Too many part numbers. Too many changeovers. Too much chaos. For years, we ran a low-volume, high-mix job shop — and it was eating us alive. Until we flipped the model. In this episode, I break down our full-on shift to high-volume, low-mix production: what pushed us over the edge, how we pulled it off, and what every shop owner needs to hear if you're tired of running in circles. I'm talking abou...

You're the face of the shop — act like it. In this episode, Jim Carr unpacks why getting out of the office, shaking hands, and "kissing babies" isn't politics… it's leadership. Whether it's a customer visit, trade show, or just showing up when it counts, your presence is your most powerful tool. Inside This Episode: What "kissing babies" really means in manufacturing How trust builds faster in per...