The Maine Secretary of State recently approved a petition for independent auto repair shops and parts stores to collect signatures to get a Right To Repair petition added to the 2023 ballot. In June, the New York state assembly unanimously voted for a Digital Fair Repair Act for the state of New York to be…
Management is something that is learned and reinforced through coaching and feedback. It is a partnership with your team that will require commitment and patience from all parties to develop and grow as a leader. Creating an environment where you work with your people, involving them in clear goals, and providing a positive workspace where…
According to Entrepreneur Magazine, only 50% of small businesses make it beyond the five-year mark. Lack of sufficient cash flow and market shifts are often the culprits. But did you know that the next big drop-off is at ten years? At ten years, the failure rate jumps to 70% of small businesses, including independent auto…
Do you have a big, hairy, audacious goal for your business and life? If you do, great! If not, then we highly recommend you start asking yourself these key questions. In the book Taking People with You, David Novak asks three deliberate questions which he ultimately describes as “the only way to make big things…
When you need a fresh perspective, look to your left and your right. Quite a few ATI members signup for our coaching program so they can be made aware of where their business stands and, more importantly, get a new perspective on how to run things. It’s understood that more heads in the game will…
“I don’t need to have meetings, because I talk to my people throughout the day.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this, I’d have about twenty-one dollars! But seriously, I’m amazed at the number of shop owners who resist the routine of regular meetings. As I reflect on the importance of…
September marks the closing of the active and lively Summer and 3rd quarter of the year and welcomes the beginning of a new season — Fall. Soon thereafter, we will usher in Winter and the 4th quarter of the year. In other words, now is the time to bring our ideas, challenges, and goals to life so…
When was the last time you heard of someone getting bitten by an elephant? As I reflect on this question, I am reminded of my former clients Mike and Larry who owned two different shops in 2010. At the time, they both had been with ATI for eighteen months and averaged three thousand dollars per week in net…
I was fondly remembering tips my grandfather shared with me when I took my first job and thought I would share them with everyone. He was a great businessman, head of a wonderful family, and deeply respected by me as a mentor in how to live a purposeful life and be successful. 7 Tips to Become…
The demands of the automotive repair industry have been difficult for as long as I can remember. Put profitability, marketing, and customer experience aside, and you’re left with the core of our business — automotive repair. Any technician can tell you that the premature assumption of a repair being easy-to-do, can quickly ruin your day…