Confidence. It comes from knowing our subject, not faltering in our ideologies, and standing our ground when confronted with a situation that questions our values. It seems like such a simple trait to have when it involves what is at stake—a successful business. But in an environment where we’re trying to maintain being profitable, which…
Learn how Creating Attachment will set you apart from your competition! Be the premier place to work and be the uncopyable provider of services in your market. It is hard to be consistent with your marketing message, isn’t it? There is so much to remember with marketing your business. How to get it all done…
It’s summertime and the COVID pandemic seems to be coming to an end. States are opening up and removing restrictions, people are hitting the road and looking forward to family reunions and real vacations again. Most auto repair shops that I work with are struggling—not because they don’t have enough work—because they can’t get the…
Do you want to become great without having to wait? I just read something that can help you with this. In his book The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy introduces the reader to three friends: Larry, Scott, and Brad. They each live in the same neighborhood and make a similar annual salary. They each have a similar…
Hard work doesn’t pay off. I know shop owners who work around the clock but still have low car count. They arrive early, stay late, but have a low retention rate. They work hard to fill their racks, but their customers don’t come back. These examples lead me to believe that hard work doesn’t pay off. Now,…
Successful coaching is about inspiring associates to do more than they, at first, believe they can do. Finding out all you can about your associates and aligning with your associates, so they feel you are on their side, will produce powerful results. Discovering and working on associates’ belief systems by being an active listener is…
On a daily basis, I go over financial reports with auto repair shop owners and find a negative number at the bottom of their annual report. Sales are not where they need to be. They don’t have enough money at the end of the month. The owner is living paycheck to paycheck—if there’s enough money…
“Harry” is a hiring manager for a Fortune 500 company. One fateful morning, he’s driving into the crowded company parking lot to begin his day of scheduled interviews. After several minutes of circling, he finally locates a space and pulls in. He doesn’t notice “Bruce,” sitting in a brown Buick, waiting for the same spot! “Hey, Jerk!” Bruce yells. “Don’t…
I was working in a shop the other day; what a great day it was! Customers came in to have work done on their cars and the phone was ringing off the hook—it was wonderful to see. Customers were in the waiting area and walking around outside waiting for services to be completed on a…
As an independent automotive repair shop owner, you hold responsibility for the reputation of your shop. You are also responsible to keep your team motivated, productive, positive, and passionate about what they do. And you hold all the liability when something goes wrong. You deserve a raise! We’ve talked about giving yourself a raise by…