I’m always amazed at how two shop owners can look at the same opportunity, but see something different. This reminds me of a movie I recently watched titled The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, which tells the story of how Ray Kroc started the McDonald’s franchise. Early in the film, The McDonald’s brothers are visited by Kroc,…
What if my health fails? What if the economy gets worse? What if this pandemic lasts longer than they say it will? Have you been asking these questions? As I ponder these inquiries, I’m reminded of a recent study known as The Legacy Project, conducted by Dr. Karl Pillemer at Cornell University. He surveyed over…
In their book Switch: How To Change things When Change is Hard, Chip & Dan Heath tell the story of Molly Howard, Principle of Jefferson County High school in Louisville Georgia. She inherited a school where 80% of the students lived in poverty, with only 15% of graduating seniors attending college. In other words, “her area…
What is your biggest regret as a shop owner? As I ponder this question, I’m reminded of an interview I watched with basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The reporter asked him if he regretted the fact that he fell short of winning six NBA championships like his idol Michael Jordan. After all, Kobe finished his career with “only”…
Do you spend more time looking out the window or in the mirror? When car count is climbing, the portal screen is green, and profit is in your pocket, the tendency is to look at yourself in the mirror. For example, if I were reading your mind, I would hear: “The technician I hired, the…
“Fred” is drinking the Kool-Aid, all in, and on-board, when it comes to implementing most of ATI’s suggestions. As an aspiring Top Shop Owner, he attends SuperConference, is active with his 20 group, and is current with his classes. He’s so convinced of the power of coaching that he turned the tables on” Chris,” his…
I have a unique story as a coach here at ATI. I started out on the other side of the process as an auto repair shop owner with a “leg up” – my background included over 10 years in small business operations (customer service, marketing, accounting, etc.). With a great technician as my partner in…
What’s the leading cause of consistently inconsistent results? One week your sales, car count, and ARO are above the benchmarks. Your portal data is as green as a well-manicured golf course! You don’t need more cars; you need to get the cars you have out the door. Your problems are “good problems.” You don’t know…
Imagine for a moment that your goal is to visit Hawaii. To accomplish your goal, you invest in a travel agent named “Amy” who has a track record of helping thousands of other travelers like you get to the same destination. Based on this experience, she selects a specific all-inclusive package that includes the flight,…
“It’s not my fault, it’s the area,” said Matt, a service manager who worked for me back in 2001. “We can’t find good people because of the low unemployment rate and high median income.” This shop had a history of being understaffed on tire technicians and mechanics. Matt was the third manager in the last…