The winds are changing, something’s coming, not sure exactly what just yet but let’s talk it out and see what we can do. I’m also trying to make a general statement about how shop owners seem to be doing really well right now and are maybe just a bit too big for their britches at this point. 1. As we're more successful and get a little fat and happy our expenses "creep" take a look at your expenses and get rid of "wants" and only keep the "needs". 2. Stop being distracted and focus on what got y...
Aug 08, 2022•24 min•Ep. 72
Leadership Gold - A Leader's First Responsibility Is to Define Reality AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Chapter 8: Leader’s First Responsibility is to Define Reality You Can't Define What You Don't See Questions to ask yourself to help you define reality. Guarding Against Unrealistic Thinking: Admit My Weakness Embrace Realistic People Ask for Honesty From Others Invite Fresh Eyes to Check You Out Application Exercises: What kind of thinker are you? Who speaks the truth in your life? Where ...
Aug 01, 2022•16 min•Ep. 71
Leadership Gold: Get In The Zone & Stay There! AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Chapter 8: Leader’s First Responsibility is to Define Reality You Can't Define What You Don't See Questions to ask yourself to help you define reality. Guarding Against Unrealistic Thinking: 1. Admit My Weakness 2. Embrace Realistic People 3. Ask for Honesty From Others 4. Invite Fresh Eyes to Check You Out Application Exercises: 1. What kind of thinker are you? 2. Who speaks the truth in your life? 3. Where...
Jul 25, 2022•16 min•Ep. 70
Production Apprentice Program for Auto Shops AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Why a Production Apprentice…. 1. We have to start somewhere and change the stigma etc….of just a lube tech 2. We have to get these folks in a production mindset 3. We have to make sure that our current producers are producing and the best way to do that is to eliminate the stops and starts that make them unproductive. 4. One of the top two reasons why people leave when asked on exit interviews is because they didn...
Jul 18, 2022•20 min•Ep. 69
Leadership Gold - The Best Leaders are Listeners AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M The Best Leaders Are Listeners Why Listeners Are More Effective Leaders 1. Understanding People Precedes Leading Them 2. Listening Is The Best Way to Learn 3. Listening Can Keep Problems from Escalating 4. Listening Establishes Trust 5. Listening Can Improve the Organization Application Exercises: 1. Give Yourself A Listening Audit 2. Who Doesn't Feel Listened to? 3. What people have you neglected to seek out?...
Jul 11, 2022•19 min•Ep. 68
AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Follow Your Passion, Creating A Breakthrough, Forget the Money, Follow Your Passion. Application Exercise: 1. What is your true passion? 2. How much passion do you have for your current work? 3. How can you follow your passion? Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visit Auto Shop Coaching website HERE . 940-400-1008 Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com...
Jul 04, 2022•14 min•Ep. 67
Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Scorecard for Success - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz What is a Scorecard for Success? Step 1: This first step, in the beginning, is to begin! Step 2: Identify 5-Scorecard Categories and a maximum of 3 scorecards. Step 3: Put a weekly goal on each category. Step 4: Assign each goal to a department and the team members in that department. Step 5: Assign a Scorecard keeper. Step 6: Use the Scorecard each week. Step 7: Review the Scorecard. Coach Chris Cotton A...
Jun 27, 2022•12 min•Ep. 66
Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Stop Putting Yourself Last - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz 1. Stop Being the Martyr 2. The Trouble with Selflessness (more concerned with the needs of others) 3. How Selflessness Becomes an Excuse 4. Finding the Balance Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visit Auto Shop Coaching website HERE . 940-400-1008 Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com...
Jun 20, 2022•13 min•Ep. 65
Leadership Gold: You Know You're Out Front When ... Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M How do YOU handle criticism? How to Hold Up Under Criticism: 1. Know Yourself 2. Change Yourself 3. Accept Yourself 4. Forget Yourself Application Exercises: 1. What are your deficiencies? 2. How secure are you as a leader? 3. How can you properly process criticism? Mentoring Moment: Observe how others handle criticism and share your feedback with them! Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visi...
Jun 13, 2022•18 min•Ep. 64
Defining Moments Define Your Leadership Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Defining Moments Define Your Leadership 1. Defining Moments Show Us Who We Really Are. 2. Defining moments declare to others who we are. 3. Defining moments determine who we will become. 4. Reflect on defining moments from the past. 5. Prepare for future defining moments. 6. Make the Most of defining moments in the present. Application Exercises: 1. What is your track record? 2. How are you managing your decisions?...
Jun 06, 2022•20 min•Ep. 63
We’re talking Exit interviews. Some shop owners do them religiously. Some don’t want to face the music. Some don’t know what to do in an exit interview. Is it a smart time not to burn a bridge? Is there a format to follow? We are going to attempt to answer these questions and more in today’s Town Hall Academy. You can learn a lot about yourself and your company in exit interviews. Watch the Episode on YouTube Matt Fanslow, lead diagnostician and shop manager, Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN. ...
Jun 02, 2022•43 min
Are You Coachable AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 8 Point Check on Your Coachability . . Which of these are true and to what extent? 1. I usually allow my manager and others to complete their sentences before responding. 2. When I’m given feedback/ criticism, I usually think about it before responding, waiting just a bit. 3. When I’m given feedback/ criticism, I rarely find myself defending a position or action immediately. 4. When I’m given feedback/ criticism, I ask questions about it in...
May 30, 2022•9 min•Ep. 62
Please take a minute to check out our sponsor, AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Leadership Gold, Chapter Two; The Toughest Person to Lead is Yourself! 1. Judging Yourself: a. We don't see ourselves as we see others. b. We are harder on others than we are on oursleves. 2. Keys to Leading Yourself a. Learn Followership b. Develop Self Discipline c. Practice Patience d. Seek Accountability Accountability Exercises: 1. How Clearly do you see yourself? 2. Where do you need to grow? 3. How well do you...
May 23, 2022•23 min•Ep. 61
Leadership Gold - Chapter One - Chris Cotton Weekly Blitz Please go to: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M to check out our sponsor, AutoLeap! 1. Loneliness is NOT a leadership issue! 2. No one ever got to the top alone! 3. Avoid positional thinking. 4. Understand that you are in the people business. 5. Application Exercises: 6. Mentoring Moment Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visit Auto Shop Coaching website HERE . 940-400-1008 Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com...
May 16, 2022•22 min•Ep. 60
Click Here for more information from our sponsor: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Dirty Parking Lot, Weeds, No Striping, where do your employees, trash can?? 2. Lighting and signage 3. Building needs painted, updated, benches, signage for after hours drop off etc… 4. Windows washed, door clean, no handprints 5. Information on the door correct (google my business information correct) 6. Contact us………… 7. Bathroom, public, clean, if you have a specific one for ladies do they have a place to hang up a pu...
May 09, 2022•19 min•Ep. 59
Click the link to visit AutoLeaps site: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Here are the bullet points of what we are going to talk about this morning: The importance of having a strong organizational culture. The shop owners' role in fostering a high-performance culture. Definitions of organizational culture. Factors that shape an organization's culture. Considerations in creating and managing organizational culture. Practices to ensure the continuity and success of an organization's culture. Communications...
May 02, 2022•34 min•Ep. 58
10 Steps to Auto Repair Shop Business Evaluation Please click our sponsor link from AutoLeap to learn more information about their great shop management system: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Reputation of Shop–Google My Business, Interview Vendors that they use, Website……..Mystery Shop 2. What role is the owner currently performing in the business? What about a spouse in the business? 3. Website, Social Media, advertising 4. What do the business financials look like? 5. What type of POS do they use?...
Apr 25, 2022•17 min•Ep. 57
Catching up with Shop Marketing Pros - Kim and Brian Walker Sponsored by: Click here to check out AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visit Auto Shop Coaching website HERE . 940-400-1008 Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com
Apr 18, 2022•50 min•Ep. 56
Please check out AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Get your finances in order! Make them readable and learn what the business’s numbers are telling you. 2. Separate your business money from your personal money. 3. Income statement/ p or l—generate one! 4. Stop making paper invoices! Get a cloud based POS system. 5. Set Goals 6. Hold employees accountable! 7. Align your car count with business needs. 8. DVI’s are a must! 9. Pay Plans 10. Align for Profits! Make sure the business can generate wh...
Apr 11, 2022•19 min•Ep. 55
AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. 8,000 miles driven so far this year! 2. Shop Visits in: Tucson, Plano, Albuquerque 3. Big Bend National Park 4. Service Center Scholars Meeting in Tucson 5. WorldPac STX 2022 in Orlando 6. ServiceUP Repair Cloud 7. Weekly Blitz Podcast 8. #grindpositivity Coach Chris Cotton AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching Visit Auto Shop Coaching website HERE . 940-400-1008 Email Chris: chris@autofixsos.com...
Apr 04, 2022•17 min•Ep. 54
Time Blocking - Gain Control of Your Calendar - Chris Cotton AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Every day, we juggle competing demands on our time and, as a result, experience more chaos than clarity. Luckily, there’s a solution: time blocking. This is a terminology change for me, I’ve always called it making appointments with myself but time blocking is the correct verbiage, With time blocking, you can gain control of your calendar in order to focus on what truly matters to you and the business. ...
Mar 28, 2022•24 min•Ep. 53
Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Show Notes: I'm sure you've read articles about the importance of "culture" to shape the behaviors of your employees. One of my favorite descriptions of company culture is that it is "the invisible hand that shapes team behavior when there is no defined process or system to tell them what to do." But understanding the concept of culture doesn't give you a nuts and bolts path to intentionally build it. Here are seven leadership habits that I've emphasized...
Mar 21, 2022•23 min•Ep. 52
Click here to go to AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M What is Backbone? Marshall defines backbone as "firm and resolute character". In action, she says, it might look and feel like courage. The word "integrity" also describes someone with a strong backbone. My belief is that everyone can grow a backbone and that business is a perfect place for you to learn how. The Three Components of Backbone: According to Marshall there are three components of backbone: competence, the ability to take purposefu...
Mar 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 51
As always I want to thank AutoLeap. If you are interested in a demo please go to: https://autoleap.com/ As a preface to todays show I would like you to go and listen to: Common Issues with Financial Statements from Hunt Demarest: https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/02 What I Want You To Take Away: Understanding why you need to put Profits First Understanding why putting Profits First is Important How to set up Bank Accounts How to start making Allocations A better understanding of your Inc...
Mar 07, 2022•31 min•Ep. 50
Link to AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Don't Just Celebrate Wins - Savor Them! 1) Reminds you of the goal you set and why you set it in the first place. 2) Reminds you that a good, focused goal-setting process works. 3) Motivates your team to continue delivering good work. 4) Unifies the team around a positive outcome. 5) Reminds the team that they work for a winning organization. 6) Forces you and your team to concentrate on the positive rather than the negative. 7) Builds momentum for you an...
Feb 28, 2022•15 min•Ep. 49
Link for AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M If you haven’t listened to the other episodes in the series please go back and listen to Episode 39, Series overview, Episode 41 Phase 1, Episode 44 Phase 2 Are You happy with the shop you have? What’s Next, expansion into multiple locations? Exit Planning and Strategies Developing Leaders, not managers Making Employees comfortable Identifying a potential owner in the business Insurance in the business Is your REd Envelope/Yellow Envelope done? 529 Plans...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Ep. 48
AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Women in the aftermarket auto repair industry. 2. Embrace Zoom to meet with clients. 3. Overpay great employees! 4. Know the numbers cold 5. Say no more often 6. More Content 7. Ability to throw out the playbook! 8. Pay yourself first 9. Remember and share the good, let go of the bad 10. Don’t get involved in gossip, shut it down on the spot BONUS 11. Don’t let the bad employees run off good ones 12. Implement Auto Shop Profits and Cashflow To listen to m...
Feb 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 47
AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Giving to others, making a statement—putting it out to the universe, we live in a world that is louder about negativity and quieter about positivity, 2. Our plan for the year—give monthly 3. Gift for January, H.E.A.T. Texas State Chapter 4. Others we’ve given to: https://ambucs.org/ , https://warriordogfoundation.org/ give to local needs, if you can’t give money give time. 5. 501c for Auto Repair Shops struggling from Natural Disasters 6. Helping others, ...
Feb 07, 2022•16 min•Ep. 46
Rocket Fuel Chapters 4 - 7 Five Rules AutoLeap: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M Rocket Fuel Assessment: https://bit.ly/32lNxRr Rocket Fuel University: https://bit.ly/3GSEt5w Free Copy of Ultimate Guide to Auto Repair Shop Marketing: https://bit.ly/3g9eHhV A collection of episodes on the Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS); the overall components of Rocket Fuel. From the Remarkable Results Radio Podcast. https://bit.ly/3ISwXbq CHAPTER 4: THE ACCOUNTABILITY CHART The Accountability Chart is a supercharged ...
Jan 31, 2022•12 min•Ep. 45
As you get into today’s episode, Phase 2- Repairing YOUR Auto Repair Shop, you may know someone in your network who can benefit from what I’m talking about today, please take time to share personally or through your social network.” AutoLeap Link: https://bit.ly/3n5qW2M 1. Growth Mode–Productivity tracking, What’s your shop capable of doing? 2. Employee Handbook–a mechanism to enforce the rules overall 3. Employee Job Descriptions–Accountability 4. Employee Pay Plans 5. Marketing and car count, ...
Jan 24, 2022•16 min•Ep. 44
