It was August of 2009, and I was the new guy. As a rookie coach, I was curious as to why some shop owners experience great success, while others lose money on the bottom line each week. As I would get new clients, I would ask:” What’s your biggest challenge?” The most common responses were…
Are you looking to raise the bar? One morning I came across a video from John Taffer, the host of “The Bar Rescue” reality show. I was surprised to hear that he’d been working with bar owners for over 31 years. His next statement really grabbed me. Taffer concluded that in all that time there…
If you’re like most shop owners, one of your biggest challenges is finding and keeping great employees. You know that without high-quality techs and service advisors you can’t build a successful shop. And, if you’re smart, you’re paying them well enough to keep them happy. But the reality is that a great paycheck isn’t always…
Meet “Ron.” Ron had just graduated from college as a star athlete, with a short-term goal of becoming the sporting goods manager with Montgomery Wards, a major retailer at the time. (FYI to the millennials who’ve never heard of Montgomery Wards: They went under in the 90s!) Ron’s goal was to sit in “the big…
What’s the secret to attracting millennial customers? As I reflect on this question, I am reminded of my local dry cleaner. They are the most expensive cleaners in my town and I drive past several other locations who provide the same service at a lower price. Thanks to technology, I have the option to use…
In 2004, Sony released the hit movie 50 First Dates starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Sandler’s character “Henry” meets Barrymore’s character “Lucy” in a restaurant while having breakfast and is instantly drawn to her. After years of searching, he believes he finally found the right girl. But there’s one slight problem. Lucy suffers from…
I have a confession to make. I’m NOT handy around the house. If you Googled the phrase, “Do It Yourself,” you would NOT find my picture anywhere on the internet! Fortunately, I have a handyman named “Harry” I can call. If I have a landscaping issue, I call Harry. When the bathroom needs to be retiled,…
“Linda” brought her 2010 Chevy Lumina to a shop in San Francisco. Jason, the shop owner, assured her the job would be completed by five o’clock, and that she would receive a phone call updating her on the vehicle status. Jason forgot to make the phone call, and Linda arrived at the shop at 5…
A 2018 study by Northwestern Mutual found that one in three Americans have less than $5,000 in retirement accounts. 33% of baby boomers, those closest to retirement age, have less than $25,000 in retirement. The statistics are no better for small business owners. A 2017 Manta survey found that 36% of small business owners surveyed…
What’s the difference between success and failure at your shop? As I wrestle with this question, I’m reminded of two stories. First, there’s the story of Kano Jigoro who was considered to be the father of Judo. He’s credited with creating the belt system to measure martial arts rank and skill level. He was a highly…